Can These Five Players Make Liverpool A Force Again?

This week Brendan Rodgers dismissed Liverpool’s hopes of winning the title this season, claiming that this season is “too soon” for his side. The Merseysiders occupy fourth place in the Premier League, two points ahead of fifth place Everton and eight behind the leaders Arsenal.

But although Rodgers believes that Liverpool will have a say with regards to where the Premier League trophy ends up, he doesn’t think that the Anfield side will break their title drought in this campaign.

Liverpool still have to play against Manchester City, Chelsea and Arsenal this season, and Rodgers is eager to see what type of influence his side has in the title race.

“Will we play a part in it? Yes, we will, because we are professional and we want to fight to finish as high as we possibly can,” Rodgers told Sky Sports.

“We look it and there are six points between us and (second-placed) Chelsea, so there is still a lot to play for and we will be fighting right until the very end.

“But, if I’m asked to give an honest answer, I’d probably say that this year is too soon for us.”

The former Swansea manager has identified a lack of squad depth as the reason behind Liverpool’s bleaker outings this season, and will attempt to strengthen his side in the summer as he looks equip the Reds for a genuine title tilt next season.

Below are five players that could transform Liverpool from top four challengers into title contenders.

1. Domenico Criscito

While there are seemingly no flaws in Liverpool’s attack this season, their backline remains a worry, with left-back seemingly the most problematic area.

Mamadou Sakho has been shoehorned in there this season, while Jose Enrique and Glen Johnson are battling injury problems, leaving loan signing Aly Cissokho as the only candidate to fill the left-back slot and disgruntle the Liverpool faithful.

Zenit St. Petersburg defender Domenico Criscito would be an excellent answer to the Reds left sided woes.

The Italian international started off his playing career as a centre-back which has helped him become a force both in the air and in the tackle, traits that are required of a Premier League defender.

Criscito reads the game well and also has the ability to make an impact in the final third, and at the age of 26 the Naples-born defender has his best years ahead of him.

Wages might be an issue if any potential deal were to go through given Zenit’s vast wealth, but Criscito would be an impressive solution for Liverpool’s worries at full-back.

2.Jefferson Farfan

Liverpool haven’t had any luck when it comes to signing widemen recently, with Yehven Konoplyanka’s move to Anfield falling through on deadline day, Victor Moses failing to dazzle the Kop from his loan at Chelsea, and buying Stewart Downing for £20million, only to sell him for £5million two years later.

Schalke’s Jefferson Farfan has the ability to banish the thought of Liverpool’s past failings and help take them to next level.

The Peruvian international tends to be forgotten about while plying his trade for Schalke, purely because they aren’t Bayern Munich or Borussia Dortmund, but the 28-year-old statistics are enough to make anybody sit up and take notice.

Farfan has scored 7 goals and contributed 6 assists in just 17 starts this season in all competitions and averages over 3 dribbles per game, more than the likes of Arjen Robben and Cristiano Ronaldo.

While Liverpool’s attack doesn’t need an awful amount of tinkering, the arrival of Farfan would bring more competition for places as well more of a threat to opposition rearguards.

3.Neven Subotic

Borussia Dortmund are seemingly everyone’s second team, but with Mario Gotze leaving for Bayern Munich and Robert Lewandowski following in the summer, will there be an exodus at the Signal Iduna Park?

Liverpool’s centre of defence hasn’t been woeful, but it hasn’t been impressive either.

Kolo Toure is erratic at best, Daniel Agger is rather prone to injury and Mamadou Sakho’s efforts to fully adapt to the Premier League have been halted by a troublesome hamstring complaint.

If the people at Anfield are serious about winning trophies again, then they have to match their ambitions with quality signings, and landing Subotic would send out a real statement to their rivals.

The 25-year-old Serbian is currently recovering from a knee injury, but his reading of the game and distribution would suit Liverpool’s play down to the ground.

Before his injury, Dortmund conceded 8 goals in the 13 games Subotic played in, and the Serb would surely shore up Rodgers’ creaky backline if he was to come to England.

4. Fredy Guarin

With Steven Gerrard in the winter of his career, Liverpool could benefit from another driving force from the centre of midfield.

Inter Milan’s Fredy Guarin could be that driving force, the 27-year-old Colombian has been shining for Inter this season and there have been rumours of Premier League interest from the likes of Chelsea and Manchester United.

Guarin is both effective and composed with the ball at his feet, and has the ability to dictate play and beat a defender.

He can also be used out wide if necessary, with his trickery and crossing ability making a tough customer for any opponent. The Inter star isn’t shy of doing some defensive work either, averaging around 2 tackles and 1 interception per game.

At 27, Guarin is hitting the peak of his powers, and would help give Liverpool more of a presence in the centre of midfield with his versatile style of play.

5. Jackson Martinez

Porto’s Jackson Martinez has been a revelation since joining the Portuguese giants, plundering 39 goals in just 47 matches.

Pacy, strong, good in the air an on the floor, the 27-year-old forward would supply intense competition for Daniel Sturridge and Luis Suarez, and would send a message to Liverpool’s main men for goals that they aren’t guaranteed starters.

Martinez is rumoured to be looking to quit Porto and is said to be keen on a move to England, with Arsenal and Chelsea believed to be snooping around the Colombian.

Apart from Sturridge and Suarez, Liverpool have no other out-and-out strikers in the squad, and with Sturridge missing a large part of the first half of the campaign through injury and Suarez missing the first 6 games through suspension, Brendan Rodgers might be tempted to bring in another forward.

The Merseysiders do have Fabio Borini due to come back from his loan spell at Sunderland, but if they really want to compete for the Premier League next season they have to look at a higher calibre of talent, like Jackson Martinez.