Last season’s top two success brought Liverpool high praise and Champions League football. And though they didn’t make it far in that competition after a few seasons out in the wilderness, the Reds had a chance to remember what it was like to be one of England’s best. Coming so close to title glory had made them want more.

Though fighting for fourth is not quite what they were hoping for at the beginning of this campaign, when you think of the absences they have suffered this time around, then even just being able to challenge the top teams is an achievement.

The lingering problem is that they never made up for the loss of last season’s top league goal scorer Luis Suarez.

Daniel Sturridge is a very capable forward and since his transfer from Chelsea in 2013, the 25-year-old has been integral to the Reds’ recent success. But his injury early this season and new signing Mario Balotelli’s failure to adapt to his role has held Liverpool back.

It is only since Sturridge’s return that the club has been able to challenge for the top four. Balotelli, despite his attempts, has failed to produce the goals that were expected of him and either a summer move or life on the bench awaits him.

For a team with the ambitions that Liverpool have they needed to replace like with like. Suarez and his 31 league goals left Anfield and Balotelli, who has never been that prolific of a goal scorer throughout his career, took his place. That was not like for like. This summer transfer window Rodgers needs to find that world class striker who can either partner up with Sturridge or play upfront by himself. It truly is a wonder why anyone at Liverpool thought Balotelli would be that man.

[ffc-gal cat="liverpool" no="5"]

On a more positive note, Liverpool have been linked with forwards such as Edinson Cavani, Theo Walcott and even Radamel Falcao. The latter would be a big risk but if the price was right, for any of them, then Liverpool should take it.

Falcao may not have settled into Manchester United but at his best he was scoring 24+goals a season. Perhaps, as some have suggested, it is not a lack of talent from the player but instead a lack of playing time and opportunities that have failed him. And if that is not a route the club want to take then a player like Walcott, who bears similarities to Liverpool’s own Raheem Sterling, may be a good option. Especially if the winger does decide to leave Anfield.

Then there is Cavani. He has been overshadowed by the force that is Zlatan Ibrahimovic at Paris Saint-Germain. Even at the grand old age of 33, Zlatan is still PSG's number one strike option. He has scored 17 league goals to Cavani’s eight this term and doesn’t appear to be leaving the Parc des Princes just yet. Perhaps Cavani needs to be top dog. When he was at Napoli he was scoring freely and looked set to be one of Europe’s top forwards, but since his move to the French capital he has lost some of his sharpness. A move to Liverpool might just rejuvenate him.

If Liverpool do make the top four and are playing in Europe next season, or even just want to be challenging for that honour, then they will definitely need more firepower than they currently have. Sturridge can’t be left to do it all on his own and with quality strikers out there he shouldn’t have to.\

[ad_pod id='ffc-video' align='center']