Liverpool Struggles: Why This Season Could Be the Making of Rafa's Men

Liverpool last night slipped to a 1-0 defeat by Lille, which has been labelled by many sources in the media as Rafa Benitez's lowest ebb in charge of Liverpool.

The rumblings have begun in earnest for his removal and replacement.

The players who need to be 'cleared out' are being named and shamed by supporters, each with their own theory as to where things have gone wrong.

After running Manchester United very, very close for the title last season, this was expected to be the campaign when Liverpool really put together a concernet challenge for the title.

Instead, with the Basque heart ripped out of their midfield and Torres and Gerrard rarely featured together, Liverpool have struggled. Marquee signing Aquillani has barely featured for one reason or another, and Maxi has hardly pulled up any trees since January.

But could this season be the one that finally moulds Liverpool into a title-winning outfit? Could the trials and tribulations of 2010 make 2011 their year? After all, what doesn't kill you makes you stronger.

Liverpool need to keep faith in Rafa Benitez, because armed with this experience, he will deliver a top quality side next season.

Of course, all the ingredients are there. In Gerrard and Torres Liverpool posess two proven world class players, arguably three if you include Mascherano. They have promising young players in Lucas and N'Gog, who could well move up a gear with the lessons learned this season.

Aquillani will be integrated from the start, and should go a long way towards filling the considerable shoes of Xabi Alonso.

And with Skrtel and Agger at the back, they have a partnership which threatens to become as ubiquitous and solid as Henchoz and Hyppia.

But they need reinforcements in one key area: Out wide.

Season after season, since the loss of Steve McManaman, Liverpool have had no threat from the wings. Their one current player capable of delivering that, Ryan Babel, has flattered to deceive and rarely delivered.

Albert Rieira, after a promising start, has slipped into exactly the same niche inhabited by Yossi Benayoun and Steven Gerrard when he plays wide. Maxi is yet more of the same, and Nabil el Zhar is plainly not up to the task.

They all leave Liverpool looking very narrow, with only the dynamic Glen Johnson offering any threat down either flank going forward.

It's going to have to be a smart move, though, to bring in a winger of the required quality. Liverpool will not be dining at the top table this summer as it looks increasingly likely that they will miss out on a Champions League place, so they will not be competing for Ribery or David Silva.

They need a player who will stick out wide, be able to take on his man with and deliver a cross, and pop up with his fair share of goals. These kind of players don't usually come cheap.

And this whole discussion would be moot if they'd ever followed up their long-term interest in Simao Sabrosa.

If I knew exactly who they should sign, then I would be working for the club, not be writing about them, but Liverpool could certainly do worse than Santiago Cazorla of Villareal, or Fabio Coentrao of Benfica.

Of course, it would help Liverpool immensely if they could get the best out of Steven Gerrard, or their other scouse stalwart, Jamie Carragher.