Liverpool FC : Why the Delay in Filling Key Positions Might Hurt the Reds

If one counts the number of players signed, Liverpool have been quite active in the transfer market this season.

Liverpool have managed to sign Jordan Henderson, Charlie Adam, Stewart Downing and Alexander Doni.

However, except with the signing of Downing, Liverpool have not addressed the biggest concerns in their squad. 

Liverpool, last season suffered due to gaping holes in the defense - the left back position being a problem for long - with the ever-injured Aurelio, the pathetic Paul Konchesky, the young Jack Robinson and the out-of-position Glen Johnson filling in at the position at different points during the last season.

Although linked with a number of players, Liverpool have been unable to secure the services of an established left-back.

In the meantime, the targets such as Gael Clichy have been signed by other clubs. Liverpool now are likely to face competition from Arsenal for targets such as Jose Enrique.  

Kenny Dalglish would not want to rely on the returning Emiliano Insua or again play Glen Johnson out of position for an entire season. 

Another position that posed problems for Liverpool last season was the center of defense. One needs to accept that Jamie Carragher is getting old and might not be available for the entire season. This coupled with the fact that Daniel Agger remains perpetually injured and Sotorios Kyrgiakos simply isn't good enough leaves Liverpool with limited options.

The start of season is just two weeks away now and it does not take a pundit to realize that any new player coming in would take some time to settle in. 

Though, Liverpool most definitely would get replacements in these two departments but the delay in securing the services of players in the above positions might hamper the start of the season. 

Even in the pre-season friendlies, very few of the first-choice XI were actually played. It was used more as a platform to provide some playing time to the fringe players. 

Over the last two friendlies, Liverpool are expected to play more of their first-choice players to finally get the team combination going.

Though one should not read too much into the losses against Hull City and Galatasaray, but the team needs to get into the winning mode before the start of the season.  

Liverpool fans would not forget that if it was not for the pathetic start to the season last year when Liverpool were briefly in the relegation zone, they would have been realistic contenders for the Champions League spots. 

Liverpool simply cannot afford another scratchy start to their season. 

The Reds still have two weeks to go and the ideal scenario would be to complete the signings of players over the coming week so that the entire squad is prepared to take on Sunderland on 13th of August.