Liverpool’s season is going to be a disappointment regardless of the fact that we’re only twelve games into it. The Reds are currently outside the top half of the table, and after a massive overachievement last season disappointing is just the word.
At the end of the campaign, or even January in an attempt to rescue the season Brendan Rodgers will have to ditch a few players who are just not pulling their weight. Whether it be that they are past their best, costing more than they’re worth, or purely dreadful – you could make a case for scrapping their whole defence, but that would be a dangerous move!
Here are five probable departures from Anfield in the coming months.
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Glen Johnson
Glen Johnson has by no means been a bad player throughout the majority of his career. He has had represented his country on 54 occasions and also had successful spells with Chelsea, Portsmouth and Liverpool. Now 30-years-old Johnson isn’t looking very likely to represent his country again, especially with his lacklustre and poor performances for his club. The Reds’ defence in recent years has been the weak spot of the team and Johnson is certainly one of the weaker players in that defence.
Times up for Johnson, though he could still work his way into another Premier League club.
Fabio Borini
Borini showed snaps of what he could offer Liverpool whilst on loan at Sunderland last season. The 23-year-old Italian has been used sparingly during his time at Anfield and when Sturridge is fit, he’s certainly fourth in line behind Balotelli, Lambert and the aforementioned Sturridge.
With eight appearances in all competitions so far this campaign he is still yet to find a goal, giving him two goals in 28 appearances for the club to date. After signing for Roma in the summer of 2011 he showed a half-decent scoring touch, and convinced Rodgers that he was worth an astonishing £10.5m.
They’ll inevitably make a loss on Borini, and he is still young but he’s not cut out for Liverpool.
Mario Balotelli
Super Mario. Or not. The Italian was almost shunted out the door of AC Milan for a bargain £15m. A bargain price-tag maybe, but he’s failed to live up to it so far. Despite an impressive scoring record with Inter, Man City and Milan, Balotelli has yet to find his first league goal for his new club. Not an ideal start for a proven striker.
He’s a player renowned for causing trouble both on and off the pitch but we’ve seen none of that since his return to the Premier League. However, we’ve also not seen a goalscoring touch – without penalties his previous records would have been considerably weaker, too.
Due to his previous records and the fact that he’s still so young Liverpool could recoup their cash and try again for a cheap replacement for Suarez as this one isn’t working.
Iago Aspas
As you can see it’s clearly time for a mass striker clear-out at Liverpool. Aspas was another Rodgers signing who has proved to be delightfully average. The 27-year-old was hardly an investment at around £7m and now that he’s out on loan back in his home country, he’s worth very little to Rodgers’ side.
In 14 Premier League appearances the striker didn’t manage to net one single goal, and that’s enough to admit defeat. When he’s back from his loan he’ll have to be sold. Not that Sevilla will be biting their hands off by the way that his loan is going – no goals in four in La Liga games thus far.
Oussama Assaidi
Another Rodgers signing who is currently out on loan. Assaidi was bought for a cheap £2.4m but has only made four league appearances for Liverpool since signing in August 2012. The Moroccan international was loaned out to Stoke City last season and was relatively impressive. That wasn’t enough to convince Mark Hughes to sign him on a permanent deal, yet they were happy to take him out on loan again this season. Another shambles signing by Rodgers – he’ll be out when someone wants him enough.