Liverpool Football Club: Mid-Season Analysis

It's 2nd January, 2012, and as of right now, we're halfway through Liverpool's Premier League campaign.

When Kenny Dalglish took over as manager last January, his side went on to score 35 goals within 18 games.

After 18 games this season, his side had only scored 21 goals. And as of now—19 games in—that's only improved by 3 goals thanks to what turned out to be a comfortable home win against Newcastle on Friday night.

The Reds are currently in sixth place with 34 points, and have the best defensive record in the league after only conceding 15 goals all season.

I'm sure I don't need to bring out any more statistics to back up what has been their biggest failing all season: a lack of goals.

Astonishingly, after spending roughly £98.8 million throughout the previous year on attacking-based players, the club currently have the eighth most prolific strike force in the league, and their top scorer, Luis Suarez, has only scored five goals throughout the league campaign so far.

With goalscorers such as Radamel Falcao, Darren Bent, Demba Ba and Sergio Aguero all being transferred within the last year, it makes you wonder what on earth the Liverpudlians see in Andy Carroll that the rest of us don't.

And what makes matters worse for the Scouse outfit, is that if the likes of Craig Bellamy, Stuart Downing, Luis Suarez—and of course Andy Carroll—don't start hitting the net more on a regular basis, they will most likely be faced with two options: Gambling on Steven Gerrard to remain fit throughout the remainder of the season, or having to shell out another eight-figure sum on a forward.

I can't see any other clubs being as overly generous with transfer fees as Chelsea were with the out-of-form Fernando Torres.

Even with such a mind-blowing amount of money being spent on what has been such an impotent strike force this season, it's very easy to get carried away and not pay attention to the fact that they're only two points off of Arsenal, who currently hold fourth place.

And it's worth noting that if £35 million was better spent last January, Liverpool could be in the title race with Tottenham and the two Manchester clubs.

Much like Spurs last season, all they need is a little bit of tweaking and one or two additions to really make that difference up front.