KopTalk.com Forums Football Liverpool FC Forum Liverpool don't need another striker.

Former Liverpool midfielder Jason McAteer believes the current squad at Brendan Rodgers's disposal has enough goals in it to challenge both for the Premier League title and in Europe.

Despite calls for Brendan Rodgers to add additional firepower up front, former Liverpool midfielder Jason McAteer believes the side are well set up going into this season with their current crop of forwards.

Looking to replace Luis Suarez’s 31-goal impact after his £75 million departure to Barcelona, Liverpool have spent just under £90 million this summer on Southampton trio Rickie Lambert, Adam Lallana and Dejan Lovren, as well as Emre Can, Lazar Markovic and Divock Origi.

However, with an £8.5 million move for Queens Park Rangers striker Loic Remy collapsing due to a failed medical and youngster Origi set to return to Lille on a season-long loan, Rodgers is said to still be on the lookout for another proven goalscorer to add to his side.

McAteer though thinks the squad as it is has enough goals in it, backing the likes of Daniel Sturridge, Raheem Sterling, Philippe Coutinho and the new signings to more than make up for the loss of Suarez’s influence.

"There are still plenty of goals in that team. Last year we were set up for Sturridge and Suarez but I think if you see the progress the likes of Raheem Sterling have made, they’re full of confidence going into this season," he told Sky Sports News Radio.

"I think you can see goals from the likes of Sterling, and obviously Sturridge will carry on in the vein he did last season. Rickie Lambert when he gets a game is always good for one. Coutinho as well, so there are goals from everywhere."

"That’s the way Brendan’s set up, that’s’ the way he plays," he added. "They play very expansive on the break, they’re great to watch, easy on the eye and create a lot of chances that way."

Despite McAteer’s comments, Liverpool have been linked to a host of options up top since the collapse of the Remy deal, with on-going interest in Swansea City’s Wilfried Bony, as well as reports that the club are monitoring want-away PSG duo Edinson Cavani and Ezequiel Lavezzi.

Having narrowly missed out on the Premier League to Manchester City last season, Rodgers is pulling out all the stops to prepare for a campaign in which they’ll be fighting on all fronts and, with a deep squad needed, bringing in more goals would do their hopes of mounting another title challenge a world of good.



Nice to hear, but I still think we need either another striker or a goal scoring winger/CAM.

Daniel Sturridge and Luis Suarez scored 52 goals in Premier League matches between them in 2013/14, cementing their place amongst the upper echelons of strike partnerships throughout Liverpool Football Club’s illustrious history.

The dynamic duo came agonisingly close to providing Liverpool fans with the title they have craved so much since 1990. However, the obligation that Brendan Rodgers doubtless felt to fit them into his side was one of the factors which eventually cost us glory in my opinion.

Of course, that is no slight on Sturridge and Suarez as footballers. Please don’t take it as that. They are two majestic talents who were playing, in tandem, to an absurdly good level for a lot of 2013/14. Strangely, this is where the problem lay for me. There was no question that both had to be in our 11, so Rodgers’ hand was forced to a degree. He had to make sacrifices elsewhere.

It was hard not to be swept up by the furore of our title run-in, sprinkled occasionally by moments of ludicrous individuality from the aforementioned ‘SAS’. In fact, no. Drenched consistently with moments of ludicrous individuality. But it was those moments that masked what was in my opinion, at times, a disjointed Liverpool team. I’m sure Rodgers will have picked up on this too, hinting a few times that it’s not just results that satisfy him, he wants performances too.

Now, with Suarez gone, it’s time to change the dynamic. Will we look toothless in attack or is it time for others to make their mark as we make some adjustments?

First of all, I keep hearing that we have to replace Luis’ goals. Do we?! Why not look to become a better all-round team and subsequently concede a lot fewer? Then, perhaps even more frustratingly to me, I’m constantly told that we have to recruit a new striker to partner Daniel Sturridge. So despite looking stodgy in parts last season, due to playing two centre forwards and sacrificing control, people think Rodgers will actively look to replicate that system. This time with a player who unequivocally won’t be as good at football as Luis Suarez and thus won’t produce as many pieces of sudden brilliance to elevate us from trouble in games. Swansea’s Wilfried Bony is a perfect example. According to some, he should come in to partner Sturridge, meaning no remedy to last season’s unbalanced system and a personnel downgrade. No thanks.

The Bony link stems from a blinkered and simple theory that to score more goals you have to bring in a centre forward. This is, of course, reductive nonsense. By bringing in better players in other areas of the pitch we will become a more universal and cohesive team. Our control of games will increase, meaning we are likely to create more chances. And more chances results in more goals. All that without adding another central striker! Magic.

What I’m trying to say is, playing two up front was acceptable when we owned Luis Suarez. The quality of him and Sturridge dictated that. Without him, it is time for a reshuffle; we can place more significance on balance, fluency and tactical discipline.

Rodgers may have employed a diamond system with two strikers in the first half of our recent friendly with Manchester City, but I’m sure that was out of necessity to give Rickie Lambert some game time. I’m almost certain Brendan won’t select a front pair out of choice this campaign. Coincidentally, in the second half against City, when we reverted to a 4-3-3, we gained more control of the game.

That’s not to say I’m averse to adding another attacking player. In fact, I think we should. But shelling out around £20 million on a player like Bony, who can only really play one position, is illogical for me. I’d like to see us bring in a versatile forward; someone who could play on the side of a front three and also centrally. That way we could use the player with Daniel Sturridge in a 4-3-3, or in place of the Englishman when required.

What’s the point of spending that amount of money on a player who will only be a deputy for Sturridge?

We also possess a flourishing Raheem Sterling, who has everything to play as a ‘9’. Lazar Markovic could also slot seamlessly into a central striking role in my opinion. The key is, they are versatile; you can play them anywhere across an attacking three. Within Rodgers’ fluid footballing framework, I’m confident either could score goals playing through the middle. And don’t forget Rickie Lambert, who I have no doubt will prove to be a shrewd buy over the next couple of years.

Watch us develop this season. Less of the jaw-dropping spontaneity a certain Uruguayan brought, but we’ll be a better, more flowing, more cohesive and more structured football team. I’m sure of it. The mercurial flesh-fancier Suarez may have gone, but crucially Brendan Rodgers is still very much ours.

* taken from TIA


Very interesting view indeed.

It seems to focus on we are only buying another striker to play two up top, when we actually need another because Daniel is injury prone.

I hope Rodgers doesn't take any notice of what McAteer has to say. That's just so much wishful thinking. Suarez not only made and scored lots of goals, but he also secured space and time for others, as well as the goals he laid on a plate for them. We haven't replaced that dynamic, and if we don't we're likely to score a lot less goals this coming season.

Also there's a need for depth in our forward options given the number of games we'll play. Hopefully people aren't thinking of Borinii as suitable for first team selection/rotation. We need another top quality versatile forward to plug some of the hole left by Suarez leaving.

jason macca wouldn't be the brightest penny.

We so need another striker

Trigger.

Yip, sharp as a sponge.

I agree we need another top striker but i think it is an interesting view though, we do have goals from midfield nowadays, which is something we have lacked for years. Sterling is gonna be menace this season, he is really turning out to be a top top player.

All of our attacking mids need to hit double figures in the epl ie
Sterling
Hendo
Phil
Lazar

With Danny getting 20+ .. If he can stay injure free

With the bonus of sg scoring 5 pens, 3 from free kicks and our new striker scoring at least 15 goals

We shud be fine