Liverpool's transfer window so far

Liverpool have had a very active transfer window to date so far and it doesn't seem to be slowing down anytime soon. Luis Suarez has been sold and despite Rodgers' claims that they are not "pulling a Tottenham" they have emulated the Spurs' in bringing in a host of new, young players. Despite this I believe Liverpool have done a magnificent job this transfer window in bringing in talented and hungry players who will fight for places and trophies this season. There is still some unresolved transfer sagas such as bringing in Spanish defenders Javier Manuillo and Alberto Moreno. There are also rumors that Mario Balotelli could be on his way to Anfield, which would definitely be entertaining to say the least. Mostly though there are musings that there could be further exits as Rodgers seeks to get rid of the dead wood. He has already sent out Alberto, Aspas and Wisdom on loan and it seems as though Robinson and one of our current right backs will be leaving too. As to which one it will be is up to debate but in my opinion I believe it is Johnson who should be sold. Daniel Agger is once again being linked with a move away and his exclusion from the match with AC Milan yesterday has only fanned the flames of him being sold. The good preseason form of Coates and Toure, but most importantly the acquisition of Dejan Lovren has pushed Agger further down the pecking order at center back. I have loved having Agger at Anfield but I believe the time is right for him to leave, he has unfortunately made too many errors.

Everything is shaping up pretty well for Liverpool as we approach the beginning of the new Premier League season. The question on everyone's mind is can Daniel Sturridge become a world class striker to fill the void left by Suarez, or will Suarez's absence mean that the Reds will be out of the Champions League once again. I believe that Liverpool need another striker and a left back and then they will be ready to succeed in the EPL and Europe and I think Moreno and Balotelli are the guys to do the job. Even if they aren't brought in I will still be happy with all the work that Liverpool has done this transfer window. I for one cannot count the days until the new season starts but I suppose watching Liverpool take on Manchester United in the International Champions Cup will be a good distraction.

The Perfect Transfer Window for Liverpool

Liverpool will be returning to Europe's elite competition, the Champions League thanks to their second place finish in the EPL last season. The competition brings new expectations as well as opportunities for Liverpool, especially in the transfer market. Gone are the days of losing players like Willian and Mkhitaryan to Champions League teams, now the Reds are able to really bring in some ringers. The thin squad needs strengthening but even more so in need of an injection of Champion's League level players in order to push on from the successes of last season. So far Liverpool have addressed the need of more squad players in bringing in the experienced striker Rickie Lambert as well as the promising midfielder Emre Can. Neither of Liverpool's signings thus far are capable of dislodging any of the current starting eleven. So what do Liverpool do now? What do they need to do in order to be successful next season?

Sell the unwanted:
Liverpool's owners will certainly be willing to spend the cash this summer as a show of good faith to Rodgers and to prepare for the Champions League. Despite the influx of available funds Liverpool still would benefit from offloading players who are simply getting their pay by sitting on the bench. Cissokho and Moses are already gone as they did not impress while on loan last season, provoking Rodgers to say that he does not plan on going back into the loan market again. Assaidi impressed in spurts while on loan to Stoke City last season but small injuries is hampering his chances. All parties involved would benefit from his sale to another team. Pepe Reina did decently while at Napoli last season but not good enough for Napoli to want to put out the cash Liverpool want for him. His wages are a stumbling block for his departure but he still needs to find somewhere else to play as Rodgers lost faith the Spaniard. Daniel Agger is again rumored to be offered a move away and it might be best if he was sold his summer as Sakho looks to have dislodged the loyal but at times shaky Dane. Suso is also rumored to depart though another loan move to continue his progression might be best. Also worth mentioning is Borini's great development last year, I believe he should be given more chances at Liverpool next season.

Strengthen the defense:
The defense was Liverpool's achille's heel last season. Skrtel was fantastic (especially off corners) and Johnson usually solid but the second center back and the left back were big problem areas last season. Sakho was decent and will improve with time but Toure was simply awful and cost the Reds crucial points with his blunders. I believe an additional center back should be brought in, and my first choice would be Southampton's Dejan Lovren. Liverpool were linked with the Croat last summer but became a Saint instead but now seeks a move to a Champions League club. Liverpool are boosted in the chase for his signature by his reported transfer request sent to his club's management.

Another weak point is of course the left back position. This has been a problem area for Liverpool for years and Enrique was thought to be our left back saviour, but inconsistency and long term injuries have made that impossible. Liverpool must now seek a new saviour for the left back position and there are many options for them. Alberto Moreno is being reported as close to a move but that Sevilla's high demands might stop the deal from materializing. If Moreno is not signed there are many other young talents for Liverpool to pursue. They include the Swiss/Chilean/Spanish/German Wolfsburg player Ricardo Rodriguez who can shield and tackle like nobody's business and is a great free kick taker, and is only 21 years old! Then there is the adaptable Marcos Rojo of Argentina and Sporting Lisbon. He is just as comfortable at left back as he is in the center and is starting for his country during the World Cup, and is only 24.

Champions League quality attacking midfielder:
I believe that Liverpool don't need to many players brought in so it wouldn't be the worst thing if an attacking midfielder wasn't signed. Coutinho is doing very well and still has a lot to learn at only 22 years old but I do believe Liverpool can bring in someone to start in front of him. Adam Lallana seemed to be the first choice for Liverpool but that move seems a ways off from being completed due to Southampton's reluctance to sell. Another, higher profile target is Alexis Sanchez whose future at Barcelona is again being questioned as a new manager takes the helm at the Nou Camp. The options for Liverpool in this position are many and have the ability to attract a really good attacker this summer.

In conclusion I believe 3 players should be sold and 5 players brought in(including Emre and Lambert). By making these changes I believe that Liverpool will be able to repeat the surprisingly lethal attacking backed by a more organized and talented back line. I for one am really looking forward to next season, though having the World Cup to pass the time makes it a bit easier to get through.

The one player that Liverpool needs

Liverpool have defied everyone's expectations this season and are still in this title race. Liverpool were undone by the stalwart and quite frankly, annoying Chelsea defense on Sunday. Mourinho exploited Liverpool's weaknesses, forcing them to try and break them down around the 18 yard box. Liverpool are very much a counter-attacking team, not usually ones to score from great distances. Gerrard, Coutinho and even Allen took shot after shot, all of them straight at Schwartzer. Liverpool's midfield has greatly improved this season thanks in large part to Rodgers' great management, but there still needs to be more tact and skill in our midfield ranks. In my opinion Liverpool needs to sign one more midfield player in order to mount another title challenge next year, and that player is Adam Lallana.

Lallana was impressive last season, but even more so this season. He is the long standing captain of Southampton, his boyhood club. He is nearly 26 years old and is in the form of his life, scoring a total of 10 goals this season. He has a very good claim to be named in Hodgson's World Cup squad. He has been named in the Team of the Season for his performances.

Lallana plays in a number 10 role, as an attacking midfielder, but is able to be deployed in multiple midfield roles. He plays much like Coutinho, but more effectively in my opinion. His passing and shooting is superior to Coutinho's and I would like to see him take his place in the starting lineup. We must remember that Coutinho is only 21 years old and has a long way to go yet. He will continue to improve under Rodgers but I believe that improvement is needed immediately in order to succeed next season.

Lallana is the main reason for Southampton's great form this season. Their style of quick,attacking football is very similar to that of Liverpool's. He will fit in perfectly with Rodgers' squad and be a success for many years for the Reds. He will cost a pretty penny, probably in the region of 20 million pounds, but that should not be a problem as Liverpool will be due a big payout for reaching next season's Champions League, which will also help to convince players of Lallana's quality to join.

Passing the Test

Many were doubting if Liverpool had the mental strength to cope with being in this title race and if they could pull off a win against Tottenham today. That question was answered with a resounding yes as they beat Spurs 4-0 at Anfield. I am not sure if Liverpool will win the title but they are certainly in this title race until the end and I am just loving it. I was however asking another question lately: is Philippe Coutinho good enough, or does Liverpool need to go out and find someone to start above him? That question was answered today as well, and with the same answer, yes, yes he is good enough.

Philippe Coutinho was brought in a year and a half ago and was fantastic during the second half of the season. He has done pretty well this season, though not as good as he did when he first arrived and I had begin to wonder if attacking midfield is a key transfer area for Liverpool in the summer. Last summer Liverpool went after a few different attacking midfielders like Mkhitaryan and Willian, but they failed to convince any to come and settled for young Luis Alberto, who has played a very minor role. So Coutinho continued in his crucial role in the starting lineup, playing in 31 games so far this season but only scoring 4, 3 before today. Today Coutinho started the buildup to the first goal and scored the third and was impressive throughout the match. Now I am convinced that he can be fantastic for Liverpool for years to come. 

Because of his big involvement at Liverpool it is easy to forget that he is only 21 years old, with his best years still to come. I think back to Jordan Henderson who was brought in when he was only 21 years old to Liverpool as well. For the first year and a half Henderson was largely criticized by the Anfield faithful, but as he grew and matured he developed into a mainstay in the starting lineup. Coutinho, while he has his flaws, is better than Henderson was when he was 21, so just think of how great he will be in two years time.

Coutinho's biggest weakness is his shooting prowess but Liverpool are doing fine letting SAS do the scoring for them. Today Coutinho showed that he is still capable of a goal every once in a while when called upon. Liverpool will undoubtedly be able to bring in the kind of players that turned them down last summer now that Champions League will return to Merseyside. Though now I am seriously doubting if any of them will be able to uproot Coutinho from his starting role. Rodgers has proven that he is great at developing young talent (he did work with clubs' youth setups before making the jump to management), and I believe that he will help Coutinho achieve his full potential. So I am happy to report that today Liverpool and Coutinho both passed our tests.

My 5 Most Wanted Liverpool Summer Transfers

Everyone can now agree that Liverpool will be playing in the Champions League next season. This means two main things in terms of transfers: Liverpool need a stronger and deeper squad and now they can attract better players to play for them. Here is my top 5 players I would like to see playing for Liverpool next season and their back-ups.

5. Ashley Cole or Bacary Sagna

-Liverpool's defense is the area that needs the most improvement over the summer and an injection of experience will help greatly. I picked Cole first because left back is the area that needs the most help and Cole will serve the Kolo Toure role for the left back position. Either can serve not as a starter week in, week out, but can help cover them.

4. Yevhen Konoplyanka or Jay Rodriguez

-Liverpool came very close to signing for Liverpool in January and his club have said that he will probably make the move in the summer. The Ukranian would provide some great pace and experience to the front line of the attack. Sterling is great, but at 19 years old it is a bit much to ask him to start all the time. I am a big Rodriguez fan, he is a great finisher and I think he would fit in well to the trident attack that Liverpool play with. Though I am a little hesitant that either of them can make enough of a difference at a big club like Liverpool, especially Rodriguez, but I would like to see one of them given a chance.

3. Adam Lallana or Mateo Kovacic

-I have included another Southampton player, and he will not be the last on this list. Lallana is in my opinion the best player on their team. The way he plays is just so smooth, simple and creative. Coutinho is not quite doing enough for Liverpool, especially in scoring goals, which Lallana is doing very well in again this season. His backup is Kovacic, a young attacking midfielder at Inter Milan who is making a big impression this season. He is reportedly not happy in Italy and may be making a move to a bigger club this summer. In terms of entertainment I think Lallana is player I want the most to leave for Liverpool.

2. Mateo Musacchio or Stephen Caulker

-Liverpool's center backs have been the most inconsistent players for Liverpool this season and I believe that there needs some change in this area. I don't know very much about Musacchio but I have been hearing a lot of great things about him. He is young and a great passer for a center back. His contract expires in the summer and a lot of clubs will be lining up for his signature. Caulker is a great center back as well, at a terrible team with Cardiff and will probably be sold when his team are relegated to the Championship.

1. Luke Shaw or Alberto Moreno

-Shaw is almost undoubtedly moving to a big English club at the end of the season with Chelsea leading the charge and Man U also trying. Moreno might be a more realistic, but might be as equally good as Shaw as well. Either way I think a new, young left back is the most important position to strengthen in the summer. Good left backs are hard to come by and Liverpool need to fork over some serious cash and get one of these guys.

Top 10 Possible Summer 2014 Transfers

1.       Lewandowski to Bayern Munich

-The Polish international has already announced his plans to sign a contract at Bayern, switching from his boyhood club Dortmund in another controversial move between the two clubs. With Lewandowski coming in, will Bayern sell one of their current strikers, like Mandzukic to make room for him?

2.       Falcao to Chelsea

-Falcao has long been linked with Chelsea and everyone was surprised when the Colombian international signed for Monaco in a big money move, which cost Monaco 50 million to get him from Atletico. Mourinho has fanned the flames on the rumors of Chelsea’s interest, but with his current long term injury will Chelsea make a big money risk? If he is brought in who will leave Chelsea? Torres, Ba, Eto’o?

3.       Luke Shaw to Chelsea, Man U or Liverpool

-It’s still hard to believe that the left back is only 18 years old. He is the hottest young English talent at the moment and all the big English clubs are circling. He will cost a pretty penny though, more than 20 million perhaps. Man U are on the lookout for a new left back with Evra due to leave at the end of the season but he is a known Chelsea fan, though Liverpool are also looking for a new left back and Rodgers probably willing to give him the most game time and champions league football next season it is hard to tell who will win this race.

4.       Victor Valdez to PSG or Monaco

-Valdez has already stated that he will not renew his contract at Barcelona, for some unknown reason. It is still unclear as to who will offer him the best deal for a free Bosman transfer. PSG and Monaco have been the ones most rumored to bring him in, though there are rumors of an English or Italian move for him. We will just have to wait and see if he will be any good without being on the best team in the world to back him up.

5.      Toni Kroos to Manchester United

-Kroos was close to moving to Man U earlier this year but a move never materialized. Man U signed Mata instead who hasn’t really made a difference for them yet. Kroos is a more defensive minded midfielder, all action which is what Man U are in desperate need of. It will be hard to prize him away from his boyhood club Bayern but it might be worth it.

6.       David Luiz to Barcelona

-Luiz has long been linked with a move to Barcelona, he has been seen as the replacement for the ageing Carlos Puyol. Chelsea have been adamant that he is not for sale but he has not been playing as much for Mourinho as he did in the past, so they might decide it is time to cash him in for a big payout.

7.       Van Persie to either Juventus, PSG or Arsenal

-This kid is a whiner. When things aren’t going his way he gets frustrated, doesn’t work hard and looks for a way out of the club. He seemed to really enjoy Sir Alex but now with his man crush retired be will probably be looking for a club to close his career with, my guess is out of the country with a big club like Juventus.

8.       Julian Draxler to Arsenal

-A deal for the young German international was close to happening in January but never came to pass. Schalke have been adamant that he will not leave anytime soon but they might decide to let him go in the summer, especially if they are unable to qualify for the champions league.

9.       Eliaqium Mangala to Manchester City

-Mangala has been linked with Man City for a while now. He has excelled with Porto over the past couple seasons and will probably make a big move soon. Man City are having some defensive worries with Demicellis making mistakes and Lescott out of favor with the manager. City surely have the money for it and will be looking to shore up their defense this summer.

1.   Mario Balotelli to Chelsea

-This is another rumor that Mourinho has fanned the flames with. Balotelli started his career with AC Milan quite well but this season has been a disaster for him and his team and they sit midtable right now. Mourinho has repeatedly been whining about his lack of good strikers and a move to Chelsea might benefit all involved as Mario did pretty well with City in England before.

Why is Liverpool conceding so many goals?

Liverpool is coming off a nine goal thrill ride of a football match and thankfully the Reds won the match 6-3. Suarez had a hat trick, Skrtel had a brace and of course Sturridge got a goal as well. You can usually count on a team to lose if they concede three goals in a single match, but Liverpool proved again that for Liverpool, that is not the case. But what happens when SAS is not banging on all cylinders because it is bound to happen every once in a while, even for world class players. Without the goals from SAS on Saturday Liverpool would have lost the match because they were shaky at the back, again. Cardiff went ahead in the match twice and Liverpool had to claw back into the match. This has become a common occurrence this season and simply cannot continue if Liverpool are to progress and have a chance at the title.

So why are Liverpool conceding so many goals? When you look back at some of the goals scored against the Reds this season which ones stick out the most? For me the two Toure mistakes, the own goal and pass right to Anichebe right in front of our goal, stick out the most. Also the Skrtel bicycle kick that landed straight to the opposition comes to mind. The most recent goals scored, by Cardiff on Saturday, highlighted the biggest problems we are having. Cardiff''s first goal came very early in the first half and the other not long after that. Both of those goals were from shots just inside the corner of the 18 yard box and the player was very much unmarked both times. Both times Agger was caught out of position, drifting too far in the middle and on the second goal Agger was left looking like a fool by Frazier Campbell who moved past him far too easily. The third goal was caused by another mistake at the back when both Glen Johnson and Skrtel went for the cross to Kenwyn Jones and he headed the ball to an open Jordan Munch, who was Skrtel's man.

In conclusion, it has been a combination of individual errors from the experienced center backs. I also blame the poor Cissokho as well as the occasional error from the inexperienced Flanagan. It is a side effect of Rodger's attacking style that errors at the back will occasionally happen. Passing out of the back and sending defenders to help in the attack will result in the occasional goal against us. Rodgers has stated that he has no intention of changing the team's attacking style and that they will continue to try and hash out the defensive mistakes.

The question is, what else can be done? For years now Liverpool's first choice center back pairing has been Skrtel and Agger (and Carragher for a while), but that was during a time of hardship for the club, when Liverpool finished 6th, 7th, 8th and 7th again. I love both of the players, especially Agger because of his strong loyalty towards the club, but also Skrtel because of all of the goals that he adds to the team. But I must say with a heavy heart that it is time for a changing of the guard. I think that Sakho is a fantastic defender and will be a stalwart for the club for many years to come, as Agger's replacement. Toure just signed for Liverpool last summer and he has undoubtedly accepted that the times of starting week in, week out are over and should be kept around, but only for cover in case of injuries. Tiago Ilori was brought in last summer as well, but he hasn't played a single match for the Reds and is now out on loan to Granada. He hasn't been given a proper chance and I hope he gets his chance next year. Now on to Martin Skrtel. He has made a lot of mistakes this season but he has done a lot of great things as well, so I am not sure that selling him would be the right thing to do. If Rodgers decided that it is time for him to move on, then he should replace him with Steven Caulker.

Caulker was given the run around by SAS on Saturday but he still has done a lot of great defending for Cardiff this season. It is almost assuredly written in stone that Cardiff will go down and their record signing will move on in order to keep the wage bill down and compete at the highest level. Rumors are surging that Tottenham will look to bring him back in the summer. It is also being rumored that Caulker is being targeted by Brendan Rodgers, who managed him while he was on loan to Swansea in their first EPL season. He is physical, good in the air and on the ball, young and English which will please FSG.

The fullbacks don't need as much change as the center backs. Johnson has been doing very well lately and most of the time this season. Jose Enrique has been out for a long time this season due to injuries, Cisskho is no good, and Flangan is punching well above his weight. There should be a new player brought in to replace Enrique, pushing him back to the substitute role. Luke Shaw would be a perfect fit in my opinion. He will become one of the greatest English left backs of all time and would solve the Red's left back issues they have had for years. Some alternatives could be Alberto Moreno (21) of Sevilla or Dennis Aogo (27) of Hamburg. Enrique is great on his day, but most of his days are spent on the injured list. As for young Jack Robinson (20) who is on loan to Blackpool this season, I don't think he is ready to take the starting position, yet, and should be used as a sub or possibly spend another year on loan.

In the end the decisions are made by Rodgers and the Liverpool management. They make the hard decisions for a reason, and he has made the right decisions for the most part as manager. It is hard to let loyal players like Skrtel and Agger go after so many years of great service to the club, but I think it is time. With the attraction of Champions League football for Liverpool next season they should be able to attract better players like Caulker and Shaw. I wish the current players would get their acts together so these changes wouldn't have to be made, but its been long enough. Here is the starting lineup I would like to see for next season.

My 2014/15 Liverpool team

Ian Ayre today promised that Rodgers will be granted sufficient transfer funds, despite the losses that Liverpool sustained overall this past year. I believe that Liverpool will begin to make some drastic changes in the summer, which should be for the better. Here is the team that I would like to see starting for Liverpool next season.

So here are the changes I would like to see:
Sagna replaces Johnson
I was once a big fan of Glen Johnson's but his performances this season have been very inconsistent, lazy and injury ridden. Sagna, despite being two years older at 31, is more consistent and healthy than Johnson has been. Rumor has it that Sagna has already said goodbye to his teammates as his contract expires with Arsenal in just a few months. Rodgers showed that he is a fan of experienced, older players if they can be brought in for free, like Kolo Toure. Sagna is great in possession and attacking, but is still better at getting back to defend than Johnson is. Liverpool's young right backs: Kelly, Flanagan, Wisdom and McLaughlin, need at least one more season before any of them are ready to hold down a starting position. Having Sagna will give them the time needed to develop.

Caulker replaces Skrtel
Martin Skrtel has been the most capped center back for Liverpool this season and yet has been the worst of them. It is good that he has scored some crucial goals and been very fit for Liverpool, but it is time for him to move on. He almost left last summer and so will probably end up leaving this coming summer. Caulker replaces him in the starting lineup. He has arguably been the best player for Cardiff this season but his heroics probably won't be enough to keep them from relegation. Caulker played for Swansea under Rodgers while on loan from Spurs and Rodgers is a long time fan of his. I think Tottenham were stupid to let him go and it would be a masterstroke to bring him in this summer, the timing is perfect. He is a young, English, star of the future that will be available for a good price, that just screams FSG to me.

Moreno replaces Cissokho
Liverpool have the option to make Aly Cissokho's stay at Anfield permanent, but I highly doubt that it will happen. Rodgers prefers to play Jon Flanagan and Glen Johnson, with Johnson on the left, than have him play. Left back continues to be a problem area for Liverpool. I was impressed most of the time with Jose Enrique's performances there but his injuries occur much too often and while I hope American specialists can finally solve his hamstring issues, there needs to be a better option. There are quite a few left backs linked with Liverpool but I believe Moreno has the most potential. Liverpool's young left back, Jack Robinson, has failed to impress me while he has been on loan with Blackpool this season and often suffers problems with his discipline. Moreno could play a bit part next season while Enrique enjoys a good run in the side and then Moreno will take over.

Konoplyanka replaces Moses
Another player due to go back to his home club will be Victor Moses, who has been one of the worst players for Liverpool this season. The Reds came very close to signing the young Ukranian winger Yevhen Konoplyanka from Dnipro in January but couldn't finalize a deal in time. It is rumored that Liverpool will return for him in the summer. Konoplyanka is a quick, tricky winger with a good eye for goal, especially from distance, which is something that Liverpool are in need of. Sterling has been fantastic this season but his finishing needs some work, especially from longer distances. Konoplyanka should come at a pretty good price, just short of 15 million I think and still has his best years ahead of him.

Other changes:
Borini and Suso return to Liverpool, given more playing time
Both players have done exceptionally well while on loan this season and I would be very upset if either of them are sold or sent out on loan again. Both players need some more development and experience but Liverpool will need more players next season as we should be playing more games. I believe both of them will excel for us next season.

Robinson, Flanagan, Luis Alberto, McLaughlin sent out on loan
These players still have some developing to do before they can influence Liverpool enough to help them win the title.

Conor Coady sold
Coady has done pretty well while on loan to League 1 side Sheffield United, but unfortunately he seems to be at his skill level there, and so it is time to regretfully part ways.

Summary:
Buy: Sagna (free), Caulker ( 8 million), Moreno (15 million), Konoplyanka (15 million)
Sell: Johnson (8 million), Skrtel (8 million), Coates (3 million), Coady (1 million)

Squad: Mignolet, Jones, Sagna, Kelly, Wisdom, Sakho, Agger, Ilori, Caulker, Toure, Moreno, Enrique, Lucas, Gerrard, Henderson, Allen, Coutinho, Suso, Borini, Suarez, Konoplyanka, Sterling, Aspas, Sturridge

Time to reconstruct Liverpool's defense

Liverpool edged Swansea in a seven goal thriller today to keep the Reds in the title race being just four points behind the leaders Chelsea. Despite Liverpool's amazing form recently, especially when at Anfield, there are plenty of questions being asked of the porous defense. The Reds have conceded five goals in the past two matches against lesser opposition and it has been their amazing goal scorers that have saved them. It is not only the past two matches that their defense has been poor, it has been happening all season long and so I believe that Liverpool must clear out the old guard and start anew in the summer with new defenders. I do not say this lightly because of the great work many of these defenders have done in the past, but this is a team on the rise and so improvements must be made and better players replacing under-performing ones. Below I go over which players need to go and which ones should replace them in order to keep Liverpool on the up for next season.

Who needs to go?

Aly Cissokho
When the summer comes Cissokho will have finished his year long loan at Liverpool. The Reds have the option to make his move permanent, I believe that the fee would be in the region of 3-4 million pounds to prize him away from his home club, Valencia. Due to the long term injury to first choice left back Jose Enrique, Aly has gotten a good run in the starting lineup recently and has done a lot better than his first showings towards the beginning of the season. Despite his improved form I believe he does not have what it takes to make it at Liverpool unfortunately. Left back has been perhaps the weakest position of Liverpool's for many years and now that Champions League should be returning next season we should be able to attract better defenders than Cissokho.

Daniel Agger
I have been a fan of Agger's for many years now but I believe that his time is finally up at Anfield. Agger has endured many injuries while at Liverpool and missed a lot of matches, including this season, because of them. He is a great passer of the ball but it now seems as though Mamadou Sakho will be the first choice left-footed center back in the future. Daniel is the vice-captain this season but has been out of the side too often, and been inconsistent when he has been in the side. After Swansea scored their tying third goal it was Agger that came off for Toure, and it is very rare to substitute a center back which I think demonstrates Rodgers' unhappiness with him. Agger has been linked with many clubs in the past few years including Barcelona and Napoli so there will suitors for him in the summer I'm sure. Selling Agger should give Liverpool sufficient funds to purchase a replacement.

Martin Skrtel
The Slovakian came very close to moving away from Anfield in the summer with Napoli being heavily linked. Skrtel recently admitted his frustration last season and how close he came to leaving. Like Agger, Skrtel has been a very strong and loyal servant of Liverpool for many years and was even the player of the season in 2011-12. He's improved from last season and has been the most constant starter this season but he has had perhaps even more blunders than Toure has, for example him deflecting Bony's header into the goal and bringing him down later to award them a pk. Skrtel also has many admirers around Europe and so should be able to bring in a hefty fee to go towards a new signing to help improve the center back position.

Sebastian Coates
I don't need to do a whole lot of writing to convince Liverpool fans that the 23 year old Uruguayan should be traded. He never really adapted to the English game and lacked the necessary speed to succeed. The long term injury he got last season has left him unable to play for the entirety of this season and it would be in everyone's best interest if he moved on, especially with Tiago Ilori here now for the future.

Glen Johnson
This is probably the most controversial of my picks of players to leave this summer. Johnson has been one the strongest performers since his signing but I don't think he is what Liverpool needs under Rodgers' system of play. He is great at going forward on the attack but is slow to come back when the ball is lost and I believe he is to blame for Swansea's first goal by not staying close enough to Bony, which seems to happen much to often. Liverpool has a plethora of young right backs including Kelly, Flanagan, Wisdom and McLaughlin who could use with some more playing time. Johnson is just coming back from another injury and it seems as though the injuries are coming all to often for the 29 year old. He has many who would love to have him and will also command a large fee.

Who will replace them?
As you can see, I wish that almost all of the old guard to be shipped away in the summer and so there needs to be many recruits of the highest quality to improve the starting 11. I will only list players that have been linked with a move to Liverpool recently.

Angelo Ogbonna
The 25 year old was linked with a move to Liverpool in the summer but instead moved to Juventus. Ever since the Italian center back's move he has struggled to establish himself in the starting 11, only having 10 appearance in Serie A so far. Now reports are resurfacing that Liverpool will return for Ogbonna in the summer. It might be a bit of a long shot seeing as he plays for the Italian champions and might be reluctant to leave Italy only one year since his move but I think he would be a good partner to Sakho. He is a good overall center back, the only weakness I've observed is his speed but that can be overlooked a bit in his position. He would cost around 10-12 million pounds but I think it would be worth it.

Bacary Sagna
The 31 year old's contract with Arsenal expires in the summer and seems to be looking for a move away. Liverpool and Inter are the clubs most strongly linked with a move for the right back. Last summer's free signing of Kolo Toure demonstrated Rodgers' willingness to bring in experienced and older Premier League players if he can get them on the cheap. Sagna has been a starter for Arsenal for years now and is just the kind of defender Rodger likes, able to get forward and a great passer of the ball. It is being reported that Liverpool are offering Sagna an offer to him that he can't refuse and I hope that they do. As I said before, Liverpool have many up and coming right backs but none are quite ready to start week in, week out. He would be great to cover right back until one of these youngsters emerges as the front-runner for the role and the best part is that he come free.

Ashley Cole
The 33 year old Englishman's situation is much like Sagna's but with Chelsea. Mourinho has given the starting left back spot to Cesar Azpilicueta instead this season and his contract expires in the summer as well. It is rumored that Rodgers will offer him a better contract than Chelsea will and so might be playing for Liverpool next season. He would be a welcome addition to provide experience and cover for first chance left back Enrique and also help mentor young Jack Robinson for the future.

Looking forward to the summer transfer window

Liverpool just played the best game they have done in years by beating Arsenal 5-1 at home. Everyone was fantastic, A+s for everyone! Liverpool are now only 6 points away from the leaders, Chelsea and are looking like they will be featuring in next season's Champions League. There is still work to be done, lots of it. It seems as though Liverpool can only play like this for the big matches like Tottenham, Everton and Arsenal but still struggle against teams like Hull, West Brom and Southampton. Liverpool still need to strengthen the starting lineup if they want to progress. Here I will go over what I would like to see happen in the summer transfer window to help Liverpool continue to progress.

Transfers out: 
The majority of the squad is performing very well but there is still some that are dragging us down. The squad is already pretty thin as it is but some players need to be replaced.

Iago Aspas
He leans where he wants to. But he doesn't play as well as he leans unfortunately. My diagnosis is that Aspas had a very lucky season with Celta Vigo and made a jump too early to the Premier League. Liverpool should have given him another year before deciding if he should be signed. He just looks lost out there. He can occasionally score a good goal but they aren't frequent enough and he is a small guy who gets injured easily. I say sell him back to La Premiera for about half of what we bought him for.

Pepe Reina
Liverpool obviously wanted to sell the Spaniard last summer but were only able to seal a loan deal to Napoli. The rumors are that Barcelona want him to replace Victor Valdez next season but that could just be speculation. Mignolet has had his bad moments this season but overall he has been great, an improvement to Reina. Having him around to play second fiddle to Mignolet is just not going to happen, so yeah he's gotta go.

Aly Cissokho and Victor Moses
Both players are here on loan until the end of the season and if Liverpool wanted they could sign both of them to permanent deals but I don't think they should. Cissokho started his Anfield career very poorly but has done better recently as the replacement for Jose Enrique who is injured for the long term. He still is not good enough to help Liverpool progress as a team and I think young Jack Robinson would be better than he is.
Moses never should have been signed in the first place and I feel he was Plan J for last summer's transfers for attackers. He has had glimpses of good play but for the most part he has been a train wreck. He looks lazy and disinterested on the pitch and then complains about how he wants a chance to prove himself with more game time.

Oussama Assaidi
The 25 year old has been spending the season on loan to Stoke City and has done pretty well. I don't think Rodgers ever wanted the Morrocan international and only sent him on loan because he doesn't want to play him and wants to increase his market price for when they sell him in the summer.

Sebastian Coates
The 23 year old Uruguay international has had a horrid time at Anfield, mainly due to a horrible injury which has ruled him out for this season. It seems harsh to sell him after he has suffered so much here but I think its time for him to leave, probably back to Uruguay.

Returning loanees and players to loan out next season:
Fabio Borini
The 22 year old Italian was signed at the beginning of the 2012/13 season but suffered an injury ravaged season and so he was sent to Sunderland on loan for the season. He has probably performed the best out of all of Liverpool's loanees this season and should be kept around as cover in the forward areas next season.

Suso
The 20 year old Spaniard had a breakout season last year and has improved even more while on loan to Almeria for this season. He has played a lot and had a lot of assists and a goal here and there. I would love to see him play second fiddle to Coutinho in the attacking midfielder position. I don't think he needs another season out on loan and is ready to get back into Liverpool's team.

Andre Wisdom
This is a hard one to call. Wisdom has played just about every minute for Derby County this season while on loan, helping them achieve a playoff spot in the Championship. Before he went out on loan he was Liverpool's back up right back behind Glen Johnson but now Jon Flanagan has taken that position. Many see Wisdom playing as a center back in the future but I don't see that happening anytime soon with all of the quality center backs at our disposal. Wisdom is still only 20 years old and so I think that another year out on loan will do him good as well have too many right backs as it is.

Ryan McLaughlin
The young Northern Irishman is playing on loan at Barnsley currently. The right back is 19 years old and is seen as one of the most promising prospects of Liverpool's youth academy. He still has a way to go and I don't think he will be able to overthrow the other right backs for playing time for the first team. Loan him out another year.

Jack Robinson
Robinson is about the only young left back coming through the ranks that could play for the first team. He still the last half of last year's season on loan to Wolverhampton and this season was spent with Blackpool where he has played almost nonstop. He is only 20 years old and I expect him to be a starter for Liverpool in the future. He has done pretty well, though not fantastically and has had some problems with acquiring yellow cards. After spending a year and a half in the Championship I believe he is ready to play in the EPL but not for Liverpool, so I say loan him to a promotion side like Leicester.

Conor Coady
The 20 year old defensive center mid has spent most of this season on loan to League 1 side Sheffield United. He's been playing in most of their matches so far but hasn't impressed that well. He will probably be a good player later but I think he needs another loan, this time to a Championship team next season.

Jon Flanagan
Flanagan has proven a lot of people wrong about his abilities recently and did great in the win over Arsenal. He is 21 years old and many say he will be the next Carragher but I think he needs at least one year out on loan. Personally I think Martin Kelly is better and smarter than him so he should play second fiddle to Johnson.

Luis Alberto
The 21 year old Spaniard has had a minor role this season playing as back up to Coutinho, and has done alright, not great though. His pace isn't quite up to standards for a top four side and so I think a loan would be good for him. Suso would be a better option than Alberto currently but that could change after Alberto spend a year out on loan.

Transfers In:
Because of Liverpool's great form and standing in the table I'm going to assume that they will be playing in the Champions League next season. They will need some quality players to help have enough players to cover the extra games that Champions League brings. And because Liverpool will be in the CL they will be able to attract better and better players to Anfield and thus putting behind fiascos like Mkhitaryan and Willian behind us. Here are the players I believe Liverpool should sign in the summer.

Yevhen Konoplyanka
Liverpool tried desperately to sign the 24 year old in the closing hours of the January transfer window but failed as they couldn't get the price figured out. His club, Dnipro, has stated that they are 1000% sure that he will sign for Liverpool in the summer. He will be signed for around 15 million pounds and bring experience and pace to the wing, taking Moses place as a potential starter.

Thomas Ince
Ince is currently on loan at Crystal Palace after being offered options at quite a few EPL sides, Liverpool included. His father and former Red, Paul Ince, stated that he considered a move back to Liverpool but that he is not quite ready for that jump. After scoring on his debut and earning a place in the Team of the Week on ESPN I believe he will do enough to earn a permanent move to Liverpool to give Sterling some competition for a starting place.

Ashley Cole
Cole's contract at Chelsea is due to expire at the end of the season and rumor has it that he will not be offered an extension. Mourinho said that he will probably be offered a better deal somewhere else anyway. Liverpool were rumored to be monitoring his situation at Chelsea multiple times this season and will probably be offered a deal similar to Toure's. Cole is 33 years old and will probably be looking for a team that can offer him a good salary and Champions League football. I think he would be a good acquisition and give competition for the very injury prone Jose Enrique and the best part is he wouldn't cost anything!

A center midfielder-probably a defensive one
I really don't know who Liverpool should sign for this position. Rodgers has been deploying Gerrard as a defensive center mid to replace the injured Lucas and at first struggled but has done pretty well more recently. I think that a defensive mid should be signed which would push Gerrard a little more forward than he is currently. The best choice by far would be Porto midfielder Fernando Reges, aka the "Octopus" because of his long tackling legs. Yann M'Vila would also be a great player to have though his behavior and attitude problems would be a stumbling block for him. If a more attacking midfielder is wanted by Rodgers than Rakitic would be perfect.

Replacement for Brad Jones
The back up keeper position needs a stronger replacement than the aging Australian. He probably should be younger but it doesn't matter too much.

Possible Last Minute Transfers

The January transfer window closes on Friday at 11 pm. The window started slowly but the last week has had a flurry of transfer activity in the English Premier League. Here are some of the bigger transfers that have happened in the EPL during the window.

Juan Mata- Chelsea to Manchester United for 37.1 million pounds.
Nemanja Matic- Benfica to Chelsea for 21 million pounds.
Mohamed Salah- FC Basel to Chelsea for 11 million pounds.
Kenwyne Jones and Peter Odemwingie swap clubs (Stoke and Cardiff).
Aiden McGeady- Spartak Moscow to Everton. Fee undisclosed.
Lacina Traore- Anzhi Makhachkala to Monaco then loaned to Everton for remainder of the season.
Clint Dempsey- Seattle Sounders to Fulham on loan for remainder of the season.
Luuk de Jong- Borussia Monchengladbach to Newcastle on loan for remainder of the season.
Yohan Cabaye- Newcastle to PSG for 19 million pounds.
Stephen Ireland- Aston Villa to Stoke, already on loan he secured a permanent deal for an undisclosed fee.
Nikita Jelavic- Everton to Hull for an undisclosed fee.
Shane Long- West Brom to Hull for 6 million pounds.

There is still time for clubs to finalize deals for players and I expect there to be some last minute surprises to happen before the window slams shut. Here are five deals that I think could happen in the dying stages of the window.

Konstantinos Mitroglou- Olympiakos to Fulham for around 11 million pounds. Mitroglou has attracted a lot of interest for his amazing scoring record the past season and a half. Liverpool were long linked with a move for the 25 year old but then the Greek signed a contract extension and the rumors stopped. Now Fulham are desperate for goals and see Mitroglou as a possible savior for them to avoid relegation. It will take a lot of convincing for them to get this deal done due to his renewed contract.
Probability: 6 out of 10

Yevhen Konoplyanka- Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk to Liverpool for 15 million pounds. The 24 year old winger was briefly linked with a move to Liverpool at the beginning of the window but now the rumors are really heating up. It was reported today that Yevhen's father said that the rumors are true about him possibly moving to England this week. There is much murmuring among Liverpool fans about their failure to lure Salah to Anfield and now it seems Liverpool are set to sign their second choice as they are very slim at the wing position.
Probability: 8 out of 10

Julian Draxler- Schalke to Arsenal for 25 million pounds. It is being reported today that Arsenal representatives are in Germany today to see if they can hash out a deal for the 21 year old German attacking midfielder. Draxler is one of the most promising young talents in Europe at the moment and would be another major signing for Arsenal. It is being reported that Arsenal have submitted a 24.5 million pound bid in a 'take it or leave it' offer so we will see if Schalke want to cash in on their star now or later. I personally think this is the wrong move for all parties as Schalke need Draxler right now and Arsenal already have a plethora of great young wings and attacking midfielders like Cazorla, Ozil, Ramsey, Walcott(though injured), Podolski, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Gnabry.
Probability: 5 out of 10

Tom Ince- Blackpool loan to... an EPL team. A transfer to the Premier League has been long in the making for 21 year old Ince and now it seems as though it will finally happen. Blackpool fired manager Paul Ince, Tom's father, which hastened Tom's departure and the Tangerines have allowed Ince to hold talks with multiple EPL teams about a possible loan move for the remainder of the season with an option to buy at the end. Reports came out a while ago that Monaco were interested in signing him, although those reports have died down recently. It has been reported that Ince is holding talks Cardiff, Crystal Palace, Hull, Sunderland, Swansea and possibly his old club Liverpool. So it would seem that Ince has his choice of 6 teams to play at for the remainder of the season. I think Ince is seeing which team will be able to guarantee him a starting place in their team while still being able to survive relegation. Swansea have been the most heavily linked with a move for Ince so I think they are the most likely to snatch him up. One thing is clear is that he will move, though his destination is unknown.
Probability (to Swansea): 5 out of 10. 9 out of 10 with a move away.

Clement Grenier- Lyon to Newcastle for around 12-15 million pounds. Today it was announced that Newcastle sold their star midfielder Yohan Cabaye to PSG for 19 million pounds. Newcastle will undoubtedly be immediately looking for a replacement and Grenier could be it. The 23 year old French international was linked with a move to Arsenal and Liverpool during the summer but nothing came of it. He is quite similar to Cabaye, he also has a good eye for goal and could be an ideal replacement like for like. Grenier is important to his current club so it will be hard for them to prize him away but it will be a good bit of business if they can do it.
Probability: 7 out of 10

EPL Match Predictions Round 23

I guessed 4 matches correctly last round with one perfect score, not horrible but there is plenty of room for improvement. The FA Cup is in action this weekend so the EPL games will be played on Tuesday and Wednesday.
January 28
Manchester United vs Cardiff City
Manchester United lost last week to Sunderland in the Capitol One Cup Semi-final but they are still doing a lot better in the league lately. They are beginning to catch up to their rivals and currently sit in 7th place. The Red Devils have just signed Juan Mata from Chelsea but they will probably be without RVP and Rooney. Cardiff lost last week to Man City at Etihad but they showed great spirit and managed to score 2 goals to their 4. Cardiff have signed a couple of players, Eikrom was one of them I think, but basically they haven't got anyone that will make an impact in the starting lineup. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer wants to bring in players from his native Norway but I don't think he realizes that they suck. If Cardiff give it their all they could end up getting something from this one as Man U are still trying to figure things out, even at Old Trafford.
Prediction: 3-1

Norwich vs Newcastle
Both of these teams showed real resilience in their last matches, both winning their matches. Norwich beat the very impressive Hull Tigers 1-0 thanks to a goal from Bennett in the closing stages of the match. There has been quite a bit of transfer rumors flying around Norwich but it is about clubs coming in for their players like Hoolahan, but I don' think they need to buy or sell in order to survive the drop. Newcastle haven't added anyone yet but they don't really need to right now as well. Newcastle beat West Ham 3-1 away from home, showing great defensive resolve against the physicality of West Ham. Newcastle have a lot of players that are scoring for them right now so I think they are going to win this one, but it will probably be close.
Prediction: 1-2

Southampton vs Arsenal
Southampton's goals in their last match against Sunderland were absolutely exquisite but they still couldn't win the match against Sunderland. Arsenal didn't play their best against a poor Fulham team but thanks to an impressive brace from Santi Cazorla they took all three points. Whenever these two play I can't help but think of the first time they met in the Premier League when Southampton came back up to the EPL, I believe it was 6-1. Southampton are pretty strong at home although they haven't had great results recently and I can't see them taking much from this match too. Arsenal haven't been playing their best but have been getting good results but I think their luck will run out and it will end as a tie.
Prediction: 1-1

Swansea vs Fulham
At the beginning of the season I didn't expect either of these teams to be sitting so low in the table as they are right now. Swansea's defending was absolutely atrocious against Tottenham and lost 1-3 at home. Wilfried Bony scored a great goal and is starting to look like he is worth what Swansea shoveled out for him. Fulham still have a lot of problems to figure out and I hope they do because they don't deserve to go down to the Championship. Fulham have brought back Dempsey on loan and has helped a little bit but it isn't enough. This will be a great and evenly matched match, a truly hard one to call. I am going to go with a win for Swansea simply because they have the home field advantage.
Prediction: 1-0

Crystal Palace vs Hull Tigers
Both of these teams have had their high points this season but are now in a bit of a slump. Palace got a shock win against Stoke at home last week 1-0 thanks to a bad pass from Ousamma Assaidi and a good finish by Jason Puncheon, which kind of makes up for his terrible pk miss two weeks ago. Hull lost 0-1 to Norwich, which is a big blow for them but I don't think it will affect them too much. Hull have made some great deals in the January transfer window bringing in Nikita Jelavic and Shane Long which will really help them up front. I expect them to begin to click with their new teammates and edge this game out.
Prediction: 0-1

Liverpool vs Everton
Here it is! The Merseyside Derby at Anfield! This is one of my most anticipated matches of the season. This derby is one of the biggest and bloodiest of all derbies in world football. Both managers have been preaching more patient passing but all of that goes out the window for this match. Liverpool really needed Lucas for this match but he will be out for a few weeks and Joe Allen is a doubt as well. Everton have just brought in Lacina Traore on loan from Monaco but I think he is basically a taller and less skilled Lukaku. Liverpool struggled last week at home against Aston Villa and ended up coming from behind to tie the match 2-2 thanks to a dive from Suarez to get a pk. This will be a really tough one for Liverpool and Everton have a very good chance of taking something from this one. Only one point separate the rivals so the winner will be much closer to securing a top 4 finish. I of course want Liverpool to demolish them, but I think this will be a very close match. Last time they met it was at Goodison Park and ended 3-3. I am going to go with a narrow Red's win.
Prediction: 1-0

January 29
Aston Villa vs West Brom
Both of these teams are very similar in terms of skill and placement in the table, Villa are two points up on West Brom. West Brom's new manager isn't the greatest and I think they will struggle but barely survive relegation. Villa showed great promise at Anfield last week with Agbonlihor and Benteke impressing and Vlaar did a good job stopping SAS. West Brom tied last week as well to the other Merseyside team Everton 1-1 thanks to a rare Lugano goal. Its weird but I think that Villa are better away than at home so West Brom will have the home field advantage somehow. I am sensing another tie for this match with neither team really having the determination to finish off the game.
Prediction: 1-1

Chelsea vs West Ham
Chelsea have been busy in the transfer window but I don't think it will affect them too much for better or worse though. Chelsea are looking very impressive lately and I expect them to beat anyone right now, they beat Manchester United last week. West Ham are still struggling, even with the return of marquee signing Andy Carroll, who is still trying to get into the swing of things. Samuel Eto'o is the only forward who can score right now and Torres is out injured as well so I think he will score. West Ham games seem to always involve a lot of scoring so I am going for a high scoring affair.
Prediction: 3-1

Sunderland vs Stoke
Sunderland beat Manchester United in the Capitol One Cup this week which will be a huge boost for them as they try to survive the drop. Stoke didn't play a great game last week against a poor Crystal Palace team. Sunderland will be all fired up for this match and I expect it to be very high paced. This is another hard one to predict as these teams can be very hot and cold. I am going to go with a narrow Sunderland victory because if they can keep Manchester United's strikers out they can keep Stoke's.
Prediction: 2-1

Tottenham vs Manchester City
In my mind the EPL title is already going to end up in Man City's hands so I am expecting a good win here. Last time these two met City beat them 6-0 at the Etihad and I expect another win for city, but I'm sure it won't be as big. Tottenham are starting to really mesh together with Eriksen really impressing lately. City are just too good at the moment and I don't see Spurs even scoring, if they do it will be just once.
Prediction: 1-3

How Liverpool Will Deal With New Injury Blows

Liverpool have gone through quite a few injuries to players this season and suffered two more this week. Lucas hobbled off the pitch after playing 21 minutes in the tie against Aston Villa and Glen Johnson has been ruled out indefinitely due to persistent ankle problems. Lucas and Johnson are very good players but unfortunately they are very injury prone and Liverpool need to learn how to deal with that. Here we will look at how Liverpool will cope, if they can, without these two very influential players.

Lucas Leiva:

Right now Liverpool sit in fourth place and despite a disappointing showing against Aston Villa they still very much contenders to finish there. Liverpool experimented with their formation by deploying Steven Gerrard in Lucas's position as a center defensive midfielder, and he failed miserably (we can explore the 'Gerrard Conundrum' another time). Lucas changed the game for Liverpool and they looked like a completely different team with him on the pitch.

Liverpool scored the equalizing goal when he was on the pitch but they lost the edge when he went off injured and Joe Allen was brought on. I personally believe Allen is a hell of a player, but not when he is asked to perform Lucas's job of being the controlling defender in the midfield. Then there is Henderson who has really impressed this year but he again is no good at Lucas's responsibilities. Henderson is best in Steven Gerrard's position, marauding up the pitch and has even excelled playing out on the wing. Currently there are no players in the Liverpool squad who can perform Lucas's duties well.

It is clear that Liverpool are in need of some reinforcements and need to bring in a sufficient replacement/competition for Lucas. There have been many players that have been linked with a move to Liverpool so far including Fernando Reges of Porto and Yann M'Vila. It seems unlikely that either of these players will sign for Liverpool in January but there are others that could be on their way on.

Almost as soon as it was released that Chelsea had stolen Mohamed Salah under the noses of Liverpool it was reported that Liverpool were approaching Spartak Moscow about Romulo Borges Monteiro. Romulo is a center defending midfielder who started his career at Vasco de Gama in his native Brazil before moving to Spartak in 2011. His time there has been plagued by an injury that lasted for about 15 months but has recently returned to action. Liverpool signing Romulo would be a slightly less marquee signing but he still has a long career ahead of him at only 23 years old and has a lot of potential. It is been rumored that Liverpool have already tabled a 7 million pound offer for Romulo but that Spartak are hoping for closer to 10.

I am not sure what Liverpool will do without Lucas to be honest. If it was up to me I would sign Fernando as he is one of the very best in his position, but it seems as though the Liverpool owners are going for a low cost alternative and therefore Romulo could be on his way in.

Glen Johnson:

Today in a press conference Brendan Rodgers said that Johnson has been suffering with ankle injuries all season long, which he attributes to his loss of form and to why he is now ruled out indefinitely for now. Rodgers also said that Liverpool will not be looking to bring in a replacement for him in the January transfer window. Liverpool currently have a plethora of young talent that play fullback that can fill in for Johnson. This season Liverpool have employed many of these players to fill in for the injured Enrique and Johnson.

Jon Flanagan, 21, has played the most games, although that was at left back before he was injured and replaced with Aly Cissokho. I'll be honest, I am not the biggest fan of Flanagan. I find him very poor at defending and anticipation, though I will admit that he is quite fair at helping on the attack, which I believe is why Rodgers likes him. He was injured during the Christmas period but returned to training this week and will probably start for the FA Cup tie against AFC Bournemouth. Flanagan has had his share of injury problems like the rest of the lot but I believe that Flanagan works harder in training than the rest of them. It seems like every Liverpool fan is rooting for Flanagan because he is from Liverpool and everyone wants him to be the next Jamie Carragher. Flanagan is a good backup for now but I think he needs to go out on loan before he is ready to maintain a starting position.

The second alternative to replace Johnson during his injury is Martin Kelly, who would be my choice. Kelly also is overcoming injury problems, though his was worse than Flanagan's with a torn ACL. He made his comeback from injury during preseason with Valerenga but hasn't made an impact for Liverpool this season. He started and played all 90 minutes of Liverpool's last FA Cup against Oldham which was a big step for him. Kelly hasn't really played to his potential since the injury and has been a little off the pace but I'm sure he will get back to his best self with a few more minutes on the pitch. I believe that Kelly should be the one to replace Johnson for the long term. In my opinion he has it all and Liverpool are letting him go to waste at the moment.

There are also those players who are currently on loan that could be great replacements, but that wouldn't be at least until next season. There is Andre Wisdom, 20, is currently on loan at Derby County. Many see him as a future starting center back but at least for now he is better playing right back. He has been doing exceptionally well there, helping Derby to be in contention for a playoff spot in the Championship. He is probably the best defender of the group but is not as good at getting forward as the others. I think he could do with another year out on loan and then would be a great option to start at right back.

Ryan McLaughlin, 19, will probably be the best of them all in the future, but has the most time before he will be ready to start for Liverpool. He is currently on loan to Barnsley in the Championship for only a month. He has great pace and is great in the attack. He will probably get a full season loan next year which will help in his development.

Overall I believe Rodgers should give Kelly more game time and then I could see him develop into a great right back starter for Liverpool. Wisdom, Flanagan and McLaughlin will develop into great defenders but I think they need to get more game time with other clubs out on loan.

Liverpool Transfer Updates

We now only have 10 days left in the January transfer window and Liverpool have yet to bring in any players. However, I am almost 100% positive that Liverpool will bring in at least one, maybe two players as reinforcements this month.
Rodgers has said that a lot of work has been done and that they are in negotiations with a number of players but no deals are imminent, yet. So here are the updates on Liverpool's transfer targets.

Mohamed Salah

Salah has been the most heavily linked player with a move to Liverpool this transfer window. Reports say that Liverpool's owners met with Rodgers about transfers last weekend and have given him the green light to bid 8 million pounds for the 21 year old Egyptian winger. Most reports say that a deal should be finalized by the end of this week. Reports today are saying that Salah has already purchased a apartment in Liverpool which means that a move is imminent. I am not sure if these rumors are true or not but I still think that a deal will be done very soon, which I am very excited about. Liverpool are in dyer need of a new winger to replace Victor Moses and give the struggling Coutinho some competition for a starting place.

Valon Berisha

Liverpool were briefly linked with a move for Berisha last year but reports today say that Liverpool are now in negotiations with Red Bull Salzburg for his transfer. Berisha is a 20 year old Norwegian midfielder/wing who has previously attracted interest from Chelsea, Manchester City and Aston Villa. Liverpool sent scouts to watch him recently and as I said reports say that he is now in negotiations about a move. He won't cost very much, probably about 3 million pounds. At only 20 years he has a long career ahead of him and will get only better with time. Berisha is good but I don't think he will make too much impact on the starting lineup, right now but would be a good back up and a prospect for the future. This would be a very good bit of business for Liverpool and I hope it pans out quickly.

Fernando Reges and Yann M'Vila

There isn't a whole lot of evidence to support the reports that Liverpool are moving for these two defensive midfielders but there is a lot of speculation. It is a well known fact that Liverpool are in need of a new defensive center mid. Steven Gerrard was employed as a defensive mid last week to a disastrous end and when Lucas came in to take over the spot he was badly injured after 20 minutes on the pitch. Lucas will now be out for up to 2 months with his injury, and so Liverpool need another defensive mid to have as backup to him. M'Vila is the most linked player with a move, mainly due to his close friendship with Mamadou Sakho and having shared the stands with Liverpool fans with the last Merseyside Derby. I would rather Fernando be signed instead though as he has more pace and is slightly better at tackling. Due to his long tackling legs he has been nicknamed the "Octopus" and in my opinion is one of the best center defensive midfielder in Europe. It will take a hefty fee to bring either to Anfield but I think that it would be well worth it.

Liverpool Transfer Roundup

It has been a very quiet window for Liverpool thus far and yesterday Brendan Rodgers admitted that it will be difficult for them to bring in any signings. This is due to a lack of quality players available as well as a lack of funds given from the owners. I am not really concerned with the lack of activity; the current squad is doing very well at the moment and only need a few adjustments.
The most important positions Liverpool need to strengthen in is left back, wing and defensive midfielder. It seems unlikely that Liverpool will sign a left back due to a lack of available players and a defensive mid due to Gerrard being moved further back the pitch. That leaves a wing the most likely position that Liverpool strengthens this month. Let us take a look at some of the most likely transfers that could come to fruition.

Mohamed Salah

Salah is still clearly the most likely to sign for Liverpool in January, although sources say that the Reds may have to wait to sign him until the summer. Victor Moses has been a disappointment on the wing this season and Rodgers needs to replace him and Salah would be a definite step up, especially in pace. Liverpool's interest in him in genuine but the reason the move has been delayed is due to FC Basel's asking price which supposedly is getting close to 16 m. I think that Liverpool will end up signing him in January, though it might not be until the very end of the window.

Fernando Reges

Fernando aka "The Octopus" is gaining a lot of attention from Europe's big teams recently. His contract with FC Porto expires at the end of the season which has begun a race for his signature. Getting a great defending center midfielder for free would be great, but Liverpool probably don't want to wait until the summer to sign him. I think that Liverpool are resigned to losing him to some other team which showed when Rodgers moved back to the defensive mid position, pushing Lucas further forward. I believe Fernando is currently one of the very best tacklers in the world but I think Liverpool believe they are fully equipped in that position and won't be willing to shovel out some cash in order to bring in a player that they can get for free in a few months.

Conclusion:

To be honest that is about it. There is a lot of speculation and guessing out there as to who could move to Liverpool but there is no real substance to any of them yet. I think we will have to wait for at least another week before any rumors begin to come to fruition. I hope that Liverpool sign both of these players; if they do I would say that Liverpool are shoe ins for the top four.

EPL Match Predictions Round 22

Last week was a very good week for  me in terms of predicting matches correctly. I guessed 7 match results correctly with 1 perfect scoreline which is pretty good if I do say so myself. Last week all top 7 teams won and finally the premier league standings are beginning to settle after a turbulent start, so it is imperative that teams win matches in this crucial time. There aren't many huge match-ups this week except for the always entertaining Chelsea vs Manchester United. It doesn't seem to really matter who plays though, the EPL always delivers a hell of a show every week.

Sunderland vs Southampton
Both of these teams won last week which really gave them a boost. After starting the season strongly Southampton have been fading since November or December. The premier league is clearly separated into the top teams and those battling relegation with Southampton sitting at the bottom of the top teams. They need to win games like this if they want to still battle for a spot in a European league next season. I have always thought that Sunderland will survive relegation this season despite their encounter with Di Canio. They gave themselves a big lift by beating Fulham 4-1 away from home thanks to a hat-trick by Adam Johnson, a player who they will rely on heavily in their fight for survival. Southampton have real class and have been able to beat teams like Southampton so far, but Sunderland will be flying high and have the home field advantage. Southampton have great attacking players like Osvaldo, Lallana, Rodriguez, and Lambert who will be able to beat Sunderland's very poor defenders quite easily. I expect a slim Saint victory this week.
Prediction: 1-2

Arsenal vs Fulham
This shouldn't be a hard one to predict because Arsenal are cruising in first and Fulham um, suck. I expect Fulham to have a record low percentage of the ball in their possession. Fulham have some great players but they don't play nice together, they remind me of my younger brother who tried to dribble through every player, quite unsuccessfully I might add. Goals are coming from almost every Arsenal player recently, not just Giroud, though he had a great goal last week in their victory versus Aston Villa. Villa threw everything they had at Arsenal with long balls up to Benteke but Arsenal's stalwart defense handled it quite handily. Fulham probably doesn't stand a chance.
Prediction: 2-0

Crystal Palace vs Stoke City
This will be the first time that Tony Pulis takes on his former team. Their playing styles are very similar, being brutal and physical with long balls up to the forwards but Stoke has it down much better. Palace had a bit of a resurgence when Pulis first came in as manager but things are getting worse and worse and now they are back to the bottom of the table. Palace lost last week away to Tottenham partly due to an awful pk miss from Jason Puncheon who was clearly the wrong choice. Stoke had a great game against Liverpool despite conceding 5 goals at home, they showed great spirit and fight and came close to a comeback but could only manage 3 goals. Pulis knows how to deal with his old team, but I'm not sure his players are good enough to stop them. I think they will end up tying.
Prediction: 1-1

Manchester City vs Cardiff
Probably the shock result of the season came when Cardiff beat Man City on their home turf. At the time City were really struggling to get good results away from home. Now half a season has passed and it seems as though City have overcome their beginning of the season jitters and are now beating everybody. Cardiff have lost their drive and power, it left with Malky McKay, and won't be able to have great victories like that under Solskjaer. City will win the league and they will do that by being able to demolish teams like Cardiff.
Prediction: 4-0

Norwich vs Hull City
Currently three points separate these two sides with Hull defying expectations so far sitting in 10th place. Hull have much more ambition than what they have already accomplished by signing forwards Nikita Jelavic and Shane Long, setting club fee records. These two forwards will complete the puzzle for Hull in my opinion, that was the weakest part of their team with Sagbo and Graham not really setting the world on fire. Now they will not have to rely solely on their great defenders to get results. Norwich have done alright but aren't really getting enough good results and they lost last week to Everton 0-2. This should be a pretty entertaining game and be pretty even. It is hard to predict because it is hard to predict how Jelavic and Long will do for Hull. Norwich need to get results soon or they will once again be drawn into the relegation battle. I think that this will be a draw in the end.
Prediction: 1-1

West Ham vs Newcastle
Newcastle were robbed a stunning goal due to very poor officiating against Man City last week and might have been able to get a draw if it stood. They are still within reach of finishing in a European spot, but again, need to win these games. West Ham came back from the dead after a 6-0 drumming in the cup by Man City by beating Cardiff 2-0. Andy Carroll is back for them and will probably start against his boyhood club Newcastle. This game will probably be a tough battle and there won't be much between the two in the end. West Ham score in almost every match so I expect them to get at least one goal, and I think Newcastle will get one goal as well.
Prediction: 1-1

Liverpool vs Aston Villa
The first time these two met in the season it ended 1-0 in favor of the visitors, Liverpool. It was a very close match and Mignolet saved the Reds for the second time in two games. Villa have had a stop, start season so far. They lost their last match to Arsenal at home 1-2 but they got close by bombing balls up to the giant Benteke. Liverpool have always struggled to contain Benteke due to his huge physique and ability to hold and lay off the ball. Liverpool's defense has struggled lately but their strikers are still scoring for fun. SAS is finally reunited and with Gerrard, Allen and Sakho all coming back from injury they will be close to their full strength. I expect Liverpool to finish in the top four this season and it will be because they are able to close out tough games like this.
Prediction: 2-1

Swansea vs Tottenham
Swansea aren't great at playing against Tottenham and recently are getting worse and worse results. Tottenham on the other hand are doing better and better under new manger Tim Sherwood. Swansea did okay against Manchester United last week beating them in the FA Cup 2-1 and then losing in the league 0-2. The Liberty Stadium is still a good home field which will make it hard on Tottenham. There isn't a whole lot to say more on this, it is a hard one to call. I really, really hope that Swansea win but it will be hard. I'm going to go with my gut and go with a Swans win.
Prediction: 1-0

Chelsea vs Manchester United
Both of these teams are doing pretty good in the league recently. Man U are getting closer and closer to the top spots but still have a bit of a ways to go. Chelsea are the favorites for sure for this match. I hope Chelsea win. The Blue's midfield is clearly better than the Red Devils, especially with the RE-acquisition of Nemanja Matic. A loss here will finish Man U's hopes of retaining the title and even badly injure their hopes of finishing top four.
Prediction: 2-1

West Brom vs Everton
This will be a tough match as well. Everton have been punching well above their weight this season and everyone keeps waiting for them to slip up and it might be this week. West Brom have a new manager, who I don't think is the right guy for the job. Pepe Mel was fired by Real Betis after leading them straight into the relegation battle, so it made little sense for Albion to sign him, but we've have to see how he does. Everton just sold Jelavic to Hull but he didn't play much for them anyway. I think that these two will cancel each other out.
Prediction: 0-0

English Premier League End Table Prediction

I forgot to make predictions as to how I thought the EPL standing would sit at the end of the season so I want to do it now. I encourage everyone to comment on what I say as well as share what changes you would make.

1. Manchester City-They started out poorly, especially away from home but now they are on fire.
2. Chelsea- They started out just okay but are getting better and better with Oscar and Hazard impressing.
3. Arsenal- In first right now but their squad isn't as strong as the first two, they need another forward.
4. Liverpool- It will be a tough fight for 4th but SAS will outscore their opponents in order to get CL.
5. Manchester United- They are too inconsistent to secure top 4 and injuries to Rooney and RVP hurt.
6. Everton- They are within touching distance of a European spot but lack of depth will be their undoing.
7. Tottenham- They have relied on bad ref decisions for too long and the players don't mesh well.
8. Newcastle- Doing well but not able to consistently beat top teams.
9. Southampton- Getting ninth will be an accomplishment. They just aren't quite as good as those ahead.
10. Stoke- They are beginning to get into the groove of Hughes new system and finish pretty strong.
11. Swansea- They finish around here every year and don't see any reason as to why it should change.
12. Hull- They are very well organized but not quite enough firepower up front to get top half.
13. Aston Villa- Benteke and Villa aren't having a great season but Benteke will get into his groove.
14. West Brom- They are beginning to get into the relegation battle but have enough quality to be safe.
15. Norwich- They will be close to relegation but they have enough quality to be safe.
16. Sunderland- Black Cats have enough heart and talent to survive, but it will be very very close.
17. West Ham- They started strong but now in relegation battle. Big Sam will scrap enough wins together.
18. Fulham- These guys are terrible. I expect so much more from the players but no meshing. Relegated.
19. Crystal Palace- Pulis's magic won't be enough to get these misfits to stay up, not enough goals in them.
20. Cardiff- Would've survived if McKay would've stayed but their fate was sealed when they fired him.

If I Was Liverpool's Manager

Twelve days have passed and still no movement in the transfer window for Liverpool. Recently I've posted transfer rumor after rumor of potential moves Liverpool could do in the January transfer window. In this post I want to go over what I would do for Liverpool if I were in charge of transfers, so here it goes.

Usually there are dozens upon dozens of players that are linked with a move to Liverpool. There hasn't been nearly as many rumors out there this transfer window because simply, Liverpool don't need to strengthen that much. Rodgers has admitted that there might not be any players signed this month, and that might be okay. The players that are available won't really improve the current starting 11 for Liverpool. The only position that Liverpool really need to strengthen in is a wing and bringing in a great player could help Liverpool secure a top four finish.

If it were up to me a successful window would be to sign two Ukrainian wingers. I doubt that there are any truth to the rumors that Liverpool are looking to sign Andriy Yarmolenko, but I personally really want them to be true. I also really want Liverpool to sign Yarmolenko's international teammate and fellow winger, Yevhen Konoplyanka. I'll be honest that I haven't seen much of their play besides what is available on YouTube, but I have been really impressed with what I've seen.

Both players usually play on the left side of midfield, but can play anywhere in the front line, especially Konoplyanka. They are both 24 years old and have a lot of flair and attacking prowess to their play.

Yarmolenko is known more for his flair and has been dubbed the "Ukrainian Messi" by some because of his playing style and success. He loves to run at defenders and is a big fan of the step-over, cutting into the box and shooting at the near post. Liverpool have some good young wing talent coming through the ranks like Sterling and Ibe but Liverpool need a wing with some experience, and Yarmolenko has loads of it for only being 24. For his club, Dynamo Kyiv, he has scored 50 goals in 136 appearances including 15 goals in 24 matches this season.

Yarmolenko is quick and agile like Messi yet is as beast at 6 ft. 2 in. and is also a threat in the air. Liverpool are absolutely tiny in the attack with Sterling and Coutinho and Yarmolenko's size would be a great change to that. Yarmolenko is also a key part of the Ukrainian national team; he has scored 14 goals in 38 caps. There are a few rumors out there saying that Liverpool are facing too much competition to sign Mohamed Salah so they are trying to sign Yarmolenko for 15 million pounds, which would be a very reasonable price for him.

Yevhen Konoplyanka is very similar to Yarmolenko. Having both of them on the flanks would be absolutely awesome. Just imagine the Ukrainians on the flanks, Coutinho in the middle and SAS up top, I think I'm going to have wet dreams about how good that would be. Konoplyanka is smaller than Yarmolenko standing at only 5 ft. 9 in. and is perhaps even quicker than him. Yarmolenko is perhaps better at trickery but Konoplyanka is probably better at creativity and more comfortable in possession.

Konoplayanka also plies his trade in the Ukrainian league, but he plays with FC Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk. He doesn't score as many goals as Yarmolenko but he has more assists. Konoplyanka has scored 33 goals and had 23 assists in his 157 appearances for Dnipro. He has also had a lot of success with his national team scoring 8 times in 35 caps. He would command a similar fee to Yarmolenko, but maybe a few million pounds cheaper.

Together the two Ukrainians would cost just over 25 million pounds. This is probably more than FSG are willing to spend right now, but if they were to do so Liverpool would be serious contenders for the league title.

Liverpool Transfer News

Liverpool haven't made any moves in the transfer market yet, though the rumors keep coming and coming. I've gone over the most probable transfer rumors in previous posts but I wanted to revisit some of the other rumors out there and some that have developed since the beginning of the month. Here are some new Liverpool transfer rumors floating out there.

Alvaro Morata

The 21 year old Spaniard is one of the most promising players emerging in Europe. He plays for Real Madrid, though he hasn't really established himself in the team. He has made 32 appearances in total, 14 this season. Morata himself has said that if he cannot get enough playing time then he needs to go somewhere where he will, though Madrid will always be in his heart.

It has recently been reported that Madrid are willing to let Morata go out on loan for the remainder of the season for a fee of 1.7 million pounds. It is also being reported that Arsenal and Liverpool are both competing to take him aboard, though most would argue that Arsenal are more likely to complete the deal. Both clubs have done deals with Madrid recently with Ozil being transferred to Arsenal last summer and Sahin being loaned to Liverpool last year for half a season. Sahin's experience was not very good at Liverpool, he just simply did not fit in and hopefully his failure does not deter Morata and Madrid from wanting to do a deal with the Reds.

Morata would be a great addition to Liverpool's front line. He usually plays as a center forward, though he is accustomed to playing on the sides as well. I think he would be a great back up/competition for Sturridge, who is constantly being sidelined because of injuries. He is quite tall at 6 ft 3 in, though he shows more speed and finesse than his size would suggest. Liverpool have not had luck with players coming in on loan in the past though. We had Sahin last year who was pretty bad as well as Moses and Cissokho who have been Liverpool's worst players this season. Morata is a world class player with unlimited talent and I believe will become one of the greatest strikers in a few years, though I'm not sure he would make a large impact right now in the Liverpool squad.

The dream is that Liverpool manage to sign him permanently and then we'll have the second coming of "El Nino," but I think that a loan signing would be a mistake for both parties. Either way it probably doesn't matter because this one is quite a ways away from being a done deal.

Probability: 3 out of 10

Cheikhou Kouyate

Yesterday rumors surfaced that Anderlecht center back/right back is in discussion with Liverpool and Arsenal about a move. He is 24 years old and from Senegal. He is a pretty big guy at 6 ft 4 in. To be honest I had never heard of him before yesterday, but from what I've seen he seems decent. He is a physical guy, good in the air as well but not great with his feet from what I've seen. These rumors came from his agent who said that they were in discussion with the two premier league clubs, though a deal has not been agreed yet with either.

Liverpool has a plethora of cover in the center back as well as right back areas right now, so I think that he would just be surplus if he was brought in. There has been no numbers thrown around of a fee that would be required but my guess is around 6-8 million pounds. I just don't think it would be worth it at all to try and sign Kouyate.

Probability: 2 out of 10

Danny Ings

Burnley just seem to be really good at developing strikers. Danny Ings didn't really come on the scene until this season, mainly due to injuries in the past. He is only 21 years old but is scoring goals for fun at the moment, 20 goals in 28 total matches. So of course because of his success he is being linked with a move to a big club and Liverpool have been linked the most. I think that this kid has a great future, though I'm not sure if this is the right time for a move. Like I said before, he hasn't really stood out until this year so I believe he needs more experience and needs to prove himself a bit more before he earns a big move. Liverpool currently have Suarez, Sturridge and Aspas for selection, so not a whole lot of cover. We must remember that Borini will be coming back though for next season and I think he has improved a bit by getting more playing time and I don't see Ings as an improvement to him. Reports say that it would take close to 10 million pounds to sign him, which is too much right now. If Liverpool plan on offloading Aspas or Borini though, Ings would be a decent replacement. I believe that Ings will eventually end up in the Premier League, even if Burnley don't manage to gain promotion.

Probability: 3 out of 10

Dele Alli

When the transfer window was approaching, Brendan Rodgers said that he was looking for players who can make an immediate impact on the starting lineup, so this move makes little sense. Rumors started when Rodgers attending the cup match between Wigan and MK Dons and then afterwards his manager confirmed Liverpool's interest. Dele Alli is a 17 year old Englishman who plays for MK Dons as a midfielder, on the wing usually. He hasn't made a whole lot of appearances in his short career but again, he's only 17. MK Dons are in League 1, so it would be a big jump to the EPL for him. He would almost certainly be put into the youth squad. He will probably be a great player someday, but he still has a way to go so I think it would be counterproductive to bring him in right now. I'm not sure what they would require in order to sign him, but I don't think it really matters.

Probability: 2 out of 10

Yann M'Vila

M'Vila has long been linked with a move to the Premier League and many were surprised that he opted to go to Rubin Kazan. Rumors about a move to Liverpool took off after M'Vila was spotted in the Liverpool section at the Merseyside Derby, took a picture with close friend Sakho, and received a signed jersey from Gerrard. M'Vila is 23, plays as a defensive midfielder and is pretty good, though I'm not sure if he would be an improvement on Lucas, though it would be great to have some competition and back up for him at least. I'm not sure what his price would be, though it wouldn't be cheap, probably a bit over 10 million. His attitude and work rate aren't the best as well as his off field behavior isn't good and has been banned from the French National Team. I would personally like to see him come to Liverpool as we are in dire need for cover in the midfield and M'Vila would add real bite to that position.

Probability: 3 out of 10