By Kevin Koczwara

Fernando Torres has gone on record to say that Liverpool can compete for some silverware at the end of the season as it stands. He is partially correct. Liverpool does not need to add now, they need to secure Xabi Alonso and Javier Mascherano for the upcoming season and sell some of the assets they have for the January transfer market.

Parting ways with Arvalo Arbeloa, Andrea Dossena, one of its four reserve goalkeepers, Lucas, Jermaine Pennant and Andriy Voronin will allow Rafa Benitez the flexibility he needs to strengthen his squad with young talent come the January transfer window.

Dossena and Arbeloa lost their spots on their respective wings and Liverpool has enough players in the back to fill those spots when needed. The two backs should bring in enough cash for a younger player the Reds can develop over time – much like the current situation with left back Emiliano Insua. It is possible to have too many defenders; players get frustrated and when a back four has great chemistry you don’t want to break it.

As for Lucas, he is an adequate holding midfielder, I guess. Still, he turns the ball over too often for a top-four competitor in the EPL. He will also bring in a higher transfer fee than the club paid for him. There has been interest in the Brazilian midfielder, and Liverpool need to sell, sell, sell and improve at this position to win the EPL or the Champions League this year.

Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso has been the subject of several transfer talks this summer. While the Spaniard, who recently scored the game-winning goal in the third-place game of the Confederations Cup, maintains he would like to remain in Liverpool, some of his fellow Spain teammates are advocating for a move away from Anfield. (Photo Courtesy destinyuk/Flickr)

Mascherano will be suspended for too many cards at least once or twice this year in competitions, and Liverpool need a contingency for his absence. It was easy to see what happened to the squad when he was not on the pitch and Lucas was replacing the Argentine captain.

But it isn’t only for Mascherano’s sake; it is for Alsono as well. He lodged a lot of minutes this year and will need the occasional breather to be in top form for the season’s final few games. Of course, this is assuming both players are still with the club at the beginning of the year. The pair has been the subject of transfer rumors within the Premier League and around Europe. (Both players need to be on the squad for Liverpool to compete, so here’s fingers crossed.) A new reserve holding midfielder would be a golden signing for the Reds. They need the depth at this spot especially.

As for the other midfield positions and strikers, Liverpool could trim some fat up there too. They need to make one signing to help Fernando Torres when he gets tired, and Dirk Kuyt when he is playing one of his silly games where he just passes the ball to the other team repeatedly (which seems to happen often).

With the purse Rafa Benitez is given he has done an outstanding job accumulating talent one move at a time. Granted some have been busts, namely Pennant and Dossena, but overall a fan cannot complain that he hasn’t been trying with what he has. He did snatch up Fernando Torres, Martin Skrtel and Ryan Babel (who could be sold for a hefty sum if there is a replacement for his pace out there).

Let’s just hope for now that the starting XI stays intact, and Rafa is able to make a few moves to help out the depth and the future of the club. We can always hope.

Kevin Koczwara is a contributing writer and editor for The Soccer Guys. He can be reached at kkoczwar@gmail.com.

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