---
title: "Barnes: Reds can compete for top four"
canonical: "https://readliverpoolfc.com/news/barnes-reds-can-compete-for-top-four/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Ste Hoare"
section: "Liverpool News"
published: "2015-06-17T15:17:10Z"
modified: "2015-06-17T16:17:17Z"
---

# Barnes: Reds can compete for top four

Former Liverpool and England star John Barnes thinks that Brendan Rodgers can lead the Reds back into the top four next season, as long as he has a fully fit squad and is able to sign a number of players.

Liverpool finished well off the pace in the Premier League last year, but speaking to the *London Evening Standard*, Barnes seemed to be more upbeat about the season ahead:

*“The problem Liverpool have is that they can’t compete with Chelsea, Manchester City, Manchester United or Arsenal. As much as they may sell Sterling and get £50 million, are they going to get a replacement like a Messi or Ronaldo? The answer is no. We have to try and improve the squad by buying players, but knowing we won’t necessarily get the best players. That doesn’t mean we can’t be competitive, though.”*

Barnes then gave an opinion that many Liverpool fans believe but still find hard to accept, by saying that the Reds can no longer compete to sign the world class players that other teams in the divison can:

*“We need to get Daniel Sturridge fit and we have Origi coming in and we’ve signed James Milner. Liverpool fans need to accept we aren’t going to be able to compete to get the best players in the world but that doesn’t mean we can’t be hopeful or positive. If Brendan Rodgers can get everyone fit, we can compete for fourth.”*

[![Clive Brunskill/Getty Images](https://readeverything.co/readliverpool/readliverpoolfc/2015/06/Screen-Shot-2015-06-17-at-17.15.55.png)](https://readeverything.co/readliverpool/readliverpoolfc/2015/06/Screen-Shot-2015-06-17-at-17.15.55.png)

Barnes went on to say that Rodgers may not be able to find a direct replacement for Sterling but freeing up his potential wages, plus the money freed up by Steven Gerrard’s departure, could help fund a transfer for an experienced player for the team.

*“When we finished second in the league, we had Suarez, Sturridge, Sterling and Coutinho. Last season without Sturridge and Suarez, we had two 20-year-olds in Sterling and Coutinho to take us where we want to be. But they are inexperienced and young. If we can sign some experienced players we can challenge for the top four.*

*“We won’t replace Steven Gerrard and you may not even replace Sterling. But we have to buy players and change the way you play a little bit. Rodgers doesn’t have to look for a direct replacement.* *You have Coutinho and Lallana but Liverpool can’t replace him with a similar type of player.”*

When asked if Liverpool fans would want the club to make a ‘marquee signing’ this summer, Barnes replied:

*“Of course, and I think we will. It’s easy to get players on a free transfer like James Milner. It’s easy to get the easier players to sign but later we need to try and sign better players. We won’t get Messi or Ronaldo, but we can look to get players who other teams won’t want to spend £40m or £50m on. We have Sterling’s transfer fee, his salary and Gerrard’s salary to now add on for a star player.”*