Clint Dempsey: Fulham Star Will Spell Andy Carroll for Liverpool

With Clint Dempsey reportedly set to join Liverpool this summer, Brendan Rodgers just scored big.

With Andy Carroll already up for sale, Liverpool needed to find a star to balance the loss, and Dempsey is that star.

Carroll, who has been linked to Newcastle United, didn't produce as much at Anfield as he did in 2010-2011 with the Magpies. He scored four goals in 21 starts for Liverpool this past season after striking home 11 goals in 18 starts for Newcastle.

Part of that was due to the fact that he wasn't a good fit in Rodgers' system and struggled to find his way on the club for an extended period of time. The 23-year-old, evidenced by Newcastle's interest and the £20 million price tag, is still a very talented player—it's just that it never worked out at Anfield.

In Dempsey, Rodgers not only gets a premier striker, he gets a player who should be a much better fit. Dempsey swung home 17 goals in 37 starts for Fulham last season, accounting for roughly 35 percent of the club's goals, and he's an established veteran.

Liverpool is coming off a disappointing campaign. The Reds finished eighth in the Premier League last season and ranked 11th in the league in goals scored.

On the other hand, Liverpool allowed only 40 goals on the season, tied for third-fewest in the league, and an uptick in scoring would do wonders for the club. Luis Suarez was the club's leading goal-scorer in 2011-2012 with 11 goals. Adding Dempsey alongside should make the offense much more dangerous.

This also eases the sting of losing top target Gylfi Sigurdsson to Tottenham this summer, who Rodgers was convinced would end up at Anfield. 

Sometimes your greatest triumphs come on the heels of defeat.