Areas Liverpool need to address heading into the new season

Brendan Rodgers has a lot on his plate

Heading into the new season, Liverpool are looking stronger following the addition of quality signings in Iago Aspas and Simon Mignolet, and boosted by the more polished youngsters in Raheem Sterling and company. However, there are still a few areas that Brendan Rodgers still needs to address – here’s what he needs to do before the transfer window closes at the end of August.

Fix problems in the in the central defensive positions…

Whilst Rodgers has done well to bring in Kolo Toure in on a free transfer, Liverpool ideally need to bring in a center-back or two given the situation regarding defenders Martin Skrtel and Sebastian Coates. This, along with the fact that Toure didn’t have regular first team football at Manchester City last season means that Rodgers needs defensive reinforcements heading into the new season. Whilst Wisdom and Martin Kelly do have the capability of playing centerback, they need a more polished defender – ideally a Hummels-like (a cheaper alternative to Borussia Dortmund’s Mats Hummels).

…and the issues on the left too

Glen Johnson does the job well on the right side of defence, but the same cannot be said of Jose Enrique on the left. The Spaniard struggled with fitness and form last season, and Rodgers should make it a priority to sign a quality left-back before letting Stewart Downing go (considering he is the second choice left-back, ahead of Jack Robinson at the moment).

Liverpool were previously looking at Chelsea‘s Ryan Bertrand, but had their approach rejected by the London outfit. A move for Aly Cissokho would be interesting, but probably, Rodgers will go for a younger alternative.

Sell Suarez or don’t

Liverpool will have to sell Luis Suarez. With Arsenal knocking on the door with a deal at roughly 40 million pounds (and one), Liverpool would be better off without a distressed Suarez. Considering he will be missing the start of the season, it might be better for Liverpool to take the cash and find a replacement for their number 7. Ideally, someone who can create and finish loads of chances, much like the Uruguayan. A tricky, mazy dribbler with a nice finish is what they should look for.

Don’t sell first team players

Liverpool’s current squad is very solid. If there’s anything that Rodgers should do, it is to retain his players. Rodgers must retain his core eleven – even if it includes a new signing to take the place of Luis Suarez in the team. The team at present has a lot of talent and depth, two team qualities which we have not had complement each other for some time now. Whatever they do with Suarez, Liverpool should reinvest and not hurriedly splash the cash buying a like-for-like replacement, but rather review and analyse which players can really take the team forward.