January is a good time to pick up what you want - the arrival of a new year is the best time to have a sale. And one organization that has been eagerly awaiting the January sales is Liverpool.
To be fair, Liverpool have done alright despite having a striker crisis as a result of being hit by injury and the shock inability to replace Andy Carroll in the summer transfer window. Luis Suarez has had his best season yet at Anfield and Raheem Sterling and Suso have really stepped up at Premier League level.
However, in order for Liverpool to truly challenge the likes of Tottenham, Arsenal, Chelsea and Everton for a Champions League spot, let alone the Manchester clubs for the title, Liverpool will need to tidy up the squad - there will be plenty of sales that will have to be made to make up for the purchases that Liverpool will need to make.
1. Buy Daniel Sturridge - done.
Daniel Sturridge's move from Chelsea was completed as soon as the transfer window opened meaning Sturridge should make an impact as early as the FA Cup on the weekend. Sturridge, on paper, should help reduce Liverpool's dependence on Suarez for goals. Rodgers has hinted that he wants Sturridge long term at the club which should be a reassuring sign for the former Manchester City trainee. However, Sturridge's career at Anfield will probably begin on the bench given Suarez's current form - which should suit Sturridge alright.
2. Clean out the closet
Roy Hodgson and Kenny Dalglish definitely made quite a few signings which haven't paid off. Joe Cole, Stewart Downing and now-West Ham loanee Andy Carroll have really failed to live up to their high price tags which has left Liverpool and Brendan Rodgers a bit out of pocket and somewhat traumatised John Henry and the Boston Red Sox owners from making a big signing unless it's Lionel Messi. Nevertheless, the closet will need to be cleaned out eventually if Liverpool are to return to the big time. Downing and Cole could be the first to go while Henderson and Carroll could still impress but if Liverpool can get a reasonable price on both of them, they should really be sold.
Blackpool's Tom Ince has been mentioned (rightfully so) as a future Liverpool target after impressing at the Tangerines. The son of former Manchester United & Liverpool midfielder, Paul Ince, Tom would help bolster Liverpool in attack.
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