Liverpool Needs to Buy a Creative Midfielder in January

Liverpool has had a strange season so far. 

They generally have performed well against the big teams, earning victories against Arsenal and Chelsea, and draws against Manchester United and Manchester City.

With such a good record against their rivals for the Top 4 spot, one would expect Liverpool to be near the top of the table. 

However, they are languishing at sixth place—three points off that elusive Top 4 position. 

And one of the top reasons for the same is their performance against the so-called weaker teams, where they should have taken maximum points. 

The disappointing results included draws against teams such as Sunderland, Wigan, Blackburn, Swansea and Norwich. 

The more obvious reasons that most people have noticed are the woodwork denying them a large number of goals, and opposition goalkeepers choosing their matches against Liverpool to put in their best performances of the season.

The reason for the same seems to be the intent of the opposition while playing a team such as Liverpool. 

Any team aspiring to be at the top of the league generally would want to win, whether they are playing a team at the top of the table or a team at the bottom.

Such teams play an attacking game that gives the opposition the space to counter-attack and score.

But when a mid-table, or a team in the bottom half of the table, comes into a game against a top opposition, they are often happy to get a point out of the game.

The usual strategy is to crowd the box with defensive players, making it difficult for the opposition to score, leaving counter-attacks or set-pieces the only avenues to convert goals.

This is where Liverpool seems to be failing; they lack a creative midfielder.

Although the Reds spent a large amount of money on strengthening the midfield, they seemed to have left out getting a player who can create chances against stubborn defences—a role that David Silva and Samir Nasri play at Manchester City, and Nani plays at Manchester United. 

Liverpool, however, generally seem to do well against the better teams because they are given the space to play.  Lack of a creative player does not hurt as much in such cases because the defence is much more porous. 

At present, the only player who seems capable of creating something out of nothing is Luis Suarez, who is also Liverpool's lead striker. 

This is far from the ideal scenario.  Asking a single player to create chances as well as score is asking a bit too much. 

Furthermore, if Suarez loses the appeal against his eight-match ban, Liverpool would have to go for an extended period of time without a player who terrorises the opposition defences. 

This makes the signing of a player who creates chances for the team that much more important.

If Liverpool want to realise their aim of attaining a Top 4 position, signing an attacking creative midfielder in January should be their top priority. 

However, whether or not the owners are ready to give a significant transfer kitty in January still remains to be seen.