Liverpool: Has the renaissance begun?

It’s been 121 years since Liverpool Football Club was born and 23 years since the last time Liverpool won an English top flight title. The agonizing wait continues for every Liverpool fan including me. Hopefully, the club can become a title contender in the next 3-4 years. Liverpool have shown a lot of promise in the 21012-13 season but inconsistency has dented their prospects of reaching the top 4. The second half of the season was really good for Liverpool. Liverpool are playing the best brand of football in the Premier League and it looks as if the club is heading in the right direction under Brendan Rodgers. If Liverpool manage to retain the services of their talismanic striker Suarez and can make a few good signings in the summer window they will have a great chance of finishing in the Top 4 in the 2013-14 season and could march towards becoming the title contenders in the near future.

Holding on to Suarez

Clinical Finishing, ability to create lots of chances for himself and others, fantastic Dribbling, tireless worker, fantastic free kick taker – these are the qualities which define Luis Suarez. Liverpool need to hold on to Luis Suarez, who is one of the best strikers in the world at the moment. Liverpool bought Luis Suarez in the 2011 January Transfer Window and he has turned out to be a great replacement for Torres. Suarez is someone who has all the qualities a striker needs. Liverpool won’t be playing in Europe next season, so, replacing Suarez won’t be easy. In the first half of the season Suarez was the lone striker Liverpool had as Borini was injured. The bulk of the goal scoring responsibility was on Suarez and the Uruguayan did not disappoint, he carried the team on his shoulders in the first half of the season. He is Liverpool’s most valuable asset and when he is not on the field you find that the X-factor is missing. As a Liverpool fan watching Suarez play is a joy. With the addition of Daniel Sturridge and Philippe Coutinho, Liverpool have added a lot of firepower to their attack. Liverpool, now look like a side with goals in them. Sturridge is a talented striker but he is injury prone and inconsistent at times. The trio of Suarez, Sturridge and Coutinho looks promising and with Gerrard dictating the game from behind, Liverpool are a potent goal scoring force.

Attacking midfielder

Liverpool should sign Christian Eriksen if possible. If not, Henrikh Mkhitaryan of Shakhtar D0netsk would be a great alternative to Eriksen. It’s not a secret that Brendan Rodgers has been a great admirer of Christian Eriksen. Almost every Liverpool fan wants to see Eriksen in Liverpool colours, but with Dortmund showing interest in him, Liverpool’s chances of signing him have taken a hit. Eriksen is perfectly suited to the Liverpool style of play but Liverpool need to look for alternatives as the chances of Eriksen joining Dortmund are high. Henrikh Mkhitaryan has had a splendid season at Shakhtar Donetsk and I think Liverpool should sign him if they can’t sign Eriksen.

Defensive midfielder

Lucas has been inconsistent this season in his deep lying midfield role. He is still a really good defensive midfielder despite the injury problems he has had. He has played a lot of games in the 2nd half of the season and has shown signs of returning to his best. Despite that Liverpool need someone who can compete with him for a regular spot in the team and Victor Wanyama is the man to do that. He has played really well for Celtic this season and has a bright future ahead of him. Mohamed Diame is another option who has had a terrific season at West Ham United. It would be a great scalp if Liverpool can sign one of these two midfielders.

Defense

Carragher’s retirement and Brendan’s lack of faith in Skrtel make it absolutely essential for Liverpool to sign a top quality centre-back who is young. Kyriakos Papadopoulos is a top quality centre-back. Liverpool will have to shell out about 15 million pounds if they decide to buy him from Schalke. Liverpool have conceded a lot of goals from set pieces and have had defensive problems while defending set pieces. Papadopoulos is really good in the air and is brave at defending set pieces. Considering the fact that he is just 21 years old, he can be a really good long-term prospect. He missed the second half of 2012-13 season due to a knee injury but now he is fully fit and he is the type of defender that Liverpool need desperately. Kolo Toure is a good signing but initially he is expected to be a bench warmer as Rodgers would like to pair Daniel Agger with a young defender who can be a long-term replacement for Carragher.

Lille’s left back Lucas Digne is highly rated and he can give Enrique serious competition if Liverpool sign him. Enrique has rediscovered himself under Rodgers and has been part of some really well crafted team goals this season. However, at times he has been inconsistent and it’s good for him and the team that he faces stiff competition. Lucas Digne has been linked with both the Manchester clubs and Ajax. Rodgers has been an admirer of Lucas Digne and hopefully he can sign this young lad who is brimming with talent.

Rodgers has done a good job this season and dictated a specific style of play. Liverpool have to hold on to key players like Suarez and Reina in order to challenge for the top 4 positions next season. Rodgers needs to keep up the good work and if he can make some good signings in transfer window, the chances of Liverpool finishing in top 4 will be boosted and the “Renaissance of Liverpool” may begin and the glory days may come back at Anfield.

Suso and Sterling are young lads with a lot of talent, their chances of playing first team football have decreased with the arrival of new signings. With Liverpool not playing in Europe, they won’t have a busy schedule. These two players should be loaned out so that they can develop by getting regular first team football elsewhere.