Liverpool FC: 5 Reasons the Reds Have No Need for Raul Meireles

When Raul Meireles signed for Chelsea within minutes of the transfer deadline, he betrayed his club. Often when a player moves like that, the club is left in tatters. Liverpool are stronger than ever.

The team, simply put, did not need the Portuguese midfielder. They are better off without him. Meireles will not be missed.

This is why.

5. Demotion to Bench

A big part of Meireles' decision to hand in a transfer request would have been his recent demotion to the substitutes bench at Anfield. With the recent influx of centre midfielders at the club, Meireles has found himself dropping down the pecking order; he found himself in a replacement role, a role he clearly doesn't like.

Sure, you lose some key production off the bench for Liverpool, but this is good news. This will give some of the younger players the chance to break through in the first team. Conor Coady and Suso are both highly touted teenagers, but with a player like Meireles in the squad, it looked unlikely that they would be given a chance. Now, it wouldn't at all be surprising to see them make an impact like John Flanagan and Jack Robinson did last season.

He will be better off at Chelsea, but you have to ask yourself: will they be better off with him?

4. £15 Million Coming in

John Henry and his Fenway Sports Group have allocated well over £100 million to Kenny Dalglish for recruitments and reinforcements to his squad since he took over in January 2011. In all the spending, Liverpool fans seem to have forgotten that they aren't Manchester City; there is a limit on the transfer budget.

The estimated £15 million that will come in for Meireles is very valuable money.  It is no secret that Dalglish was running somewhat low on transfer funds and that Henry had told him he had to sell before he bought more. This is what was meant. That said, those £15 million will likely go straight into Dalglish's January transfer kitty.

What does that mean?

It means he will have more than enough money to further build on his squad for the back nine of the Premier League season in the January transfer market. 

It also means Liverpool made a profit off Raul Meireles. He signed for £12 million on the 29th of August, 2010. The club made £3 million. 

3. He Could Well Bust

While Raul Meireles had been a success at Liverpool in his Premier League career, recent evidence suggest he may not perform to the tone of the price tag he apparently warranted.

The last two players to move between the two clubs in question have been famous busts. It started with Joe Cole, who arrived at Anfield on a free last summer, hailed as the man who would turn the club's fortunes around. He would make just 20 appearances in the Red, scoring two goals while sinking further and further down the depth chart. Unsurprisingly, he joined Lille on loan at the deadline.

The second example is the infamous one concerning Fernando Torres. The superstar left Liverpool on the January deadline this winter with Chelsea paying £50 million for his services. In his time with the club, the Spaniard has scored just one goal in 17 appearances. Torres is rapidly becoming arguably the biggest bust in world footballing history.

The difference?

Joe Cole's crash didn't cost the Reds a penny. Chelsea's has so far cost them £50 million. That could rise to £65.

It wouldn't at all be surprising to see Raul Meireles fail at Stamford Bridge.

2. Depth at Central Midfield

One of the main reasons Meireles has been pushed to the bench is because of Liverpool's incredible richness of elite central midfielders in the squad. All the way through there is strength and versatility, and it will take many injuries to make the heart of the team weak:

Steven Gerrard, Charlie Adam, Jordan Henderson, Lucas, Maxi, Jonjo Shelvey, Jay Spearing, Conor Coady (Alberto Aquilani)

The depth is incredible. Any two you put out will be able to compete. At the end of the day, it is no surprise Meireles essentially got pushed out of the team. There was simply no space. They simply didn't need him. 

1. No Room for Judas

No matter how good a player is, there is no excuse for disloyalty. There is no excuse for what Meireles did. He betrayed.

Liverpool fans got an awful dose of deja vu. Fernando Torres had done exactly the same in the January transfer window, handing in a written transfer request just minutes before the deadline. Both players would leave for bitter rivals Chelsea, as if rubbing salt in our wounds. 

At the end of the day, it is a good thing they are gone. Liverpool are a strong, proud team, full of strong, proud players. Raul Meireles is evidently neither. 

There is no room in the team for Raul 'Judas' Meireles. Fans are glad to see him go. They should be. He will regret leaving when Liverpool lift the Premier League trophy in May 2012.

Good riddance.

Follow Jacob Ware on Twitter at @jacobware95