Liverpool have been relatively active in
the transfer market very early on this summer – which is not a bad thing.
However, Manager Brendan Rodgers needs to be wary of the risks involved with
making wholesale changes to his squad. Last summer, Tottenham Hotspur went on a
spending spree (mostly funded by the eventual sale of Gareth Bale on deadline
day to Real Madrid), and only one of a whole host of new players really
impressed: Christian Erikson. The others faded in and out of form and Spurs
struggled because of it. Rodgers needs to make sure he isn’t making the same
mistake.
The Reds have already signed Rickie Lambert
from Southampton and Emre Can from Bayer Leverkusen, with Adam Lallana and
Dejan Lovren – also of Southampton – and Belgian youngster Divock Origi of
Lille seemingly a matter of when rather than if they join. Liverpool have also
been heavily linked to Swiss winger Xherdan Shaqiri who plays for Bayern
Munich, Benfica winger Lazar Markovic, and Barcelona duo Alexis Sanchez and
Pedro.
Most of these players are attackers. Liverpool scored 101 goals last season in the Premier League – their best tally since the Premier League began in 1992. Surly attackers should not be a priority if everything clicked last season. Luis Suarez, Daniel Sturridge and Raheem Sterling were all prolific in front of goal, helped by the supporting cast of Steven Gerrard, Jordan Henderson and Phillippe Coutinho.
