I t’s been a busy summer at Anfield and the steady stream of transfer business shows no signs of letting up, with Liverpool aiming to build upon last season’s unexpected Premier League title challenge. The Reds, who were unfancied by many having finished seventh the previous season, squandered a five-point lead at the top with only three games remaining. Steven Gerrard’s now infamous slip, combined with a collapse at Selhurst Park, helped ensure the title headed back to the Etihad.

Nevertheless it was a memorable season for those on the red half of Merseyside, with Brendan Rodgers’ side playing with a style and fluidity not seen at L4 for many a year. Despite this success, the manager knew back in May the importance of adding to his squad, particularly with the welcome return of Champions League football set to add at least six games onto the Reds’ fixture list in 2014/15.

Rodgers’ rebuild

Over the two years of Rodgers’ tenure at Anfield, the manager has gradually been moulding and shaping his squad as he looks to build and improve upon the status quo. The club’s American owners have been more than supportive in his time (as have previous owners – the club have spent heavily in the Premier League era with the hope of regaining supremacy over the English game) and tens of millions of pounds have routinely changed hands.

Rodgers’ first signing, Fabio Borini, cost in excess of £12million, shortly followed by Joe Allen for £15m. There is an acceptance though that Liverpool were and perhaps still are shopping in a different market to the financial heavyweights of the European game. Whatever the restrictions, few would bemoan the ownership’s lack of ambition for the club.

Last season, however, was somewhat of an unexpected breakthrough. Rodgers’ mantra of possession-based football seemed to evolve with the need for immediate results. One season of adjustment might be allowed but a second would be seen as wasteful and wouldn’t hold much water with a hugely expectant fan base.

The club turned possession into relentless attack and opponents were often defeated before they could draw breath, particularly at Anfield. While the Reds ultimately couldn’t quite make it over a line few had expected them to reach, Rodgers will know that his success has created a stick for his own back.

Supporters will now be expecting the same high standards; wins will be demanded. With this insatiable appetite for success at the back of their minds, the club has been extremely busy right from the beginning of the transfer window.

The defence

Last season, the Reds notched up 101 goals and conceded 50. It was therefore clear to many where Liverpool’s strengths and weaknesses lie. To that end, Rodgers has spent £20m on Dejan Lovren, a player he hopes will bring some much-needed leadership to the back four. Time will tell, but outstanding performances for Southampton, notably in games at Anfield (where Southampton won) and Old Trafford, made many sit up and take note of the Croatian.

Consistency will be the key word for Lovren and he will do well to take heed from the career paths of often understated but ever reliable players such as Steve Finnan, Stephane Henchoz and Sami Hyypia, who enjoyed fruitful careers at Anfield. Producing 7/10 or 8/10 performances every week will be the standard expected.

Not that the Reds are short of options at centre-back. Mamadou Sakho (France vice-captain at the World Cup) was brought in last September for £18m alongside Tiago Ilori, who was swiftly sent out on loan. Add in Martin Skrtel who, despite a record-breaking four own goals, enjoyed perhaps his most outstanding campaign to date, Daniel Agger, Sebastian Coates and Kolo Toure and the Reds would seem to have a plethora of options.

Due to this surfeit of centre-backs many are suggesting Agger and Coates may leave in search of more regular football. Agger’s career at Liverpool has been blighted by injuries. Never lacking in ability or class, the former Brondby man has often struggled to maintain his fitness over the course of a season. Ultimately, this may cost him the chance to become a legend at Anfield.

In the full-back positions, Rodgers again seems to be hoping new blood can take the Reds forward. Javier Manquillo has signed and Alberto Moreno is widely tipped to arrive in the coming days. The pair will join another strong group of players vying for two positions. Jon Flanagan and Glen Johnson were the starting pair at the end of the season, and they will be supplemented by the returning Jose Enrique, Jack Robinson (after his loan at Blackpool) and Martin Kelly. Andre Wisdom has already gone out on loan to West Brom.

#LFC are pleased to announce the signing of Spanish youth international Javier Manquillo from @Atleti #ManquilloLFC pic.twitter.com/gwDJ4k0TJr — Liverpool FC (@LFC) August 6, 2014

The expected incomings would seem to suggest that some of the aforementioned will either be loaned or sold. Rodgers hopes competition for places throughout his side and a willingness not to let players rest on their laurels will drive incumbent players to reach new levels of performance, all the while increasing the talent at his disposal. Glen Johnson has not been offered a new contract despite having only a year left on his current one and the assumed thinking is that giving the England international more to play for will improve his performances.

The midfield

In midfield, Adam Lallana and Emre Can have joined a squad already boasting Gerrard, Allen, Lucas Leiva and Jordan Henderson. Although Henderson and Gerrard were the two outstanding performers from last season, many still believe that the Reds needed a more powerful presence in the heart of their midfield; a player in the mould of Manchester City’s Yaya Toure.

Asking Can to play such a role at the tender age of 20, especially with no prior Premier League experience, might well be demanding too much and it may continue to be an area of the pitch that opposition target. Lallana will supplement Liverpool’s attacking thrust and may vie for a starting place with Philippe Coutinho, although it remains to be seen where Rodgers sees his best position.

The attack

The front three will be chosen from Daniel Sturridge, Raheem Sterling, Coutinho and new arrivals Rickie Lambert and Lazar Markovic. Signing another centre-forward is also expected to be the focus for the Reds during the remainder of the transfer window.

Loic Remy looked set to join the Reds until he unexpectedly failed his medical. As a forward who can play anywhere across the front line with an excellent record in the Barclays Premier League (20 goals in 40 games), the Frenchman could have been an ideal foil for Sturridge, but it was not to be. The search for a new striker must continue.

Markovic enjoyed an impressive season at Benfica, where the Portuguese title was won, but again at just 20, it would asking a lot to expect the Serbian to replace the contribution of Luis Suarez by himself.

It seems more likely Rodgers will apply an approach of sharing the burden of making up Suarez’s goals. The Liverpool manager has already challenged Henderson to get on the scoresheet more often, and between the midfielder and new boys Lallana and Lambert, 15-20 goals should be added to compensate for the Uruguayan’s departure.

Most importantly, Sturridge must now step up as Liverpool’s main man and at least match his 20-goal haul from last season. There certainly is space for another striker to ease the burden but without Suarez the Reds will do well to hit a century of goals again next term.

R odgers will know that spending what is widely expected to reach over £100m certainly adds its own pressure to succeed. While the club can claim much, if not all, of that outlay will be recouped from sales (the majority from the £75m departure of Suarez), there is an inherent expectation that big spending will lead to good results.

The Reds have achieved success in the Premier League era, winning several domestic and European trophies, but that elusive 19th league title remains the priority.

(photo credit: Bjorn Giesenbauer via Flickr)