James Milner a Good Start to Liverpool's Summer, but Stellar Signing Required

Liverpool confirmed the free transfer signing of Manchester City midfielder James Milner on Thursday, and provided he passes a medical, the Englishman will officially join the Reds on July 1.

Milner is a shrewd acquisition for Brendan Rodgers as he looks to rebuild the club after a rough 2014/15 campaign.

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As noted by the Telegraph's Chris Bascombe, Milner's "professionalism will be the envy of most Premier League managers, not least Manuel Pellegrini, who was desperate to keep the 29-year-old."

Bascombe, like many supporters, ponders whether Milner's arrival can be somewhat akin to that of Gary McAllister 15 years ago. The Scotsman, then aged 35, was later heralded by Gerard Houllier as his "most inspirational signing."

Liverpool won the cup treble in McAllister's first season and finished second in the Premier League the following year. His influence on a then-youthful squad—and players like Steven Gerrard—was key to that success.

While Milner is not quite the veteran McAllister was, being six years younger, he does at least provide some of the qualities McAllister had—notably professionalism and experience.

Liverpool need players of Milner's commitment and quality. He's a player who is technically better than people give him credit for, as explained by Bleacher Report's Rob Pollard in an interview with This Is Anfield.

While Milner represents a solid start to the summer's business at Anfield, Liverpool must follow his signing with more quality—proven quality.

Danny Ings, another out-of-contract player, is widely reported to be next to follow Milner to Merseyside, per the Guardian's Andy Hunter.

Thereafter, Liverpool must not repeat the mistakes of last summer's transfer window and must sign quality players who can fill the gaps in their squad.

A striker is required in addition to Ings and Divock Origi, who will join the club after a year on loan at Lille. That striker must be somebody who can work alongside Daniel Sturridge when the Englishman is fit but also carry the weight of expectation if/when Sturridge is sidelined through injury.

Sturridge will be missing when the campaign begins, and after such a poor end to last season saw Rodgers somehow survive the sack, the Reds must get off to a good start in 2015/16.

Rodgers cannot afford another slow start. He needs a goalscorer he can rely upon.

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Christian Benteke continues to be linked with a move to Liverpool, per David Maddock of the Mirror, but many supporters rightly harbour concerns over whether the Belgian is suited to Liverpool's style of play. The Liverpool Echo's James Pearce told the Anfield HQ podcast (h/t This Is Anfield) that "Benteke wouldn’t fit the system, much like Andy Carroll."

Benteke is not the answer.

Indeed, if Liverpool are looking for a more suitable option and an all-round centre-forward, they'd be better off looking towards another underrated Manchester City player, Edin Dzeko—as proposed by Jack Lusby of This Is Anfield.

Dzeko's age (29) might go against him, but he can work in a front two and as a lone forward. He's played in a side with a similar style of player to Liverpool's and is far more mobile than Benteke.

Without the Bosnian's goals at the end of the 2013/14 season, Liverpool would have won the title.

A move for Dzeko is unlikely, but Liverpool need to find a stellar signing from somewhere—especially if Raheem Sterling leaves the club.

The Reds need somebody who will get fans excited ahead of the new campaign, who will help sell new shirts and fill one of the many vacant first-team squad numbers.

Without UEFA Champions League football to offer, that may prove harder than it was last summer, but somehow they must find a way.

Goals are needed, and someway, somehow, Liverpool must bring a proven goalscorer to Anfield this summer.