Liverpool may have felt that they had no option but to sell Luis Suarez but whether the club were right or wrong to move the Uruguayan on to Barcelona, the truth is that his departure leaves a big hole to fill in the current squad.
The striker left Anfield with a record of 82 goals in 133 matches and at one stage last season, he was averaging more than a goal a game in the league. Manager Brendan Rodgers has already been busy in the transfer market but can the existing strikers within the club compensate for Suarez’s absence?
Daniel Sturridge
Liverpool are fifth favourites at 13.50 with Betfair to win the league in 2014-15 but if they are to come close to landing their first Premiership title they will need to replace Suarez’s goals. England international Sturridge formed a lethal partnership with the Uruguayan and as the new, senior striker within the squad, he needs to step up and improve his record.
24 goals in 33 games in 2013/14 suggests that Liverpool may already have the replacement they need but can Sturridge continue to thrive without his partner?
Rickie Lambert
32 year old Lambert arrived from Southampton earlier in the transfer window after scoring more than a goal every other game on the South Coast. The England international spent his youth career at Anfield but before joining the Saints he enjoyed a modest record in the lower leagues.
In a better side with quality service from the likes of Raheem Sterling and another former Southampton man Adam Lallana, Lambert could certainly improve on that goal scoring ratio.
Lazar Markovic
Serbian international Markovic was signed in the immediate aftermath of the Suarez sale and was therefore seen by some as his natural successor. However, although the 20 year old can play as a striker, he is often deployed on the wing so it’s difficult to judge his overall record.
Markovic found the net five times in 26 games for former club Benfica so don’t expect him to become a first team regular just yet.
Loic Remy
Remy is set to become the latest of Liverpool’s summer acquisitions and the French international has plenty of experience in the Premier League, having first signed for Queens Park Rangers in 2013.The French International could do little to stop the QPR dropping into the Championship that summer but his performances on loan at Newcastle last season persuaded Liverpool to fight off the attention of several clubs to land his signature.
The 27 year old scored 14 goals in 26 league games during 2013-14 and is another man who would surely benefit from having better service over the course of a campaign.
Fabio Borini
Italian centre forward Borini spent the entire 2013-14 season on loan at Sunderland and it’s reported that the two clubs have agreed a fee to take him to the Stadium of Light on a permanent basis.
However, the player’s agent claims that his client wants to stay and fight for his place at Anfield but can he really have a future on Merseyside? Borini has scored just twice in 20 appearances for his current club and while ten goals in 40 games with Sunderland is an improvement on that ratio, that figure includes a number of penalties. Taking Borini’s overall performances into account it seems likely that he will be moved on.
Have Liverpool already solved the problems caused by Suarez’s sale or are more deals likely? Could Radamel Falcao or Divock Origi be brought in to bolster the existing strike force or are the answers already contained within Brendan Rodgers’ squad?