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Liverpool are currently ranked 7th with 35 points from 21 games, 5 points behind 4th placed Chelsea. If we look back, it was the same position they finished in the 2009-2010 season which resulted in Rafa Benitez being sacked. Liverpool supporters need not worry, because they have a legend like Kenny Dalglish at the helm. But honestly speaking, it wont make a big difference if they finish 5th, 7th or for that matter beyond 7th. The Europa League is a competetion no manager wants to be in. They will have to finish 4th or above to “earn” and play in the prestigious UEFA Champions League.
For that to happen Liverpool need a new striker. Luis Suarez won’t be available for another 4 games and with Andy Carroll not justifying his price, Liverpool are desperate for goals. With the worst conversion at 8%, Liverpool have a new record for themselves. It wont count in the end that they hit the woodwork 17 times. The only thing that will matter is points and that will come only with goals. Stalemates or draws wont help. Liverpool have scored only 24 goals in 21 matches, with the likes of Blackburn Rovers and Norwich City having scored more. With Dirk Kuyt getting older, they need a striker who is ruthless in his finishing, someone who can score plenty of goals, a la Demba Ba or Darren Bent. There are several names that come to my mind. Apart from the ones mentioned above, Fernando Llorente, Lukas Podolski, Jermain Defoe and several others. Whether they are ready to come or not is another issue. Also signing a goalscorer will ease some pressure off Suarez and help him play more freely, not that he is not playing well now. In terms of skill and ball control, he comes second only to Leo Messi, according to me, some may disagree, but there is no doubting his quality.
With the new owners FSG ready to splash a few millions, Kenny Dalglish needs to buy an out and out striker and maybe a good right winger. They call this current Liverpool side “work in progress”, but with the addition of 2 or 3 quality players and the return of their talismanic captain, Liverpool can be a top side in the coming years and claim several trophies. That is about the future. As far as the current ambitions are concerned, they will have to do some business in this January transfer window, if they have to harbor any wishes of finishing in the top 4.
