We’ve diagnosed the problems, identified the targets and given our recommendations... now it’s your turn.
There’s nothing every football fans loves more than to speculate on where their team needs to strengthen, how much to spend and who to buy. Our team-by-team analysis of what needs to be done is the perfect chance for just that.
We have pinpointed the weak spots and given our suggestion for who should be the number one priority as well as a handful of alternatives.
Will Rafa Benitez heed our advice? Have we missed a trick? Is our budget unrealistic? Who would YOU sign? Don’t be shy in letting us know by dropping us a comment at the foot of the page. Let the debate commence.....
Right Back - Glen Johnson (Portsmouth): This one will happen. Benitez needs a right back desperately, and those who have been privy to Rafa's press conferences know that he is desperate to sign English. Johnson is one of only two or three English players Benitez deems good enough for his squad, prepare to see him bid high to get his man.
Altenatives: Dario Srna (Shakhtar Donetsk), Miguel (Valencia)
Centre Midfield - Fernando (Porto): Rafa Benitez has formed arguably the best central spine in the country with the triumvirate of Xabi Alonso, Javier Mascherano and Steven Gerrard. The problem is: What happens when one cannot play? Lucas is young and developing, but right now he clearly is not good enough for a title challenge. Fernando of Porto is one of the best holding midfielders in Europe, he is superb at breaking attacks down and filling the holes like Dietmar Hamann used to do. Can also pick a pass, making him a good partner to either Alonso or Mascherano.
Alternative: Antonio Apono (Malaga), Jurado (Atletico Madrid)
Wide Midfield - Ezequiel Lavezzi (Napoli): This guy is good. Sometimes you see bandwagon reporting when journalists recommend a player purely because his agent has admitted the club have made an approach. This is not the case here. Previously the wearer of the number seven jersey for Argentina Under-21s, Lavezzi has all the traits of the previous greats to have donned the same number. Can play anywhere along the attack, allowing Benitez to rotate Riera, Kuyt and Benayoun. Put it this way, if Napoli lose him, there will be a public outcry from the fans.
Alternative: David Silva (Valencia), Arjen Robben (Real Madrid), Cristian Rodriguez (Porto), Giovinco (Juventus), Willian (Shakhtar Donetsk), Juan Mata (Valencia)
Striker – Fernando Llorente (Athletic Bilbao): Liverpool do not need a first choice striker. When everybody is fit Gerrard will play behind Torres - hence spending £20+ million on Carlos Tevez is a ludicrous idea. What Liverpool do need is a back-up option to Torres, a man capable of leading the line if El Nino is injured, and a man who can change Liverpool's attack if they need a goal. Fernando Llorente is big, strong, superb in the air, has a good touch, and has the mobility that Peter Crouch lacked. His goal record for Bilbao in La Liga this season is 13 in 33, which is a very similar to Torres's 14-goal tally in the year before he moved to Anfield.
Alternatives: Diego Forlan (Atletico Madrid), Lisandro Lopez (Porto)
There’s nothing every football fans loves more than to speculate on where their team needs to strengthen, how much to spend and who to buy. Our team-by-team analysis of what needs to be done is the perfect chance for just that.
We have pinpointed the weak spots and given our suggestion for who should be the number one priority as well as a handful of alternatives.
Will Rafa Benitez heed our advice? Have we missed a trick? Is our budget unrealistic? Who would YOU sign? Don’t be shy in letting us know by dropping us a comment at the foot of the page. Let the debate commence.....
Right Back - Glen Johnson (Portsmouth): This one will happen. Benitez needs a right back desperately, and those who have been privy to Rafa's press conferences know that he is desperate to sign English. Johnson is one of only two or three English players Benitez deems good enough for his squad, prepare to see him bid high to get his man.
Altenatives: Dario Srna (Shakhtar Donetsk), Miguel (Valencia)
Centre Midfield - Fernando (Porto): Rafa Benitez has formed arguably the best central spine in the country with the triumvirate of Xabi Alonso, Javier Mascherano and Steven Gerrard. The problem is: What happens when one cannot play? Lucas is young and developing, but right now he clearly is not good enough for a title challenge. Fernando of Porto is one of the best holding midfielders in Europe, he is superb at breaking attacks down and filling the holes like Dietmar Hamann used to do. Can also pick a pass, making him a good partner to either Alonso or Mascherano.
Alternative: Antonio Apono (Malaga), Jurado (Atletico Madrid)
Wide Midfield - Ezequiel Lavezzi (Napoli): This guy is good. Sometimes you see bandwagon reporting when journalists recommend a player purely because his agent has admitted the club have made an approach. This is not the case here. Previously the wearer of the number seven jersey for Argentina Under-21s, Lavezzi has all the traits of the previous greats to have donned the same number. Can play anywhere along the attack, allowing Benitez to rotate Riera, Kuyt and Benayoun. Put it this way, if Napoli lose him, there will be a public outcry from the fans.
Alternative: David Silva (Valencia), Arjen Robben (Real Madrid), Cristian Rodriguez (Porto), Giovinco (Juventus), Willian (Shakhtar Donetsk), Juan Mata (Valencia)
Striker – Fernando Llorente (Athletic Bilbao): Liverpool do not need a first choice striker. When everybody is fit Gerrard will play behind Torres - hence spending £20+ million on Carlos Tevez is a ludicrous idea. What Liverpool do need is a back-up option to Torres, a man capable of leading the line if El Nino is injured, and a man who can change Liverpool's attack if they need a goal. Fernando Llorente is big, strong, superb in the air, has a good touch, and has the mobility that Peter Crouch lacked. His goal record for Bilbao in La Liga this season is 13 in 33, which is a very similar to Torres's 14-goal tally in the year before he moved to Anfield.
Alternatives: Diego Forlan (Atletico Madrid), Lisandro Lopez (Porto)
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