Liverpool: 5 Steps the Club Must Take to Make the Top Four Next Season

Liverpool currently lie seventh in the league, 12 points behind fourth-place Tottenham. With the League Cup already in the trophy cabinet, this has been a fairly successful season for the Reds, but a team as big as this really needs to be playing Champions League football.

The Reds are now pretty much out of the running for fourth place this season; it would take a dramatic reversal of fortunes for them to overtake the three teams ahead of them: Newcastle, Chelsea and Spurs.

The last time Anfield saw their team finish in the top four was in the 2008-09 season. Kenny Dalglish needs to turn this run around soon.

Turning our attention to next season, what do Liverpool need to do to end in the top four?

Turn Anfield into a Fortress

Liverpool may have only lost one game so far this season, but with eight draws compared to only five wins, the Reds' home form needs to be sorted out.

These draws have to be turned into three-pointers if they want to be playing in Europe's biggest competition.

Liverpool need to start playing two out-and-out strikers against weaker opposition. By playing Andy Carroll with Luis Suarez dropping just behind, the club should be able to make more of the countless chances they've had this season.

The club have had no trouble creating chances this season, but if they don't start taking them more often, getting into the top four will be tough.

If Carroll is confident that he has shown he can trouble defences, and if Kenny Dalglish doesn't have faith in the former Newcastle man, then he needs to bring someone in during the summer.

End the Speculation Regarding Luis Suarez

Ever since the Patrice Evra scandal, there has been increasing speculation surrounding the future of Luis Suarez.

Whatever you may think of the player's character, there is no doubt that he is one of the most talented players in the Liverpool squad.

The club needs to stop any speculation linking the Uruguayan to other clubs by offering him a new contract. According to the Guardian, the club have shown a desire to do just that, definitely a step in the right direction.

By giving Suarez a show of faith like this, the rumours will die down, and hopefully his mind will concentrate on what he does best: play football.

A run at the top four would be a far tougher task without Luis on the pitch.

Find a Right Winger

Dirk Kuyt is in no way a top four-level right midfielder. The Dutchman has an amazing engine and runs himself into the ground playing out wide, but he is a striker and should be playing up front.

After a shaky start, Stewart Downing is beginning to settle in on the left-hand side, and the club need someone to slot in on the other flank.

To get the best out of a target man like Carroll, you need to be swinging in crosses that he can get on the end of. Kuyt is not the man for the job.

One thing is very important: The club needs to stop wasting money on overpriced talent and get an established name.

Andy Carroll, Downing, Jordan Henderson and (to a lesser extent) Charlie Adam are all fine players, but Liverpool overpaid ridiculously for them.

If Liverpool can secure him for a reasonable price, then Manchester City's Adam Johnson could be the perfect fit.

Continue to Blood Youngsters for the Rest of the Season

One of the brightest points of the current Liverpool squad is the depth of young talent they have at their disposal.

It may have been expensive to acquire, but now that it's there, the club should make full use of it.

Against QPR, Liverpool fielded Sebastian Coates, Jordan Henderson and Jay Spearing. Jon Flanagan and Jonjo Shelvey made the bench.

Liverpool need to continue having faith in these younger players by giving them first-team Premier League experience.

After the loss to QPR, Liverpool's season is pretty much done. They basically have a free pass to blood youngsters against the likes of Wigan, Aston Villa and Blackburn.

This experience could be extremely helpful next season.

Keep Faith with Andy Carroll or Bring in a Big-Name Striker

Liverpool have amassed a jaw-dropping amount of chances this season, but they have failed to take as many of them as they should.

Andy Carroll has cut a lonely figure on the bench this season, and when he has played, he has been far too inconsistent.

Kenny Dalglish needs to send a message to the former Newcastle man, telling him that he's the striker to take this club forward and inject some confidence into him.

If Dalglish doesn't have the faith in Carroll to do this, then he needs to bring in a top-quality striker instead.

Liverpool-kop.com has linked Liverpool with Anderlecht forward Matias Suarez. Although the Argentinian has scored 44 goals in 99 games for the club, scoring in the Belgian league is not the pedigree Liverpool should be looking at.

The club have been linked to the much better prospect Gonzalo Higuain as well this year, and if he would come to the club, he is the level of striker they should be looking for.