Liverpool: 8 Things Brendan Rodgers Must Address on Return to Anfield

Brendan Rodgers might have been more or less acceptant, if not entirely satisfied, after his first season in charge of Liverpool came to an end last month, but the Reds boss will know he has an awful lot of work to do this summer if the team's position in the league is going to be improved.

The manager has been away on holiday following the end of the campaign, but is due back at Melwood, the club's training facility, from next week according to James Pearce of the Liverpool Echo—and he'll have a long list of issue to sort out waiting for him.

From transfers in and out of the first team to other pressing matters surrounding his charges, Rodgers must get straight into gear to ensure his team is ready for the big challenges of the new season.

Taking into account both some of the more important items mentioned in Pearce's Echo report and some other issues to resolve, here are eight important decisions the manager will have to address upon his return.

The Future of Luis Suarez

First things first, Liverpool need to get word from their star forward Luis Suarez on whether he wants to remain at the club next season.

If he does, great—let him do yet another press conference and this time make clear what his decision is, and why. If not...then interested suitors such as Real Madrid need to come up with the right offer.

Liverpool need to play extremely hard on this deal. Suarez only signed a new long-term contract last summer, so the club has absolutely no pressure on it to sell him. This should be a new record outgoing deal if he has to leave, a minimum of £50 million. Not just because he's one of the best in the world, but because he would be in demand and under a long deal.

Furthermore, Rodgers must insist that a deadline is put in effect for any transfer to be completed, say July 18. If nothing is done by then, when Liverpool will head south for their preseason camp in Indonesia and Australia, then Suarez has to stay.

The club needs ample time to identify the right replacement and put into place a deal which benefits Liverpool all round, not just one that they are forced to pay an extra £10 million for just because they've just received a whole heap more from the Suarez deal.

Luis and his agent would then also know that it is Liverpool in the position of power; come to an agreement with a new club quickly, or else remain at Anfield and fight on for another year.

Seal an Early Deal for a First-Choice Centre-Back, Even If It Isn't "Papa"

With Jamie Carragher's retirement, Liverpool are in the market this summer for a new first-choice central defender to partner with Daniel Agger.

Top of the list of priorities has apparently been Schalke defender Kyriakos Papadopoulos, but there is talk of his price being higher than Liverpool want to pay. If Suarez leaves and there are additional funds then Rodgers may sanction going a little higher for the Greek, but if they refuse to negotiate then alternatives must be sought.

Centre-back is arguably the most important area of the team Liverpool need to sort out for this year and moving forward, and one they have to get right.

Ensure Pepe Reina's Position Is Confirmed One Way or Another

Suarez isn't the only first-team player whose future is uncertain.

Goalkeeper Pepe Reina has also still not unconditionally stated he won't be leaving, though his options to do so might be limited with Barcelona keeping Victor Valdes for another season.

The Daily Mail reports that Liverpool are looking at replacements for if the Spanish keeper does decide to move on, including Simon Mignolet. Rodgers cannot afford to not know who his first-choice goalkeeper is going to be, even heading into preseason.

This has to be sorted out quickly.

Offload Fringe Players No Longer Required at Liverpool

Yet again, as with every year it seems, Liverpool have a number of fringe names to offload in the summer.

Not all might bring in extreme amounts of money to spend in the transfer window, but getting rid of the weekly wages which go wasted is equally important.

Jay Spearing, Jon Flanagan, Dani Pacheco, Oussama Assaidi, Andy Carroll, Sebastian Coates and quite possibly even Martin Skrtel, Jack Robinson, Jonjo Shelvey and Stewart Downing, all more associated with the first team squad.

All of those players could be gone from Anfield by Sept. 1, potentially saving at least £300,000 per week (around £15 million per year) in the process, while three or four would bring in good fees, too.

Boost the Squad Numbers, with Three Signings Expected to Be Completed

Kolo Toure, Iago Aspas, Tiago Ilori. Those three names should, by all accounts, be available for selection on the back of Liverpool jerseys next season, with the Liverpool Echo report mentioning that all three deals are done or close.

All three players will play a role in the development of the squad next season, with Toure one for the short-to-mid term and Ilori his potential successor in seasons to come. Aspas will be a significant part of the attacking options at Rodgers' disposal, even if he isn't an automatic first pick in one specific position.

There could be more squad fillers to come too, even before first XI starters are signed.

A third goalkeeper for the squad is likely with Peter Gulacsi having left, and at least one left-back is sure to come in during the summer. There could even be another forward yet, with that area complicated by the Suarez situation.

Starters, yes, Liverpool need two or three for sure, perhaps even four.

But for some time the big problem has been replicating the quality of the first XI whenever some of those players are missing, and building up the numbers who can contribute to the team is equally important.

Mentality: Ensure Demands for the Season Are Known by All, Effective Immediately

One of Rodgers' key traits is his man management. He has so far been able to coax or train improved performances on the pitch out of the likes of Jordan Henderson and Jose Enrique, after both had been poor early in the campaign.

He almost always speaks positively in his public appearances, and consistently intimates that he has a clear path of how the team will improve and that he is steadfast in his belief that the team are indeed taking that route.

The key for Rodgers this summer will be translating to his group of players exactly what is required this season and ensuring they all understand and accept it. Is it to win the title? Finish in the top four? Focus on winning each individual game in turn?

Whatever his decision, he must communicate that to the team effectively, along with making clear just how little football anyone will play if they are not in the right frame of mind.

Liverpool have to become far harder to beat next term, and that starts on the training pitch with the head coach.

The Defensive Midfield Position

Lucas has gone full circle at Liverpool, from being derided and dismissed by some fans early in his career to being hailed as the genuine article now, a key piece of the puzzle.

In truth, while he had a series of excellent performances prior to his injury in 2011-12, Lucas was far from effective in the holding role after recovering in the latter part of 2012.

Too slow off the mark, unable to shield the defence well enough and not tracking runners from deep through the middle; Liverpool cannot rely on Lucas for a whole season being the only defensive midfield option.

Does Joe Allen come back into the side in this area? Do Liverpool change to accommodate more players in the centre or else change formation completely? Is a big-money new signing needed?

It's up to Rodgers to decide, and he needs to get it right. Liverpool won't finish in the top four if they rely on Lucas to perform this important role and he performs it in the same way as he did last term.

Appoint a New Vice-Captain

Finally, although he may well have already done it earlier on, Brendan Rodgers will have to appoint a new vice captain for the first team.

Jamie Carragher has retired, leaving a hole in the team and also to wear the captain's armband when Steven Gerrard is not present.

Pepe Reina, Lucas and Luis Suarez have all worn the armband in recent campaigns so might have been identified as potential second-in-commands, but all three have been mentioned here as potentially needing to be replaced.

Daniel Agger appears to be the standout candidate at present in terms of security in the first team and experience, being the current permanent captain of the Denmark national team and a long-term Liverpool player. The Dane would be a worthy occupant of the armband when required.

It's not the most vital part of Rodgers' job this summer, but it carries a few undertones with regards to his decision in public and possibly also within the squad, too.

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