3 Positions Liverpool Must Bolster in the Summer Transfer Window

A second January transfer window passed without Liverpool adding to their squad, and instead it will be the summer that sees Brendan Rodgers reshape his squad.

Last year saw the Liverpool manager acquire nine players—some of whom have failed to settle and some who have sprung into life in recent weeks.

Lazar Markovic, Emre Can and Alberto Moreno in particular look to have a long future at the club.

But with the departure of the club's longest serving captain, Steven Gerrard, this summer, Rodgers will be looking to fill the void he leaves and strengthen other key areas of his side.

Much will depend on whether his side can put together an increasingly more challenging run to claim fourth place and thus qualification for the Champions League.

Alas, Rodgers seems intent on adding silverware this season and his focus on the FA Cup and perhaps Europa League could derail any hopes of elite European football at Anfield next season, meaning Liverpool will be shopping in the lower tier again.

The Reds' strategy, though, is not to sign big-name players but instead seek out financially savvy signings who can increase their value and grow with the squad and manager.

We take a look at three key areas Liverpool must address in the summer. Key to who Rodgers targets will be dependent on his desired formation and so this article is based on keeping with the recently implemented 3-4-2-1 system.

Depth Up Front

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Having finally gone some way to curing the defensive issues that have plagued the last 18 months, Liverpool's biggest problem over the past six weeks has been their poor conversion rate in front of goal.

Too often they've lacked a cutting edge and clinical goalscorer, with Raheem Sterling preferred up front ahead of Rickie Lambert, Fabio Borini and £16 million signing Mario Balotelli.

In Daniel Sturridge's prolonged absence, Liverpool have been made to pay for relying on the England forward too heavily.

Despite the impending arrival of Divock Origi, the Belgian forward who will be 20 when he arrives from loan this summer, Liverpool must sign a clinical goalscorer.

It's quite conceivable that Rodgers will opt to dispose of all three of Lambert, Borini and Balotelli, with Sturridge, Origi, a new signing who suits the style far better, plus Sterling, offering him far more appropriate and exciting options.

Centre-Back

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Liverpool's improved defensive stability owes much to Emre Can and Mamadou Sakho's installation either side of Martin Skrtel in a solid back three.

The two outside centre-backs have offered a simple pass out for Skrtel and Slovakian's own form has been far superior since the change in mid-December.

The removal of Dejan Lovren, a £20 million purchase last summer, has also seen Liverpool and Skrtel look far more assured.

However, if Rodgers is to get the best of Can, the 21-year-old German, he must move him into midfield, likely alongside Jordan Henderson to offer a formidable, dynamic engine room in the side.

That means a ball playing right-sided centre-back must be high on Rodgers' priorities—because Glen Johnson certainly can't do the job.

In Goal

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Liverpool's need for a new goalkeeper has been apparent ever since the club signed Simon Mignolet and allowed Pepe Reina to leave.

When they signed Mignolet in 2013, and Reina departed on loan to Napoli, Rodgers attempted to bring in experience back-up in the form of Shay Given.

A year later a whole host of 'keepers where linked with moves to Merseyside, either as back-up to or to replace the Belgian stopper.

The Liverpool No. 22 has been vastly improved since returning to the team after being dropped for Brad Jones in December. Indeed, five clean sheets since the turn of the year is testament to Mignolet and Liverpool's defence.

Mignolet has improved how commanding he is of his area and looks far more assured with three centre-backs in front of him. His ability on crosses has also improved, while his distribution has been far more pragmatic—often opting to play long now rather than forcing to play from the back.

Whether Rodgers opts to replace Mignolet, or bring in a back-up to him, a goalkeeper is required at Anfield, especially with Brad Jones' contract set to expire in the summer.