Three Liverpool stars Rickie Lambert’s arrival could work wonders for

Rickie Lambert: Liverpool’s first signing of the season

Liverpool announced Rickie Lambert as their first summer signing this morning with pictures of former Southampton fan favourite signing his new contract after completing a £4 million move from Southampton.

The 32-year-old has forever been a Liverpool supporter and was once on their books as a teenager. However, he was released when just 15, but has now found his way back up to the top of English football.

Lambert spent time in League Two with Macclesfield and slowly made his way back up with Bristol Rovers and then Southampton. The Saints, with Lambert up front, fired up to to the Premier League from League One in just two years and consolidated their position in the top flight well.

Mauricio Pochettino then led the Saints to a top-half finish last season and Lambert was a key aspect of their success. He scored 13 goals and grabbed 10 assists to become one of four players who hit double figures in both departments.

Liverpool now have three of the four players who hit that achievement of double, double figures. Luis Suarez scored 31 and assisted 12 and Steven Gerrard scored and assisted 13.

Lambert will most certainly be a back-up to Suarez and Daniel Sturridge, but he will be more than happy with that. He will have a big effect on the team when he plays as he can offer another outlet other than the pace and trickery of the ‘SAS’.

The Englishman brings others into the game and, despite the stereotype that follows him, he’s not a target man. He’s so much more than that.

Here are three players who Rickie Lambert could have quite a big effect on at Liverpool.

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Luis Suarez

Suarez will likely have another superb campaign next season – at least, all Liverpool fans will be hoping so. He was mesmeric last season, topping the scoring charts and assist chart until the final day when his captain, Gerrard, overtook him.

The Uruguayan missed the first five league games of last season with a suspension but then played in every single one of the following 33. Suarez was fantastic but at times, it looked like he could do with a rest. In some matches, I’m sure Brendan Rodgers would have liked to be able to take him off on the hour mark to hand him a rest, but due to a lack of quality replacements on the bench, Suarez mostly had to play late into the game or play the full 90.

However, with Lambert on the bench, Suarez could get the rest he needs when the result is all but assured.

A fresh Luis Suarez will be more dangerous for Liverpool and will be a lot more important should they fight for the title.

Daniel Sturridge

In a similar vein to Suarez, Lambert’s impact on Daniel Sturridge will be related to fatigue and injuries.

Sturridge missed the entire Christmas period last season with injury and, if it wasn’t for Suarez’s incredible December performances, Liverpool may have suffered.

When Sturridge was substituted last season, there was only Iago Aspas or Victor Moses to bring on in attack which just wasn’t enough and ultimately cost the Reds in the title race. Sturridge even had to play through injury and had to rush back into action in big games, i.e. the 2-0 defeat to Chelsea at Anfield.

There were parts of last season where Sturridge was not fit and had to be rushed back due to a lack of quality back-up. With Lambert now at the club, Sturridge can rest easy and return to full fitness when he is ready.

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Fabio Borini

Fabio Borini has been linked with a move away from Liverpool but looks likely to stay after settling in the Premier League with Sunderland last season. He is undoubtedly back-up and, without Lambert, would be the only striker in reserve.

He would be learning from Suarez and Sturridge but that could be limited.

Being the only striker as back-up may be a lonely existence and with Lambert, Borini can share it. The 32-year-old also offers a lot of experience and can help tutor Borini into becoming a better striker, too. Lambert has a lot of aspects to his game; skills, vision, passing, creation, and most importantly, goals.

Borini could learn a lot from Lambert.