How do Liverpool get back into the Big 4?

Seems a bit odd to post this given the result this morning where the Reds showed the Blue side of Mersey Shore who was the boss - Gerrard got all 3 goals at Anfield in a stunning display.

The result certainly does help Liverpool close the gap a bit to the likes of Newcastle, Chelsea, Tottenham and Arsenal in the race for a Champions League spot - although they are 10 points behind with 10 games to play and would require quite a bit of help from the other teams.

The good old days - 2008/09 season - Man Utd 1 L'pool 4

However, Liverpool will probably finish outside the top 4 for the 3rd year in a row after having been in there for much of the last decade. Once considered one of the big 4 along with Arsenal, Manchester United and Chelsea, the former English giants have now had their place taken over by the likes of Manchester City and Tottenham.

Obviously it's been a turbulent last couple of years for the Anfield club with the lowest point coming in 2010 as the club was involved in a tug-of-war between its then owners, Gillett and Hicks and a new fresh bid from current owners, John Henry's New England Sports Ventures. It's a wonder Roy Hodgson survived for as long as he did given the poisonous atmosphere at Anfield which saw the club mired in debts and a relegation battle in the middle of the 2010-11 season.

Alas the new venture has given the team a fresh start and while the signs have been slow to come, they have been promising. This season's Liverpool side have definitely improved from last but are still a long way of the best.

So what else do Liverpool need to do to get into that top 4 again? And will they be able to do it with Manchester City and Tottenham now at the peak of their powers? Here are funnily enough 4 suggestions of mine.

Southampton's top scorer, Rickie Lambert

1. Another goal-scorer - Luis Suarez is superb but mercurial. Andy Carroll is promising but just as mercurial. There's Dirk Kuyt and Craig Bellamy although they are considered more like midfielders, so there isn't really competition amongst the genuine goal-scorers as well as cover when either Carroll or Suarez are injured. A proven goal-scorer (not necessarily the biggest name) could be handy in the summer transfer window, e.g. Danny Graham at Swansea, Southampton's Rickie Lambert or Wigan's Victor Moses (he could play up front and as winger).

2. Rebuild fortress Anfield - Anfield is clearly not the fortress it once was but it is tough to rebuild it when your confidence is low. Kenny Dalglish is probably the only person who can figure out how to turn the atmosphere at Anfield into an advantage for the team rather than a disadvantage. Hate to say this but Liverpool could learn quite a bit from their arch-rivals, Manchester United who have learnt to transform their home arenas into quite formidable fortresses despite being at home to one of football's most famous grounds, Old Trafford.

Yann M'Vila at Rennes - target for PSG and other big clubs

3. Another anchor midfielder - It is obvious that Liverpool have missed the injured Lucas Leiva badly. He was Liverpool's best player last season and has developed into a fine anchor midfielder. Jay Spearing has stepped up somewhat to cover the role but isn't quite up to Lucas' level yet. Gerrard, Henderson and Adam have also played there but are really more attacking midfielders. Another anchor midfielder would be handy in the summer i.e. Sven Bender from Dortmund, Daniele de Rossi at Roma, Yann M'Vila at Rennes, although I wonder if Liverpool have too many midfielders as it stands and may need a change in formation. 

4. Hope that 'Arry gets the England job - All Spurs fans are dreading the day Redknapp accepts the England manager's job. After all, Redknapp has undoubtedly been Spurs' most successful manager in the Premier League era, guiding them to the top 4 alnd Champions League football. Whoever replaces him will have a tough job at hand and unless it's Jose Mourinho they hire, Tottenham might struggle initially to maintain the standards they've set since 2009.

Jordan Henderson - give him time, remember Lucas?

Plus let's remember that John Henry is the same man who tried to employ Oakland A's manager, Billy Beane of the Moneyball philosophy, to his Boston Red Sox in 2002 - despite failing to do so, Henry still applied Beane's philosophy and they won the 2004 World Series with that.

So don't expect stars at Anfield, but rather young promising players who are cost-effective but statistically have the talent. And while baseball has over 100 games to get it right, the Premier League only gives you 38. So we always knew this season was one of rebuilding. So don't write off Henderson and Carroll just yet.