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Liverpool's brilliant summer transfer window has closed. The club at Anfield made a number of key signings early, made a few of brilliant sales late and even took on an old face once more.

Stewart Downing, Charlie Adam, Jordan Henderson and Jose Enrique would be enough to keep any boss happy, but not when Liverpool has been trophy-less for a number of years.

Kenny Dalglish decided to sell off Raul Meireles, David N'Gog and Christian Poulsen on deadline day. He also decided to loan Joe Cole out to French champion Lille as well.

N'Gog, Poulsen and Cole moves were hardly surprising, and sending off Meireles wasn't necessarily shocking.

Earlier on in deadline day rumours swirled that former Red and captain of the Welsh national team, Craig Bellamy, was heading to Anfield to talk contract. The 32-year old Welsh striker brings a completely different presence to the pitch and Dalglish jumped at the opportunity to land him.

All it took was a free transfer and a super wage cut to make it happen. Both parties wanted each other badly.

But Dalglish also had eyes elsewhere, and according The Sun, Dalglish failed in a sensational last second attempt to land Nikica Jelavic from Rangers. They "insisted" the hitman wasn't going anywhere.

The club had to turn down numerous attempts to keep him and not even Liverpool brought enough to the table.

The Meireles and Bellamy moves highlighted the end of a very busy window at Anfield. Owner John Henry gave Dalglish the green light to make the moves necessary to begin chasing clubs up the table, and almost all instances he succeeded.

Dalglish wasn't denied very often this summer, but at the last second of deadline day he didn't get everything he wanted.

But like the Stones say, "you get what you need."

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The Liverpool Reds will regret dealing game-changer Raul Meireles.

Liverpool made some money by moving their spark plug, but they will miss his abilities to impact the game in a rotation. They desperately needed to bring in somebody to replace Meireles if they were going to move him and they failed miserably.

“Liverpool bought the 28-year-old last summer and he made 44 appearances before his £12 million departure to Chelsea as the transfer window reached frantic new heights in its closing stages on Wednesday evening.

Just as most print journalists had begun filing their copy for the evening, it was announced by Liverpool that Meireles would be on his way for £500,000 more than the club paid FC Porto for his services last year,” according to Fanhouse’s Chris Brereton.

Liverpool acquired a veteran difference maker in Craig Bellamy prior to moving Meireles, but having both men fill out the rotation would have given the Reds the boost they need to take down Wayne Rooney’s Manchester United Red Devils in the table chase.

Bellamy would have eased the pain of Meireles currently dealing with a collarbone injury. Instead of receiving another boost in the upcoming weeks when Meireles returns healthy, the Reds will have to pray the intense veteran Bellamy will provide enough juice to make an impact moving forward.

Liverpool would have benefited from moving Meireles for the money and veteran Yossi Benayoun. They preferred to make the most they could from the deal instead of receiving less money and Benayoun.

They let Joe Cole walk and moved Meireles while bringing in Bellamy as the major striking difference-maker. There is no doubt Bellamy will make an impact, but the Reds could have kept Meireles to let him recover from his injury after filling his spot with Bellamy.

When he returned healthy, Meireles and Bellamy would have been an unstoppable and fiery tandem in Liverpool’s rotation. They would have solidified their table chase, but now there is doubt the Reds will be able to get the job done.  

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Liverpool made great strides this transfer window and is prepared to run the table to take out Manchester United.

“Manchester City striker Craig Bellamy flew into Liverpool earlier this afternoon ahead of a potential deadline day move to rejoin his former club.

Press Association Sport understands the 32-year-old was given special dispensation to leave Wales' training camp at Celtic Manor to head off for talks with the Reds.

It is believed Bellamy took a short flight from south Wales to Merseyside where it is anticipated he will undergo a medical while Liverpool and City thrash out the terms of any deal,” according to The Independent’s Carl Markham.

Craig Bellamy was the ideal veteran forward for the Red Devils to bring in at this point of the season. He has the experience, but more importantly, the drive and motivation to succeed. He is looking to redeem himself after an unspectacular first stint with the Reds.

Liverpool needed an injection of fiery attitude after losing stud Raul Meireles recently. We still don’t know exactly when Meireles will return, but Bellamy more than makes up for the loss.

Bellamy will be the catalyst for the Reds running the table in their upcoming matches.

The Red Devils enter their next few matches with some concern that superstar Wayne Rooney is not full focused on the task at hand. He is playing at an extremely high level, but he also has a high interest in England’s national club. I wouldn’t worry about his focus, but it still provides the Reds with an opportunity to pounce.

Bellamy is coming to Liverpool with a head full of steam. He needs success as much as Liverpool fans yearn for it. This may very well be his last opportunity to make a major difference for a club so expect him to take full advantage.

He will prove to be invaluable moving forward as his intensity will be infectious. From the fans to the coaches to the entire team, everyone associated with the Reds will feel his presence. 

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Liverpool Transfer News: Should Reds Make Last Effort for Bolton's Gary Cahill?

Liverpool FC must make a strong bid for Bolton center back Gary Cahill to not only add depth to the squad this season, but to have a long term replacement for Reds legend Jamie Carragher.

The 25-year old English defender is in the last year of his current contract, and has been linked to a transfer with many of the Premier League's top clubs this summer.

But if Bolton wants to get the most value for Cahill, they must sell him before today's deadline.

Liverpool currently have Carragher, Daniel Agger, and Martin Skrtel as their top three center backs, and all of them except Agger have long term futures at the club.

If the Reds wish to compete with the offensive talents of Chelsea, Manchester City, and Manchester United at the top of the league table this season, they must add another quality defender to their squad.

Cahill is a quality defender who is strong and tactically smart, and would bring more energy and pace to the Reds' back line.

Liverpool has been relatively quiet on deadline day, with most of their signings occuring much earlier in the summer.

Reports have suggested it will take at least £15 million to secure a Cahill transfer, which with Liverpool's new ownership, should not be a problem.

In addition to his strong defensive talents, Cahill has demonstrated his maturity and mental toughness the past few weeks at Bolton by continuing to play hard and give his all for the club despite constant rumors surrounding his future.

Cahill would be the final piece of the puzzle for Liverpool, and would help manager Kenny Dalglish bring the Reds back into the top four spots of the Premier League table.

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Liverpool Transfer News: Fiorentina's Juan Manuel Vargas Would Thrive at Anfield

Fiorentina left-winger Juan Manuel Vargas would be a solid addition to the Liverpool squad with his pace, durability, and scoring touch.

The Peruvian international is a versatile player who can play a wing back role or a more offensive role on the wings.

He's also been one of the most durable players in the Serie A, and has played in 164 games over the past four seasons.

The 27-year old scored 11 goals and dished out 15 assists last season and a half for Fiorentina.

Reports suggest Liverpool has contacted Fiorentina about Vargas, and it's likely that if a deal between the Reds and Fiorentina was reached, Vargas would be willing to join the Premier League.

The Reds' pursuit of Vargas may be aided because their main competition for him, Juventus, are busy with other transfer deals.

In addition to wanting Vargas, Serie A giants Juventus are trying to secure the transfer Dutch winger Eljero Elia of Hamburg.

If Vargas is transferred to Liverpool, manager Kenny Dalglish could use him at left and right back, as well as left wing.

With Jose Enrique establishing himself as the first choice left back since his arrival from NewCastle this summer, Vargas would have to be fine with playing at different positions each game.

The possible departure of midfielder Raul Merieles and the exit of Christian Paulsen has hurt the midfield depth of the club, so signing a veteran like Vargas who is dependable would be a great signing.

There is a strong possibility that Juan Manuel Vargas is moved from Fiorentina today, and Liverpool would be wise to add his versatility to their squad. His skill set is well suited for the play of the Premier League.

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Craig Bellamy is heading back to Liverpool and is eying redemption for the Reds.

Liverpool continues to make a splash this transfer window and Bellamy is the biggest to date. The former Reds star is looking to make up for his last stint in Liverpool by taking the Reds past Manchester United to the top of the table.

“Craig Bellamy is making a sentimental journey back to Liverpool - after picking Kenny Dalglish and the Kop over SIX other sides.

The Welsh wizard was on his way back to Anfield this afternoon after being cleared to leave Manchester City where his £90,00-a-week contract will be cancelled.

Bellamy - dubbed the Nutter with the Putter after off-the-field trouble in his last stay - has taken on the challenge of helping Dalglish chase glory on Merseyside.

The far-travelled forward left the Wales squad to tidy up the move and sign a contract that may take him to retirement,” according to Mirror Football’s Alan Nixon.

The veteran forward is the ideal piece to infuse into this rotation. Liverpool needs to put the pressure on the opposition and a veteran attacker who has seemingly seen it all during his career was the prime candidate.

Current Reds superstar Raul Meireles is currently on the mend and could very well be dealt to Chelsea if the ante is raised. The addition of Bellamy would ease the pain of pulling the trigger on any Meireles deal. More importantly, Bellamy’s addition means Liverpool can sit tight and not trade their stud. Bellamy will create an easier transition for the Reds as they head into this Meireles-less phase.

Despite the solid transfer window for Liverpool, Meireles’ injury was a major blow to the club. The Reds made a wise move to acquire a man of Bellamy’s character as he will look to rile up his teammates immediately. The Reds will feed off Bellamy’s intensity, which will send shockwaves through Liverpool as the overall play on the field improves.

Bellamy is the perfect addition to the club at this point in the transfer window. They landed a man who is determined to succeed and re-emerge as a superstar in Liverpool. His contributions will be invaluable moving forward, especially with Meireles sidelined. 

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It is imperative the Liverpool Reds deal Raul Meireles for a table chase in 2011.

Liverpool recently rejected an offer for Meireles from Chelsea, but both clubs would be wise to revisit the deal. Liverpool isn’t stupid. They know what they have in Meireles—a great and experienced player who is a difference maker when healthy.

That’s the problem right now—Meireles is not healthy and won’t help Liverpool by sitting on the sidelines cheering on his team with one arm held in the air. He might as well used that one arm to wave a white flag because the Reds don’t stand a chance without him right now.

This is why they must deal him for somebody who can make an impact the rest of the way. Liverpool can’t afford to continue losing ground to Manchester United. They need to put the pedal to the floor and start racing to the top before falling down to the middle of the pack. They are teetering on the brink of success and failure and need to continue making a major splash before the transfer window closes in a handful of hours.

They were wise not to deal Meireles in a short-handed package deal from Chelsea, which included former Reds veteran Yossi Benayoun. Chelsea was clearly trying to capitalize on Miereles’ injury and offered Liverpool only £8 million.

“[Liverpool is] also bracing themselves for a further bid for Raul Meireles from Chelsea should the London club’s bid to sign Luka Modric fail,” according to The Telegraph’s Rory Smith.

Considering the caliber of player and money it took to get Meireles, Liverpool had no choice but to turn down the offer. Yet he can clearly be had for the right price and Chelsea would be wise in their own right to up the ante and make a major acquisition.

Benayoun has the experience to anchor Liverpool’s rotation and provide a spark. He won’t be the difference maker long-term that Meireles is, but Liverpool needs to bring in somebody who can help improve the club now.

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In what would be a shocking move, Liverpool is reportedly close to sending Joe Cole out on loan to Lille for the season before the transfer window closes on Wednesday.

Cole, the former Chelsea star, hasn't produced since his heralded transfer to Liverpool last summer, in large part because he's rarely been given the chance. Since his move to Anfield, Cole has made only 11 Premier League starts, and has failed to feature in any of Liverpool's first three games of 2011.

His potential departure for the year only confirms what we've come to expect from Liverpool's new ownership, Fenway Sports Group: that your name means nothing if you can't produce.

Upon FSG's emergence at Anfield, manager Kenny Dalglish has managed to secure new starters in Charlie Adam, Jordan Henderson and Stewart Downing, and everyone else, including Cole, appears to be just getting in the way of the owners' master plan at this point.

The news surrounding Cole immediately follows news that Christian Poulsen is expected to be off to French club Evian.

With the loan of Cole to Lille, Liverpool will be able to save some of Cole's weekly wage of £90,000, further proving that the Reds mean business, in both senses of the word.

Liverpool appears to at least have a plan in place, which is more than you could say about the previous owners. The new acquisitions appear locked in place, and the departures of some former starters like Alberto Aquilani have marked a bold transition period.

Cole, who was originally thought to want a transfer to Tottenham, recently has edged toward Ligue 1 due to the lure of playing Champions League soccer in France. The way Liverpool is moving on, Reds fans may never hear from the 29-year-old again.

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Despite the fact it seems like he’s been on the club for a while now, Uruguayan defender Sebastian Coates didn’t actually complete his transfer to Liverpool until Tuesday.

The fee, according to Goal.com, is believed to be “around £7 million.” Regardless of the fee, Liverpool are undoubtedly happy to have Coates on board. However, it sounds like the club would not have been able to sign him were it not for Luis Suarez.

As Coates tells the story, Suarez did a great job of selling his young countryman on the qualities of both the Reds and their fans. In addition, Coates says that he was drawn to the idea of playing alongside Suarez.

"To come to such a big club alongside a fellow countryman is very important for me. I know Luis will help me settle in, we have the same cultures and customs so having him around will help me a lot,” said the 20-year-old Coates.

Well, it’s good to know that Suarez is going to make Coates’ move that much easier. But when it comes to what goes on down on the pitch, Coates is going to be on his own.

Rest assured, as talented as Coates is, he’s going to go through some growing pains in the early portion of his Reds career. The primary reason for this is a simple matter of how he is going to see more rigorous competition on a more consistent basis. He has the knowledge and a feel for the game to keep up, but he’s certainly going to be tested.

If you’re an optimist, you will say that such concerns are totally unfounded. In fact, we always tend to doubt young South Americans who come over to the Premier League, and not all of them fail miserably.

This is true, and that’s precisely why Coates should not be expected to fail miserably. But in order to avoid that fate, he will have to learn what he can on the fly, and that is going to be easier said than done seeing as how he will have a target hanging over his head every time he strolls onto the pitch.

It’s a good thing Coates will have Suarez to pick him up every time he’s down. Otherwise, we might just be talking about a miserable failure a couple years down the road.

-Zachary D. Rymer

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If you needed anymore proof that Liverpool is under new ownership this season, Christian Poulsen's contact with French club Evian is that proof.

Poulsen, who was brought to Liverpool in the summer of 2010 by former boss Roy Hodgson, never won over manager Kenny Dalglish, and after numerous signings this season, new owner Fenway Sports Group appears ready to let him go.

Poulsen, 31, could follow Alberto Aquilani and Emiliano Insua out the door after big money was thrown at new acquisitions Stewart Downing, Charlie Adam, Jordan Henderson, Jose Enrique and Alexander Doni this summer.

And after a 2-0-1 start to the Premier League this season that has seen Liverpool in third place, a new direction has appeared to be beneficial for the Reds.

Adam was the latest addition to make an impact for Liverpool against Bolton on Saturday, scoring a goal in the team's impressive 3-1 victory. Given he was one of the squad's controversial signings this offseason, FSG and Dalglish couldn't be happier at the moment.

The truth is that Poulsen isn't needed. In fact, he appears set to be the victim of the trend in Anfield: out with the old, in with the new.

Given the way the Reds appear to have rebounded, in competition with favorites Manchester United, it's hard to question anything the new ownership has done this transfer window. Unless they all of a sudden go on a losing streak, this could be the best thing that's ever happened to Liverpool.

In the end, fans could be thanking Fenway Sports Group.

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Kenny Dalglish has breathed life into Anfield. Liverpool is a real threat to contend for the top of the Premiership table, and Sebastian Coates is just one of the many reasons.

The summer window will shut in a day, leaving the best and brightest in England with only a few remaining hours to solidify their rosters. Kenny Dalglish can rest easy as his final piece is in England, waiting to complete his move.

ESPN reports Uruguyan defender, Sebastian Coates, has completed the move that will create a stout backline to rival the best in the EPL.

Coates has been in Merseyside for a week going through a medical and watch his club defeat Bolton first hand.  

Coates had been targeted by the usual suspects around England. In the end, he wanted to join national teammate, Luis Suarez. A great deal of thanks has to go to the forward who has brought in a tremendous player who will no doubt shine at Anfield. 

Liverpool have looked increasingly polished as the season has gone on. An early stalemate has made way to more productive fixtures. 

The Reds are no doubt contenders, but were missing some backline depth. They get that and more in Coates who is a marksman with the ball, and will make breaching the line an issue for any team. 

Dalglish can now feel safe that he did all he could during the summer. Coates joins Stewart Downing, Jordan Henderson, Jose Enrique, Charlie Adam and Alexander Doni on the list of incoming players. 

Henderson has already made his presence known. He scored his first of what will be many goals in a Reds jersey. Coates should enjoy the same amount of flourish once he joins the team in their next fixture. 

The top of the table will get all the more crowded as Liverpool put the final cherry on their summer sundae. 

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By all accounts, it won't be long before Nacional defender Sebastian Coates joins Liverpool.

The deal, however, is not quite final. Apparently, somebody neglected to mention that to Reds striker Luis Suarez.

Courtesy of Goal.com, we know that Suarez took to Twitter to welcome his Uruguayan countryman to Anfield, tweeting: “I want to welcome Coates, partner in the uruguayan team, friend and great player who just signed for Liverpool!”

Suarez must have realized that the tweet was causing a fuss, though, as it seems to have disappeared from his Twitter account. Either that or club officials told him to take it down.

The latter option seems like the more likely scenario here. After all, until all the Is are dotted and all the Ts are crossed, Coates is not a member of the club.

And at lest check, it sounded like actually completing the deal was going to be more difficult than Kenny Dalglish and the rest of the Liverpool hierarchy had imagined. Recently, Goal.com reported that Nacional representatives were hoping to add to the agreed-upon fee of £7.6 million.

"We are going to negotiate and I believe that we are going to take a bit more money," said a club official.

Nacional officials were scheduled to arrive in England on Monday evening, and the good news is that a deal is expected to be completed sometime on Tuesday.

Thanks to Suarez, it looked for a second there like the deal had been completed. But since he has subsequently removed the tweet, we can probably take it for granted that the two sides are still ironing things out.

When they do, this signing will be a score for the Reds. Coates is already a talented centre-back, but he should get even better as he accumulates more and more experience. He’s just 20 years old, so there’s plenty of time for him to do that.

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Liverpool continue to search the market for a few upgrades before the transfer deadline on Wednesday. Reds manager Kenny Dalglish has several targets on his wish list, but here are the three best values left on the board for him to explore.

Seamus Coleman

Everton's money woes have been well documented over the past few months as the Toffees failed to make any moves to improve a squad that finished seventh last season. Coleman may become a casualty of the tough times and would be a nice addition for Liverpool.

The Irishman is a player on the rise and the Reds would be wise to make a move now before he returns from injury and further increases his value. It would be a sobering sign of the times at Goodison Park if they are forced to move one of their brightest young talents.

Eden Hazard

To give you an idea how long Hazard has been a Liverpool target, I'm pretty sure the first rumor was floated out there on the same day the Beatles left town to be on the The Ed Sullivan Show. That said, the fact still remains he would be a good addition to the squad.

The 20-year-old midfielder scored nine goals and notched eight assists in 52 games last season and, like Coleman, is a player on the rise. He has the potential to become a superstar and waiting any longer would just drive up his already lofty price tag.

Craig Bellamy

Bellamy was first linked with a shocking return to Liverpool just over a week ago. The move has gone from “shocking” to “boring” due to a lack of progress in the proceedings. His arrival would give the Reds some depth behind Luis Suarez and Andrew Carroll.

The veteran could really use a new home after falling out of favor with Manchester City, but his contract is making it difficult for the Citizens complete a move. He has proven he can still score goals and that's a trait that every team loves. That £95,000-a-week contract on the other hand...not so much.

The deadline is approaching quickly and it seems likely Liverpool will be making some moves, but will there be more players coming into or leaving Anfield? We'll soon find out.

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Liverpool has had an active summer cleaning house and making room for purchases. They have a few more sales to make to officially close out the transfer window and give themselves a solid new look for this years’ campaign.

Let’s take a look at 3 players most likely on their way out of Anfield in the next day or so.

No. 3 – Christian Poulsen

Poulsen has been disappointing ever since his arrival last year in Anfield. On Tuesday, Skysports reported,  “A statement on the Premier League club's official website on Tuesday read: "Liverpool FC have tonight confirmed that they have reached agreement with Evian Thonon Gaillard for the transfer of Christian Poulsen.”

It looks like his time may be up. Stay tuned here for the latest news on Poulsen to Evian.

No. 2 – Joe Cole

Lille is on the cusp of completing a loan for Cole. Cole has a weekly wage of  £90,000 and is simply not worth the cost to the Reds. His form has fallen off since joining the club last July and has only had 11 starts with them. The English international should be a member of French champions by Wednesday this week.

No. 1 – Raul Meireles

Chelsea made a  £7 million offer for Meireles and included Yossi Benayoun in a rejected deal to LFC. According to ESPN, The Anfield giants are apparently “not keen to let Meireles join one of their rivals at the top of the Premier League for such a low sum and are also not interested in having Benayoun back after his failed spell at Anfield between 2007-2010.”

It remains to be seen who will make an offer that the Reds accept. But look for a sale to happen very soon before the transfer window closes. 

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Liverpool needs to continue to rebuild their squad after purchasing Jose Enrique, Jordan Henderson, Charlie Adam and Stewart this summer.

They have a surplus of talent in the midfield but are making space for at least one more major signing before the transfer window closes.

Let’s take a look at 3 players who could potentially be joining the Mersyside outfit in the next day.

No. 3 – Yossi Benayoun

The Telegraph has linked Benayoun to a possible return to Anfield. Raul Meireles wants out of LFC, so a deal between their clubs could be in the works.  Jason Burt stated, “Chelsea have expressed an interest in acquiring Meireles and it’s understood the two clubs are discussing the possibility of Benayoun being included in a player-plus-cash exchange.”

Competition and injuries have led to Benayoun falling out of favor with the Blues, so don’t be shocked if he returns to the Anfield giants.

No. 2 - Craig Bellamy

Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini is refusing to pay out the final year of Craig Bellamy’s contract. This had led to a situation in which Liverpool is willing to “offer him a lucrative short-term contract, [but] they are unwilling to pay a transfer fee.”

If Mancini relents and allows for a free transfer away from City, look for Bellamy to make his return to Anfield.

No. 1 – Seamus Coleman

Liverpool is gunning for Seamus Coleman. They want the young Irishman who just signed for £60,000 has been making quite an impression on the Premier League. Everton is prepared to sell him to Liverpool for £8 million. David Moyes is going to have a tough time swallowing this, but he did state that every player has a price. 

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