Liverpool saw their hopes of a top four finish all but go up in smoke yesterday, going down to a 4-1 defeat to Arsenal at the Emirates.
Brendan Rodgers side now trail the Gunners by nine points, and also trail fourth placed Manchester United by eight points after Louis van Gaal saw his side pick up another three points at home to Aston Villa.
Prior to the back-to-back defeats to Manchester United and Arsenal, Liverpool had been the form side in the country, going on a run of 13 league games without defeat.
But these consecutive losses have shown the Reds are simply not good enough for the top four this season, with the opening four months of the campaign particularly disappointing.
Brendan Rodgers faces a challenge to get his side back to the heights at which they were at last season, and may well enter the transfer market this summer in an attempt to rectify some of the mistakes he made with signings last time around.
Here we have identified five reported transfer targets he would do well to avoid.
Click on Brendan Rodgers to reveal 5 transfer targets Liverpool should look to avoid this summer.
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Saido Berahino
Some Liverpool fans have turned against Raheem Sterling this week, after the forward gave an unauthorised interview to the BBC regarding his contract situation.
Saido Berahino did the exact same thing at West Brom only a couple of months ago, and it is no surprise to hear both players share the same agent.
Berahino is a talented player no doubt, but Liverpool and Brendan Rodgers often speak of the players personality being just as important as their ability.
Berahino has shown disrespect to his current employers already this season, and there is little to suggest he would not take a similar path to Sterling in a couple of years if he were to prove a success at Anfield .
Ezequiel Lavezzi
The Argentine striker has been linked with Liverpool at various points over the past 12 months, and club legend Phil Thompson has only recently encouraged Brendan Rodgers to make a move in the summer.
Lavezzi is approaching 30 however, and is not the player who excited so many during his time at Napoli.
His attitude at PSG has also been called into question, with Lavezzi often kicking up a fuss if played out wide rather than as a central striker.
There is little to suggest he would be the right fit for Liverpool were he to move in the summer.
Jay Rodriguez
The Southampton striker made a big impression during the 2013-14 season, finishing second to Daniel Sturridge in the league of top English goalscorers that season.
His form reportedly caught the attention of Brendan Rodgers, who is said to still be keen to bring Rodriguez in as a support striker, and reignite the superb partnership he enjoyed with Adam Lallana on the south coast.
Rodriguez has not kicked a ball for 12 months however, after suffering a horror injury at the back end of last season.
Next season would be better for him if he were looking to return to form at Southampton, rather than the pressure of having to establish himself at such a big club following a serious injury.
Kyriakos Papadopoulos
The Greek defender was linked with a switch to Liverpool in the summer of 2013, but injury concerns meant the deal could not be completed.
Papadopoulos is currently on loan at Bayern Leverkusen from Schalke, where he has been trying to re-establish himself as one of the most promising young defenders in Europe.
Brendan Rodgers has already spent almost £50million on new centre backs in the last two years however, and spending more money on somebody with a questionable fitness record at this moment would leave the Reds boss open to criticism if the move did not work out.
Radamel Falcao
Liverpool were linked with a summer move for the Colombian striker, and were disappointed when he opted for a loan switch to Manchester United on the summer deadline day.
The longer the season has gone on however, the more it has looked as though Liverpool dodged a bullet.
Monaco are still demanding over £40million for the former Porto and Atletico Madrid forward, despite the fact he has a questionable fitness record, and has managed just four goals for United all season.
It would be considered a massive and expensive gamble were Liverpool to make a move as some reports are suggesting.
