Liverpool Transfer News: Brendan Rodgers Wants 2 'Marquee' Stars, Latest Rumours

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers admits he needs to sign "one or two" players who can be considered "marquee" in order to make up for the Reds' lack of goals this season.

Rodgers watched his team succumb to a disappointing 1-0 defeat to Hull City on Tuesday night, a result which leaves Liverpool seven points behind fourth-place Manchester United with four Premier League games remaining.

The boss is looking for investment, as reported by David Anderson of the Mirror:

"

Every season you have to look to try to improve and this is another. We can’t hide away from fact we've lost over 50 goals from last season and any team is going to struggle to maintain their level with that. 

Now the challenge is even greater for us with Luis Suarez gone and Daniel Sturridge injured. The players have given their best to meet that challenge and standard, but we’re not at that.

"

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Rodgers zoned in on signing new players, per Anderson:

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We have to look to improve the squad again, which every big club will do. For fans and players, it’s great to get those marquee players. They’re maybe the one or two we need and the owners will support that. If they’re available and affordable within the model, then we will look to get them.

"

United need five points from their remaining games to confirm Champions League football and (presuming those above continue to win) condemn Liverpool to a gruelling Europa League schedule next season—at best. Rodgers' side haven't netted in their last two matches and continue to come up short.

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Rob Harris of the Associated Press summed up Liverpool's faltering goal threat:

Mario Balotelli, a man who is yet to score more than one goal in any competition this season, maintained his starting role up front against Hull.

This is despite Liverpool putting together an excellent unbeaten run which ran from December to March in a 3-4-2-1 formation which didn't include the Italian. Balotelli appeared more of a threat to his own goal, playing Michael Dawson onside for the winning moment.

WhoScored.com tweeted his contribution:

Rodgers' team have lost their identity, and more worryingly, the manager has lost his nerve. Liverpool have played their best football in 3-4-2-1 this season and shouldn't have swapped to 4-3-3 just because United and Arsenal undid them. These are top-four teams.

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We saw Rodgers change formation three times during the FA Cup semi-final defeat to Aston Villa. This provided the notion of a man who is willing to try anything until it sticks, not a tactically astute boss who is in control of finding his team's best form.

B/R UK's Sam Tighe recently looked at players the Anfield club should consider signing:

The fact Rodgers is still talking about Luis Suarez highlights how badly he spent the £75 million Barcelona paid for him. It's perhaps even more difficult now the Uruguayan is thriving at the Camp Nou.

Liverpool should be prioritising a signing like Lyon's Alexandre Lacazette—who is quick, clever on the ball and has 26 Ligue 1 goals this season—plus an out-and-out finisher like Napoli's Gonzalo Higuain.

An Express report (h/t Telegraph Sport) indicates Arsenal's Theo Walcott "could be Anfield bound this summer" if the Gunners sign Pedro from Barca. Capturing Walcott for a reported £24 million is unlikely to excite fans and would highlight where Liverpool are currently at.

Rodgers needs to find top-class solutions in the summer, even without Champions League football.