Liverpool supporters were disappointed with their club’s lack of activity in the January transfer window with Brendan Rodgers failing to add any new names to a side that has often struggled this season.
Whilst things have been looking up lately with five wins out of six in the Premier League and three consecutive clean sheets, the Reds still lie four points outside the top four, having been knocked out of the Champions League group stage in December.
The early season problems came mainly from Mario Balotelli and co, who failed to fire in the absence of Daniel Sturridge who has only just returned following five months on the sidelines through injury.
Whilst at the back, no goalkeeper has made more errors this season than Simon Mignolet whilst £20 million summer signing Dejan Lovren has had a start to his Anfield career beyond his worst nightmares.
Whilst things may have been looking up recently, a couple of new additions would have only added to the newly positive feeling around Anfield.
Here we have identified the transfer eleven Liverpool could have had according to various reports this January.
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Click on Brendan Rodgers to reveal the transfer XI Liverpool could’ve had this January.
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Petr Cech
Jose Mourinho remained adamant Petr Cech would be going nowhere in January but reports linking the Reds with a move for the Chelsea legend refused to go away as Simon Mignolet continued to struggle.
Cech remains second choice behind Thibaut Courtois at Stamford Bridge so a possible bid for the 32-year-old in the summer should not be ruled out.
Martin Montoya, Winston Reid, Benedikt Howedes
The injury to Glen Johnson, the dropping of Dejan Lovren and the return to fitness of Mamadou Sakho have all contributed to Liverpool’s recent defensive record.
In fact, only Chelsea and Southampton boast more clean sheets than the Reds this season, with nine to their name ahead of Liverpool’s eight. But prior to this improvement, a host of defenders were linked with a switch to Anfield. Barcelona full back Martin Montoya has been a long term target, and is still no closer to earning first team football at the Camp Nou.
West Ham defender Winston Reid was linked with the Reds along with Arsenal and Tottenham due to his contract situation at Upton Park, whilst German World Cup winner Benedikt Howedes has also been heavily linked with a number of Premier League clubs, having proved himself to be one of Europe’s best defenders during his time in the Bundesliga with FC Schalke.
James Milner, Fabian Delph, Ignacio Camacho, Yevhen Konoplyanka
With Steven Gerrard having announced he would be leaving Anfield at the end of the current season, Liverpool have been linked with a host of new midfielders. Manchester City’s James Milner is out of contract in the summer and would reportedly be open to a switch to Anfield.
Aston Villa’s Fabian Delph was mentioned as a possible replacement for Lucas Leiva but the Brazilian has been the main man behind the Reds’ recent upturn in form and Delph has since signed a new contract at Villa Park.
Malaga’s defensive midfielder Ignacio Camacho has also been linked with a switch to Anfield whilst Ukraine international winger Yevhen Konoplyanka came close to moving to Merseyside on deadline day 2014.
Whilst the move fell through at the 11th hour that day, the Reds are understood to have stayed interested in the Dnipro winger although Tottenham, West Ham United and Manchester United are also understood to be interested.
Ezequiel Lavezzi, Danny Ings, Xherdan Shaqiri
With Mario Balotelli, Fabio Borini and Rickie Lambert managing just three Premier League goals between them in the absence of Daniel Sturridge, the Reds found themselves linked with a host of attacking reinforcements.
Amongst them were Paris Saint-Germain forward Ezequiel Lavezzi with the Argentine reportedly available for a cut-price £8 million having become surplus to requirements in the French capital.
Another forward available for a cut-price was Swiss star Xherdan Shaqiri but despite some reports suggesting the Reds had a deal in place, it was Inter Milan who won the race for his signature.
Finally, Burnley striker Danny Ings found himself linked with a move to Anfield in the final days of the transfer window with reports now suggesting Liverpool will wait until his contract expires in the summer to complete the deal.
