On another striker : we need one. Two top line strikers, no matter how good they are, is not enough for most teams challenging for honours on 4 fronts. So there will be investment there.
On the Defence : LB priority. Another CB (Agger to Barca strongly touted now) and bring back Ilori, from loan, who's having a storming season in Spain (MoM vs Real in the past couple of weeks I read).
On the Midfield : Konoplankya looks odds-on and a great buy. Lallana, LFC strongly rumoured to be his preference. One more DM or RB.
Loanees : Bring back Borini from Sunderland (making 4 strikers), Ilori from Granada (making 5 CBs), Ibe (Forward, Birmingham), Suso (CM, Almeira) and possibly Wisdom (CB, RB Derby).
Promotions from the Reserves/Youth : Rossiter (CM), Teixeira, Smith may be ready for the step up now (he wasn't when he made his debut) and Wilson. It might be a season too early for Dunn, Chiravella, Sinclair, O’Hanlon and Canos though we might see them feature as subs in less high profile games.
Even allowing for a few departures (most of which are non-contributers - Aspas, Kelly, Cisshoko, Coates & Moses) from the current 1st team squad that could still be 5-6 new high quality 1st team level players in (which tallies with Rodgers comments) plus loanees returning with more experience and 3-4 promotions from the reserves, making an increase in squad size of 8-10 players. It could be more but in any case it should be enough (and no dogs).
On the issue of squad size and how that impacted on games played per player. If we look at the games of the players, with more than 5 games (start or sub), at the top teams in 2013/14 :
Liverpool : 21 players 25.6 ave. games per player. Top 15 players ave. 29.9 games per player. (thru 41 + 2 PL games to go) (actually this average shows how injuries/bans to our 1st team players have also hit LFC throughout the season because you can assume squad rotation for any team playing in European competition yet the difference between average games played per player (Top 15) and the clubs potential total is the same as most teams below)
Man City : 23 players 33.0 ave. games per player. Top 15 players ave. 41.5 games per player. (thru 55 + 2 PL games to go)
Chelsea : 23 players 33.3 ave. games per player. Top 15 players ave. 42.6 games per player. (thru 55 + 1 PL game to go)
Man. Utd : 26 players 28.7 ave. games per player. Top 15 players ave. 35.8 games per player. (thru 52 + 2 PL games to go)
Arsenal : 24 players 30.6 ave. games per player. Top 15 players ave. 38.7 games per player. (thru 55 + 1 PL game to go)
Spurs : 26 players 27.2 ave. games per player. Top 15 players ave. 33.7 games per player. (thru 53 + 1 PL game to go)
Everton : 22 players 29.0 ave. games per player. Top 15 players ave. 37.8 games per player. (thru 43 + 1 PL game to go)
If we make an assumption for Liverpool games in 2014/15 : 38 PL + LC to semis (5) + FAC to semis (5) + CL to 1/8 (10). That is an extra 15 games @ 14 players per game = an extra 210 appearances. 6 top players @ ave. 30 games per player + 6 squad players @ 5 games per player = 210 appearances.
So Liverpool need ca. 5-6 1st team level players and to populate the squad with the returning loanees and promoted reserve team players to cover the extra matches.
On the Defence : LB priority. Another CB (Agger to Barca strongly touted now) and bring back Ilori, from loan, who's having a storming season in Spain (MoM vs Real in the past couple of weeks I read).
On the Midfield : Konoplankya looks odds-on and a great buy. Lallana, LFC strongly rumoured to be his preference. One more DM or RB.
Loanees : Bring back Borini from Sunderland (making 4 strikers), Ilori from Granada (making 5 CBs), Ibe (Forward, Birmingham), Suso (CM, Almeira) and possibly Wisdom (CB, RB Derby).
Promotions from the Reserves/Youth : Rossiter (CM), Teixeira, Smith may be ready for the step up now (he wasn't when he made his debut) and Wilson. It might be a season too early for Dunn, Chiravella, Sinclair, O’Hanlon and Canos though we might see them feature as subs in less high profile games.
Even allowing for a few departures (most of which are non-contributers - Aspas, Kelly, Cisshoko, Coates & Moses) from the current 1st team squad that could still be 5-6 new high quality 1st team level players in (which tallies with Rodgers comments) plus loanees returning with more experience and 3-4 promotions from the reserves, making an increase in squad size of 8-10 players. It could be more but in any case it should be enough (and no dogs).
On the issue of squad size and how that impacted on games played per player. If we look at the games of the players, with more than 5 games (start or sub), at the top teams in 2013/14 :
Liverpool : 21 players 25.6 ave. games per player. Top 15 players ave. 29.9 games per player. (thru 41 + 2 PL games to go) (actually this average shows how injuries/bans to our 1st team players have also hit LFC throughout the season because you can assume squad rotation for any team playing in European competition yet the difference between average games played per player (Top 15) and the clubs potential total is the same as most teams below)
Man City : 23 players 33.0 ave. games per player. Top 15 players ave. 41.5 games per player. (thru 55 + 2 PL games to go)
Chelsea : 23 players 33.3 ave. games per player. Top 15 players ave. 42.6 games per player. (thru 55 + 1 PL game to go)
Man. Utd : 26 players 28.7 ave. games per player. Top 15 players ave. 35.8 games per player. (thru 52 + 2 PL games to go)
Arsenal : 24 players 30.6 ave. games per player. Top 15 players ave. 38.7 games per player. (thru 55 + 1 PL game to go)
Spurs : 26 players 27.2 ave. games per player. Top 15 players ave. 33.7 games per player. (thru 53 + 1 PL game to go)
Everton : 22 players 29.0 ave. games per player. Top 15 players ave. 37.8 games per player. (thru 43 + 1 PL game to go)
If we make an assumption for Liverpool games in 2014/15 : 38 PL + LC to semis (5) + FAC to semis (5) + CL to 1/8 (10). That is an extra 15 games @ 14 players per game = an extra 210 appearances. 6 top players @ ave. 30 games per player + 6 squad players @ 5 games per player = 210 appearances.
So Liverpool need ca. 5-6 1st team level players and to populate the squad with the returning loanees and promoted reserve team players to cover the extra matches.
