Liverpool FC: 10 Steps the Reds Must Take to Catch Manchester Clubs, Chelsea FC

Liverpool Football Club: Eighteen league titles, five European Cups.

Liverpool are a team that should be competing amongst the best week in and week out. Unfortunately, though, over the past two seasons, the Anfield faithful have witnessed a definite slump in their sides performances and a consequent slip in their league places. Making matters worse is the sudden emergence of Manchester City, making that top four even harder to break into.

Thankfully, Liverpool are improving, however gradually. Players are being signed, the club is refinding its feet and Steven Gerrard is finally back from a career threatening injury roller-coaster ride. Signs are positive, but there is still work to be done. Here are 10 steps that Kenny Dalglish and Liverpool must take to reaffirm themselves as one of the best.

1. Defeat "Lesser Teams"

Norwich visited Anfield on Saturday in an encounter that should have been a straightforward game for the Reds. However, because it's Liverpool, it wasn't. Liverpool started well, but then they fell back into a relaxed style of play, with passes going astray and no cutting edge found. However, their lead was justified at halftime.

Then, it was just a lack of clinical finishing. A top side should never give a lead away, and Liverpool have a rather frustrating tendency to do just that. If Liverpool are to get back to where they were a couple of seasons back, promoted teams must be defeated, hands down.

2. Be More Clinical

If points were earned for making supporters scream "OOH" or "HOW THE HELL DID YOU MISS?", Liverpool would have won the league by now. But they're not.

In the last minutes alone, Liverpool should have scored three times. Carroll and Suarez were guilty of not capitalising on chances, and if this trend continues, Liverpool will remain fifth or sixth, and I will never find my voice again.

3. Use Impact Subs

Even though Andy Carroll missed an absolute sitter against Norwich, there is no denying that he caused problems. It's just a different style of playing when he's on the pitch—more direct. I'm not saying it's better; I don't think it is. But when you need a goal, and time is against you, sometimes the change from nice football to more stoke-like football can work.

4. Get Rid of the "Dead Wood..."

The Liverpool wage bill has been the subject of many a taunt recently, and Kenny Dalglish must have set the January transfer window as his target to relieve the remaining benchwarmers of their lack of duties.

The fact is, there is no point having players that don't play. There is even less point of having expensive players that don't play. The money earned from selling them could go to a big player arriving or something actually worthwhile.

5. ...and Buy More Players

This rumour has been going on for some while now, but should Hazard come to Anfield, it would greatly improve the club's level. Liverpool still need a winger—a winger who is quick and will score goals as well as create them. My biggest criticism of Stewart Downing is the fact that he has still not scored for Liverpool, and it's not for lack of trying.

Should Liverpool buy Eden Hazard or Adam Johnson, I'm 90 percent sure Kenny Dalglish's side will score a lot more than they are currently.

6. Try New Formations

Liverpool do have enough players to mix it up a bit, to make themselves harder to play and less predictable.

It's unfortunate, really, the fact that Dalglish has decided to play most of the majority of games using a simple 4-4-2 formation. Why not try a 4-3-3? Liverpool has the players and the ability. I think Liverpool must get out of their comfort zone, simply to get other teams out of theirs, too.

7. Play Steven Gerrard in the Central Attacking Midfield Slot

If I were manager of Liverpool, Gerrard would play just off of the two front men. Gerrard plays at his best when he is able to dictate play, and he can't do that when he is deployed in a holding role. Lucas Leiva can do the holding job, while Gerrard should be given a free license to link up with Luis Suarez to terrorise defence.

Against Norwich yesterday, Gerrard was relatively ineffective because his duties were mainly defensive, and Adam was given the license to roam. Hopefully in the near future, Gerrard will be played in a more attacking position.

8. Don't Start Jordan Henderson Just Yet

Jordan Henderson, the £20 million pound acquisition, has had a tough start to his Liverpool career, and it's plain to see the youngster is still nervous. When Henderson does get the ball, usually he will look to pass backwards, a trait that has annoyed many Liverpool fans time and time again.

Until Henderson has more experience and actually learns to play offensive football, King Kenny must look to start another midfielder that has seen and done it all before.

9. Continue the Good Run in Big Games

For all the struggling in big games, Liverpool have a remarkable record against the top sides in England. Liverpool have to fend off Arsenal and Tottenham in a bid to land the sought after fourth spot, and at the end of the day, the games against rivals have a big say in where you finish come May.

10. Keep Faith

The Liverpool anthem, "You'll Never Walk Alone," is a song about keeping faith and never giving up. Liverpool are one of the best sides in England still, and should Liverpool play football the way they can, and get that little bit lucky, there's no reason why they can't finish in the Champions League top spots at the end of this campaign.