Here are five players, it could have been more, that Rodgers needs to shift during the summer if he is to make Liverpool genuine trophy contenders.
Dejan Lovren
The £20m centre back (yes, £20m!!) has had a torrid first season at Anfield. His mere presence in a Liverpool shirt during the warm up is enough to make the Liverpool fans nervous and he is showing no signs of improving. He looks off the pace and his positional awareness is terrible.
The Southampton board must have been delighted with the £20m they recouped for a centre back that was being carried by his teammates. Liverpool need to cut their losses before the big Croatian defender does any more damage to the club’s and his own reputation.
Mario Balotelli
A no brainer. The 24 year-old Italian striker has bombed at Anfield despite being given more opportunities than he has deserved. The only league goal he mustered was a late winner against Spurs that was barely celebrated at Anfield. The players, the fans and even the manager seem to have had enough of Balotelli strolling around in an offside position.
It was clear from the outset that Rodgers wasn't keen on the Italian, but the £16m transfer fee for an alleged world class talent did represent a calculated gamble. A gamble that has spectacularly backfired. Ciao Mario.
Joe Allen
The little Welshman isn't a bad player, but he isn't a very good one either. Allen was one of Rodgers' first signings as Liverpool boss but he hasn't lived up to expectations in his three seasons at Anfield. And with Steven Gerrard leaving the club in the summer Liverpool need a dominating central midfielder and not a neat and tidy 5 yard passer like Joe Allen.
Although Allen can't be faulted for effort when wearing the red of Liverpool, he rarely turns a game on his own. Moreover, Liverpool should be able to recoup a decent fee for the £15m signing to reinvest back into the starting XI.
Fabio Borini
Rodgers looked to have sealed the deal of the summer when agreeing to sell Borini to Sunderland for £12m. But the red half of Merseyside were left disappointed when the Italian dug his heels in and decided to stay and fight for his place.
Despite Liverpool's struggles in the final third, Borini has remained very much on the periphery with Rodgers preferring Sterling, who is more suited to an attacking midfield role, to lead the line.
If Liverpool can recoup something close to £10m over the summer for Borini, then they will have done very well indeed.
Kolo Toure
The 34 year-old Ivorian centre back has had has day. And that was a long time ago. Liverpool fans will hold nothing against Kolo, as, at times, he has been solid, dependable and added some steel to the back line - he has even been fun to watch as he saunters forward with a bulldozing menace. But he would have been put out of his misery if he was a runner in the Grand National following his display at the Emirates earlier this month. Sanchez, Ozil and Giroud had a field day against Toure and made him look like a drunk sailor ambling about his own penalty area.
It's been fun Kolo, but please, no more.
Luis Enrique, Glen Johnson and Rickie Lambert escaped making the top five players who need to be shown the exit door but should also be on their way. Meanwhile, the likes of Alberto Moreno, Javi Manquillo, Lazar Markovic and Adam Lallana should be given more time to assert themselves in the red of Liverpool.
Mark Smith
Recommended Comments
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.