Where Do We Need to Improve?

Now that the season has ended and the whole transfer market is up alive once again. Transfer speculations, rumours, record high fees. As for the Red half of Merseyside, there are more talks of players leaving instead of buys. Looking at the current Liverpool side, keeping the core players is definitely the priority rather than selling them. While Rafa Benitez is rejecting the suitors of Javier Mascherano and Xabi Alonso, let's see in which areas we need to improve?



Right-back
With the current situation and depth, it seems to me that we have only Spanish Aberloa as our reliable full back. Free transfer signing, Philip Degen has been invisible the whole season. In several occassions this season, while Arbeloa is unavailable, Carragher has to makeshift to right back which I always disagree with this move. However, there's no other players to provide the depth in that position.

A new right back will not only provide stability but also competition to Arbeloa whose performances can be inconsistent a times.

Rafinha

The Brazilian right back has great pace and his overlapping ability is an eye to watch. I'm lucky enough to watch him live in Singapore when he came over with the Brazil Olympic Team. He's quick and has decent footwork. Tireless running up and down the flank. In Rafa's style of play, full back overlapping is highly important and I do think Rafinha fills the bill.

Glen Johnson

There was speculation over Liverpool is going to buy the Portsmouth and England international fullback. Big, strong and fast are his strengths and his ability to charge down the flank explains why he's playing for England now under Fabio Capello. The fact that he's English is a plus point as there will not be any adaptions to English league problems. Rafa, take a look!

With the rest of the defensive positions having enough cover, let's see the midfield. With Xabi Alonso, Mascherano and Lucas in the middle, plus Steven Gerrard able to play there as well, our center midfield is stable.

Winger
A flying winger would be good for our attacks, providing width and crosses into the box. With Albert Riera, Kuyt and Benayoun in the team, it would be beneficial if we have one more to bring on defenders, turning in and out.

Arjen Robben

The ex-Chelsea man has lighting pace, great dribbling skills and abilities. Famous on how he brings on defenders, delivering beautiful crosses into the box. A lethal left foot who can score incredible goals from tight angles as well. His relationship with Liverpool may not be the best, but, I'm sure he can be a great addition to the team.

Striker
Strikeforce? Fernando Torres and David Ngog at this moment. It seems to me that Rafa is unlikely to remove the effective partnership between Gerrard and Torres. This shows that by bringing in another striker to the team will have another Robbie Keane situation. Having said that, with another striker may prove to be a good move as there are times whereby playing 2 strikers can be essential.

Sergio Augero

The Argentinean striker who is playing for Torres' ex-club, Athletico Madrid, one of hottest prospects in the market. Another fast-paced striker who has an eye on the goal and his ability to link-up play with the midfield can be effective. He could be another Torres in the making, exciting fans with his runs behind defenders.

3 positions to be improve, a few more additions to the squad. Will this finally our final piece of our big jigsaw puzzle? What do you guys think?

You'll Never Walk Alone..

Keane's Strike Not Enough For 3 points

Atletico Madrid 1 Liverpool 1
Simao 83 - Keane 14
AR Man of The Match: Alonso

The much highly anticipated game in Vicente Calderon Stadium, against Atletico Madrid. Unfortunately for Fernando Torres, he was not able to make it back to his hometown and the club where he started his career. Florent Sinama Pongolle and Luis Garcia, the 2 ex-Liverpool players were up against us last night while Rafa was determined to get 3 points back home.

It's nice to see Luis Garcia and Pongolle again. These 2 players were great servants to Liverpool during their time here and they were in the winning Champions League team in 2005. Well, friendships and memories were probably put aside once the match started.

The away side was able to control the game right from the start, managing the game's tempo and in the 14th minute, Rafa's men were up ahead. A through pass by Captain Stevie set for Robbie Keane to score his 2nd goal for the club, second consecutive goal in the Champions League. There were suspicion of offside and the linemen for the night were terrible in their decisions.

Sergio Augero came in the second half for Luis Garcia, while Liverpool was able to hold on the lead for long minutes. Goalscorer Keane was replaced by Dirk Kuyt, Babel was on for Gerrard and Alonso was taken over by Lucas. These subsitutions showed that Rafa was thinking of the game in Stamford Bridge, and hoping to hold on to the lead. You could see that the Liverpool players were tired while the home side began to attack, finding a goal.

Simao, the player whom we almost signed a few years back, got the equalising goal in the 83th minute, spoiling Rafa's plan of holding on for 3 points. Jamie Carragher of all players, allowed the ball bounced in the area, letting Diego Forlan to pass to the unmarked Simao to finish it home. A mistake with 7 minutes to go was definitely disappointing.

Yes, a draw away from home was not a bad result. But leading for almost an hour and to concede right at the end was certainly to be 2 points lost. Joint top with Atletico Madrid with 7 points while we have 2 more home games to go. Not the worse result, I suppose.

It's time to concentrate back on the league, it's the big and important clash in London.

Goals

You'll Never Walk Alone..