Liverpool recorded a much-needed win to relieve the pressure on Brendan Rodgers on Wednesday evening, beating Championship leaders AFC Bournemouth 3-1 away from home to book a Capital One Cup semi-final with Chelsea.
The result came following a nightmare eight days for the Reds which saw them exit the Champions League at the group stage following a tame 1-1 draw at home to FC Basel before a 3-0 humbling away to bitter rivals Manchester United.
The last two matches have seen Brendan Rodgers alter the system to a 3-4-3, moving Raheem Sterling into a central strikers’ position.
The 20-year-old could have quite easily scored a hat-trick at Old Trafford had it not been for the form of David De Gea and recorded two goals as the Reds ran out 1-3 winners last night.
With Daniel Sturridge having not kicked a ball in Liverpool colours since August and with Mario Balotelli, Rickie Lambert and Fabio Borini having managed one Premier League goal between them, the pressure is very much on Liverpool’s boy wonder to carry the Reds out of this difficult period.
With the January transfer window fast approaching, Brendan Rodgers knows some attacking signings to relieve the pressure on Sterling should be considered a priority.
Here we have identified five players that would help ease some of that pressure.
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Wilfried Bony
No player has scored more Premier League goals over the course of 2014 than the Swansea City striker. It looks a big mistake on Brendan Rodgers part that the Reds did not pursue Bony in the summer ahead of Mario Balotelli. The Ivory Coast international has since signed a new deal at the Liberty Stadium which means his price will simply be hiked up further.
But if Rodgers can offload Balotelli – who is still yet to open his Premier League account in a Liverpool shirt – then a big money offer for Bony may be difficult for both the club and the player to turn down.
Yevhen Konoplyanka
The Ukraine international winger was a top transfer target for the Reds 12 months ago but Ian Ayre and co were somehow unable to complete a £12 million deal on deadline day.
The Reds have since completed the £20 million signing of Lazar Markovic from Benfica but despite the Serb having improved in recent matches, the 20-year-old has not done enough to improve the club going forward.
Konoplyanka would cost an affordable sum given his contractual situation at Ukrainian club Dnipro and is reportedly desperate to move to Anfield. Other Premier League clubs have identified him as a target but Liverpool surely hold the upper hand in the race to sign the tricky winger who is capable of playing anywhere across the front.
Jackson Martinez
It is no secret that goals have been the major problem for Liverpool this season – or lack thereof. Jackson Martinez has been scoring goals for fun in Portugal as well as in the Champions League.
Martinez’s agent, as well as the player himself have consistently stated the Colombian international is looking for a move that will take him to that next level.
With the likes of Manchester United, Chelsea, Manchester City and Arsenal well stocked in the strikers department, it looks as if it will be a straight fight between Liverpool and Tottenham for the Porto man’s signature this winter.
Martin Montoya
Brendan Rodgers is a manager who likes to see his full backs attack and contribute with assists and the occasional goal. Whilst Alberto Moreno and Glen Johnson have managed a goal each this season, neither have been consistent in terms of either form or fitness.
Johnson is out for the next month with a groin injury and looks set to leave the club on a free transfer at the end of the season anyway.
Rodgers would like to add another attacking full back to the Reds squad and Barcelona’s Martin Montoya fits the bill.
The Spaniard has struggled for regular first team football at the Camp Nou and will ‘definitely’ be available for transfer this winter, according to the player’s agent.
Petr Cech
The goalkeeping position has been a major issue for the Reds this season. No keeper has made more individual errors than Simon Mignolet and the Belgian has paid the price by being dropped ‘indefinitely’ from the first team.
A top goalkeeper would go some way to taking the burden off of the Reds’ attack who bailed out a leaky back line time and again last season. With Suarez and Sturridge out of the picture this season, the likes of Raheem Sterling have simply not been able to provide the goals to do so again.
But a top goalkeeper – the likes of Chelsea legend Petr Cech – would go some way to resolving that issue. The 32-year-old has lost his first team place to Thibaut Courtois this season and reports suggest a possible loan move in January is on the cards – and the Reds have registered their interest.
