5 Liverpool players who will play a key role next season

It is perhaps time when we must start accepting Liverpool as a mid-table side. Ever since the exit of Rafael Benitez and the rise of Manchester City, Liverpool have consistently failed to make the Champions League places. The first season with Brendan Rodgers at the helm has seen the side lift its game significantly, but the difference is hardly visible on the table. It is visible in terms of the number of goals scored and the quality of performances against sides that are below them on the table. The irksome inconsistency against teams in the second half of the table has diminished if not disappeared. However, many key problems remain. Liverpool has fallen short against teams of the top four inspite of fighting performances. They defeated only Tottenham of the top 5 teams while earning fighting draws against City and Chelsea. The reasons behind these lapses were clearly because of a poor defence and limited creativity in the midfield. Liverpool will have to shore up these areas of their game with potent signings in the summer transfer window as well as by working on the current squad. Liverpool have a number of players who can form a core group that will provide the team stability, but they also have a number of players whose ability is not clear. It cannot be said whether Stewart Downing, Joe Allen, Fabio Borini and Oussama Assaidi (and perhaps more players) have the ability to perform in a team that strives for a top 4 finish. We can only hope that Brendan Rodgers will make smart signings in the summer. Brendan Rodgers has begun his signing spree in the right area ? central defence. Liverpool have acquired the services of Manchester City surplus Kolo Toure to partially fill the gap left by the retirement of Jamie Carragher and are being continuously linked to Kyriakos Papadopoulos. Brendan Rodgers is also eyeing up players like Christian Eriksen and Dejan Lovren of Lyon. But the current squad will have to bear a considerable burden next season and hence here is a list of 5 players who might play a key role in Liverpool?s Top 4 hopes next season: 1. Philippe Coutinho The Brazilian prodigy bought from Inter Milan by Rodgers has been a spectacular signing so far. He has provided Liverpool that creative energy in the field that they had been lacking so far. It was a surprise to see how quickly the fledgling midfielder adapted to the physicality of the English game. His game is marked by incisive passing, deceiving his markers, swift turns and a visionary movement forward. He has dismantled teams from the second half of the table but it remains to be seen how he will cope once opposition managers put players on him and try to stifle him. In any case, he remains the brightest light for Liverpool in this squad.

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