Liverpool Needs To Catch Fire

Nil nil to Stoke? Are you kidding me? I know I'm not walking alone with my frustration.

Robbie Keane's Anfield duck isn't helping. Keane and Torres were supposed to be one of the most anticipated partnerships coming into the start of this season's Premier League campaign. Maybe the Reds should have brought back 'God' for another season; not to play, just to give the team the emotional shot of adrenaline. But this is not the 2000-2001 season of the treble.

Are the Reds serious contenders for the title this year?

They are close. But something needs to catch fire if Liverpool looks to ever climb to the top of the table.

Despite Liverpool's lackluster start to the season, they still find themselves close to the top next to Chelsea and currently chasing Arsenal. Chasing is not enough for the Liverpool faithful. When the dust clears at season's end they expect results.

New stadium delays and all resentment of ownership aside, the real issues are on the field of play. When the Reds are winning, complaining at Anfield subsides. Quite frankly something needs to happen. With all the off season transfers coming into Liverpool; some say the inability to sign Barry had disrupted Rafa from building the team he needed to challenge the other three of the big four. With all the new money flowing into Manchester City, perhaps big five this year.

Which reminds me if Manchester City didn't find the Spanish winger Riera to be all the rage enough to keep him, was he the solution or a band-aid for Liverpool's left?

My experience in coaching stems back to FIFA for my old Sega Genesis, but if i was to be George Steinbrener for a day with the Reds I feel Liverpool could solve the left with Babel. Let the kid off the leash. Have Gerrard and Alonso cause havoc in the middle with the other Dutchman Kuyt creating havoc from the right.

Liverpool's attack will gel. With world class options in the midfield and an attack with deadly potential yet to blossom, when the transfer window does open Rafa needs to focus attention on his options on the back line.

With Carragher aging, are Skrtel, Arbeloa and Dossena solid answers for Liverpool's back line? I'd prefer Hyypia back there, but even then I'd be wary of my back line. Going back to coaching by video game, drop Mascherano back into the fold as a back you can bring up into attack and launch counters from time to time. But the Reds need to solidify the back line once the transfer window opens with another proven back or two.

Steve Gerrard will eventually play healthy. Hopefully Torres and Keane can get their scoring closer to last year's form and Rafa can field a back line worth respecting. This might be their year if they transfer their Champions League energy and form over the past few years towards the domestic campaign.