Reds must learn from history and not stand idle in January

The absence of Sadio Mané has already been felt as Liverpool produced a soul destroying performance at St Mary’s on Wednesday night. Without the speed, movement and goals of the Senegal man the Reds were unable to make any headway against a well organised Southampton side who should have had more than just a 1-0 victory to show for their impressive display. 

Liverpool’s attack looked strong enough on paper, and most clubs would feel blessed to put out a front three of Roberto Firmino, Adam Lallana and Daniel Sturridge. For Liverpool though, the balance just wasn’t right without Mané. They were unable to stretch a deep Southampton defence and found it virtually impossible to get in behind them. 

The game was not too dissimilar to the 2-0 loss at Burnley earlier in the season. Mané missed that one too and it’s not a co-incidence that both games followed a similar pattern in his absence. The main difference was that Southampton had more quality to create chances against the Reds than Burnley. 

Defensively, both the Saints and Clarets used a similar blueprint to blunt a Liverpool attack that has plundered more goals than any other side this year. Usually they’ve had Mané in there though. Even in his quiet games he always seems to make something happen, whether it's a goal, an assist or winning a penalty, he always does something. 

Philippe Coutinho is back from injury which obviously helps, but it’s worth remembering that the little Brazilian played in that Burnley loss in a front three alongside Firmino and Sturridge, while Lallana was also in the side in the midfield role in which he has excelled. The Reds were close to full strength that day yet still barely tested Burnley keeper Tom Heaton. 

So while Coutinho’s return is a boost and makes the team much stronger than when he’s not in it, he cannot replicate the things that Mané brings to the side and therefore Jurgen Klopp really needs to dip into the transfer market to give his squad a much needed shot in the arm ahead of the closing months of the season. 

History shows us the importance of such a signing. Liverpool last won the title in 1989/90. They were flagging a little until Kenny Dalglish signed Ronny Rosenthal and the Israeli injected a large shot of adrenaline into the team with seven goals in the final eight games as the Reds comfortably ended the season as Champions. 

It wasn’t just the points that his goals secured, it was the impact his arrival had on everybody. The players were lifted by it and so were the fans. He gave Liverpool momentum just when they needed it. 

Contrast that with Liverpool’s last two title challenges. In 2008/09 Rafa Benitez not only failed to strengthen in January, he actually weakened his options by selling Robbie Keane, leaving himself with only David Ngog and Ryan Babel as cover for Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres. Several points were squandered in January and February before the team got on a roll in the spring and pushed Manchester United all the way before coming up agonisingly short. The right signing in January might have seen things end differently. 

Then in 2013/14 Brendan Rodgers desperately wanted to add another attacker to his squad to prove depth and cover. Attempts to sign Mohamed Salah and then Yevhen Konoplyanka failed, and although the team went on an incredible run that took them to the brink of the title, when Rodgers needed to look to his bench for inspiration against Chelsea and Crystal Palace, he was reduced to sending on Iago Aspas and Victor Moses. 

Liverpool should look to all of those examples and then pull out all of the stops to improve their firepower this January. It’s all well and good being the league’s top scorers, but if all it takes is the loss of one player to blunt their attack - and the evidence so far suggests that is the case - then it’s a precarious situation to be in. 

Not strengthening the squad while the window is open is a big gamble, and while gambling can sometimes result in you hitting the jackpot, like at Kaboo Mobile Casino, is now really the time to not play the odds when there is a league title to be won? 

Making a signing in January won’t guarantee anything of course. The player might be useless, or he may get injured. He could even be a great success only for others to not perform. Nobody is saying a new signing will win Liverpool the title or that not signing one will cost them it. 

It’s all about playing the odds, and there is more chance of Liverpool winning the title if they bring in one or two quality players in January.