LIVERPOOL: WHAT TO DO AHEAD OF THE NEW SEASON

Last season brought up mixed emotions of mission accomplished and a feeling of  "so close, but yet so far". The aim at the beginning was to qualify for the champions league, we did that with ease (and can now hear the champions league song at Anfield again, and have those great European nights). We found ourselves staring at the premier league title with 4 games to go on the year of the 25th anniversary of Hillsborough. At the end, we let it slip and the 24 year stare at the title continues.

The title in my opinion was not lost at Anfield against Chelsea or away at Crystal Palace. It was lost in those back to back away losses at Chelsea and Manchester City (marred by horrible decisions from the referee) and at the beginning of the season by the "transfer committee". Their failure to bring in quality players cost us big time. Only Simon Mignolet, then maybe Kolo Toure & Mamadou Sakho added something to the squad. The squad was incredibly thin last season with only 15 players really having an impact. Rodgers did well to take us far, using different formations (4-3-3, 4-2-3-1, 4-4-2, 3-5-2, 3-4-3) during the course of the season. Rodgers has made his intentions clear. He's doing business early and avoiding loans as much as possible. Here we look at the likely players to come and go.

POSSIBLE SIGNINGS
There have been very tiny rumours about a new goalkeeper. Personally, its important. Mignolet looked very shaky at times last season with his decisions from crosses and his ball playing skills. Michel Vorm had been the name rumoured but he looks like a spurs player now. The competition would have been great to keep both of them on their toes, which is good for the club.

In defence, just a new centre back is needed. Dejan Lovren seems to be the man. He has made the right noises about his head "already in Liverpool". He looks perfect to complement Martin Srktel. Not Mamadou Sakho or Kolo Toure please!. The most important part of the squad that needs improvement is the left back role. Jon Flanagan & Glen Johnson(personally, Flanagan should be the first choice right back, he was brilliant last season & statistically better than Luke Shaw, meanwhile Johnson has been far too inconsistent for the past 2 years now) played there last season but neither are left backs. Jose Enrique is too one-footed and its best we get a new left back especially for a champions league campaign. The Alberto Moreno deal looks highly unlikely now. This would have been a brilliant deal especially for a player better and cheaper than Luke Shaw. Javier Manquillo is set to join on a 2-year loan deal with option to buy, but this is a strange deal as Manquillo is a right back. Except Rodgers decides to use one of the 3 right backs mentioned as left backs again. For real left backs, Ryan Bertrand has been mentioned, Swansea rejected an £8million bid for Ben Davies & he also seems set to move to spurs, but there are better options out there, people like Ricardo Rodriguez who was brilliant for Wolfsburg last season with 5 goals and 9 assists in the league. DeAndre Yedlin and Marcos Rojo have also been mentioned. But Rodriguez would be a dream, although none would be bad.



In midfield, the absence of Henderson for 3 of the last 4 games showed how much we needed more athleticism and energy in midfield. We missed "Hendo" badly, and if he wasn't suspended, we may well have been champions. Emre Can is a great signing and with Rodgers as his manager you can be sure he will improve. Another midfielder is also needed, although a squad midfielder.

In attack, Rodgers has been looking for attackers all summer. The team scored over a hundred goals in the league, and you could ask why we're linked to so many attacking players? Well its because of 2 reasons, firstly we actually lack quality depth in attack as out of the 101 goals we scored in the league, only 3 were scored by substitutes and only 2 assists coming from subs as well. Secondly our chief assassin Luis Suarez is no longer with the club. The signing of boyhood Liverpool fan Rickie Lambert points to a plan B from the bench. Adam Lallana could play on the wings or in midfield as the "10". Alexis Sanchez had been heavily linked as a player part of the Suarez deal, but he joined Arsenal instead, something which is strange, but Rodgers clarified that it was due to "geographical reasons". Lazar Markovic's signing is great and will add quality in depth on the wings. Divork Origi looks set to join, although Lille have made it clear that any deal will involve him sent on loan next season to them, so one for the future and not next season then. Wilfried Bony, was very close to joining but the £19m valuation proved too high for the club. Loic Remy is the man set to join however, and with his pace and goal scoring exploits, the £8.5m he's being sold for is a bargain in my opinion. He scored 14 goals in 26 appearances, which is very good. Remy would be a brilliant signing for us.


POSSIBLE EXITS
For some strange reasons Brendon Rodgers doesn't rate Daniel Agger as he played Mamadou Sakho ahead of him in our defence last season and rumours have surfaced that he even offered the Dane to Barcelona. This is strange because "Dagger" looks like the Liverpool defender most comfortable with the ball at his feet. However, if the manager doesn't have him in his plans, he should be sold to raise funds. Kolo Toure should follow closely, but this looks highly unlikely, sadly. Thiago ilori should be loaned again, just like Andre Wisdom to give them more chances. Its the end of the road for Stephen Kelly, as he should be sold. Aly Cissoko has already gone and we thank goodness for that.

In midfield, there has been talk of Lucas going to Napoli on loan, and before 2014 these talks won't even exist, but now it wouldn't be the worse thing to happen if it happens. Squad players like Luis Alberto, Suso, Assaidi, Conor Coady should be sold or loaned out (if Rogers still have hope in them).

In attack, Iago Aspas should have been sold in January, remember his corner against Chelsea? The only highlight of his Liverpool stay. He has no place in Liverpool, and luckily he stays in Sevilla after his loan expires. Victor Moses was poor during his loan spell and its great we didn't make it permanent. Fabio Borini was close to joining Sunderland for £14m but he rejected it to fight for his place, which is good to see. He should be given the chance, he was fantastic for Sunderland last season as he scored important goals to keep them in the league, and this may prove important for us. Then there's Luis Suarez. For all the love and affection we've shown him, he still left, that's fine, its cool, no hard feelings, we're getting enough cash in return (€88m) to build the squad, and hopefully others would share and score the goals that Suarez has taken along. No one man is bigger than the club. The club couldn't beg Suarez again this summer, he had dragged the name of the club through mud yet again. Its a goodbye of mixed feelings, but we have to let go.



Rodgers and his team are developing and they develop each other. Do not expect Liverpool to "do a spurs", we have a better manager and we didn't depend on Suarez, we had the 2nd top scorer remember? Expect more of the same of last season from Liverpool. It would be great to see how Rodgers adapts to European football. He has done the right business so far, and we trust in him to continue in that manner. "We go again" next season and we'll never walk alone.