da betcris： Liverpool’s 2-0 victory over Newcastle last night was crucial for their faint top-four hopes after two vital defeats in succession against Arsenal and Manchester United.
da spicy bet： But despite the three points it looks highly unlikely that they can close a four-point gap to Manchester City with just six games remaining, and missing out on qualification for the Champions League would be a huge blow to the club after just one season back in the competition.
After failing to adequately replace their star man Luis Suarez last summer, this year it is vital Liverpool can bring in some top class players who can help them get back to the level we saw last term.
But as well as new arrivals, there are question marks over the future of a number of the current Liverpool squad; with some nearing the end of their contracts and others failing to make a significant impression on the first team and who look to be on their way out of the club as a result.
With a summer of change ahead, here are five players Liverpool should sell…
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Rickie Lambert
Rickie Lambert secured his dream move from Southampton to Liverpool last summer, but the dream hasn’t exactly gone to plan for the England striker.
The 33-year-old has had limited first-team opportunities and has found the net just three times since his arrival.
Having rejected a move to Aston Villa in January, Lambert will seriously need to consider his future this summer as at this late stage of his career he may regret spending another year on the Liverpool bench.
Lambert isn’t at the level required for a club of this size, and in a bid to revive both his club and international career he should move on at the end of the season.
Should he desire a transfer; Liverpool won’t stand in his way.
Mario Balotelli
It was always going to be a risk bringing Italian striker Mario Balotelli to Anfield, and it’s a risk that hasn’t paid off.
Having excelled at AC Milan; £16m looked a fairly decent price for a player that was expected to supply a fair share of goals after finding the net consistently at the San Siro. But this has not proved to be the case with Balotelli struggling since his return to England.
The striker has scored just four goals this season and looks to be out of favour with Brendan Rodgers, who would surely be happy to see the back of him.
It’s unlikely they would recoup anywhere near the amount they bought him for, but selling him this summer would be in the club and player’s best interest as it’s hard to see a long-term future for Balotelli at Liverpool.
However, finding another team to take him off their hands could be a problem.
Fabio Borini
Another of Liverpool’s forwards who has struggled for first-team appearances is Fabio Borini, who has scored just once this season.
After a decent loan spell at Sunderland last campaign, Borini rejected the chance of a permanent move to Wearside in order to stay at Liverpool and fight for a first-team spot.
But this has proved unsuccessful, even with the club’s problems upfront, and he will surely be looking to get his career back on track with a move this summer.
He showed during his time in the North East that he can be an important player in the Premier League, but perhaps not for those clubs chasing the European spots.
Although a move to a club in the bottom half didn’t appeal to him last summer, he may well need to take what he can get in order to get back playing again.
He is another player Liverpool will be looking to get rid of in the near future and it would be a surprise if he wasn’t sold in the next transfer window.
Raheem Sterling
The future of Raheem Sterling continues to dominate the headlines after the 20-year-old rejected the club’s latest contract offer.
The forward has insisted the decision is not money related, and he could well be waiting to see if the club qualifies for the Champions League before making a decision on his future.
Although he is considered one of Liverpool’s star players and one they want to keep hold of, it could be worth cashing in on the youngster if he is unhappy.
£50m would be a good deal for the Reds, who could then use the money to strengthen the squad and recruit a couple of adequate replacements, such as Pedro or Theo Walcott for example.
Despite his obvious talent, now could be the best time to cash in on a player who could bring negativity to the dressing room, and if he has his heart set on leaving, his value will only decrease the closer he gets to the end of his Liverpool contract.
Sebastian Coates
The position of centre-half has been a problem for Liverpool at times this season, but it’s unlikely Sebastian Coates has the ability to help solve this when he returns from a season-long loan at Sunderland.
The Uruguayan has made just seven appearances for the Black Cats, and given the defensive trouble they have this season this tells you something about Coates.
The 24-year-old arrived with a great deal of promise, but with just a year left on his current contract, the club will be looking to take anything they can for him in order to lower the wage bill.