Liverpool FC: Predicting the Top 5 Goal Scorers for the Reds in EPL Next Season

Liverpool scored a paltry 47 goals last season in the league. There were only nine teams who scored less than the Reds. From being the second best team in the country in 2008-09, Liverpool has undergone a decline during the last three years. Liverpool under Rafa Benitez was top of the goal scoring charts in the league that season with 77 goals.  

Fans have a good feel about Brendan Rodgers' appointment as manager after Kenny Dalglish was sacked because of results through the league campaign. Even though Rodgers is being welcomed to the Liverpool hot seat, fans should be wary of something.

Before fans start taking out their diaries to chalk out a wishlist and expectations from the new manager, they must not forget that Swansea actually scored less goals than Liverpool last season. I agree that the style of play was fantastic, but you should have results to show for it. That sounded familiar didn't it? Well, that is because it is the same reasoning that belittled Dalglish's achievements.

Despite that stat and the contradiction it holds to FSG's way of working, I do think Rodgers is a good appointment and will be successful. I expect Rodgers to bring back some goals after last season's drought. I am predicting that Liverpool will score between 55 to 65 goals next season and these will be the top-scorers for Rodgers' team.  

5. Craig Bellamy

Craig Bellamy was one of the buys of the season last year simply because of the vital contributions he made to Liverpool's awful season at crucial points. He was one of the players who was putting his chances away more often than the others. In a season when other Liverpool strikers had completely forgotten their strength of scoring, the veteran Bellamy showed the way through some neat finishes.

Despite not featuring as regularly as the likes of Jordan Henderson, Bellamy scored nine goals with six of them coming in the league.

Prediction for League Season 2012/13: Seven-Eight Goals   

4. Joe Cole

Joe Cole is a player that might just be reborn under Brendan Rodgers' managerial reign. With the tiki-taka set to come to town, Cole will be rubbing his hands in anticipation. The new Liverpool manager has already indicated that Cole is a part of his plans by not offloading him or loaning him out.

People should remember that Cole is still only 30. He still has a lot of football left in him and he has rejuvenated himself during his stint with Lille. Will he be able to come back to England and start performing? I do think so.

Cole does not have the blistering pace in his game that players like Scott Sinclair and Nathan Rodgers at Swansea had. However, I do believe Rodgers will find a suitable role for him.

Prediction for League Season 2012/13: Eight-Nine Goals   

3. Andy Carroll

Andy Carroll's future is very unclear considering the brand of football that Rodgers has hinted at playing. In my opinion Carroll is a great player to have on the bench to add something different at any instant of the game. In fact the powerful forward has recently showed sparks for both Liverpool and England that may have Rodgers thinking about tweaking his system a bit to incorporate the features of Carroll's play in his strategies.

If Rodgers plans on emulating his style at Swansea he will surely buy pacy wingers. If that happens Carroll will be more effective and may score even 20. For the moment though I am being realistic as Liverpool has not made any addition as yet to its squad that needs some definite revamping.

Prediction for League Season 2012/13: 10-12 Goals    

2. Steven Gerrard

Steven Gerrard has been having stops and starts through the last two to three years. He has just not been able to develop a rhythm and get a significant run of games in a stretch. Such a routine will hamper any great players performance even though Gerrard has lifted his side on a good number of occasions even through this. His most notable recent contribution was in beating Everton through his hat-trick.

Gerrard is capable of scoring goals. Captain fantastic will be eager to give at least two good seasons to Liverpool before his body doesn't allow him to play consistently to his desired levels. One of those could surely be the next under a young manager with a unique attacking style of play. Rodgers has stressed on pressing. While Gerrard is no stranger to that tactic, he is known to ignore his defensive duties at times.

To tackle this Rodgers may be better off playing Gerrard in as advanced a role as possible. This will mean that Gerrard will get goals which shall bode well for Liverpool. Like Bellamy, Gerrard finished off his chances with some sublime execution. Thus, he should be setup to score more often.

Prediction for League Season 2012/13: 12-13 Goals      

1. Luis Suarez

Luis Suarez missed about a quarter of last season through suspension and still managed to be the top-scorer for Liverpool with 11 goals. Imagine what he may be capable of in a full season and after getting to know the play of his teammates more.

Suarez was one of the players who was finding it hard to finish the scores of chances that the Reds were consistently creating. Fans should not expect that to be the case again this season as he is more likely to play a wide forward role in Rodgers' 4-3-3 rather than the lone front man. Suarez thrives when he plays off the main striker as he showed in the second half of the 2010/11 season.

We are bound to be entertained by Suarez next season and so expect some fireworks.

Prediction for League Season 2012/13: 15-17 Goals