Rodgers target grabs brace in Brazil play-off

Liverpool saw Greek hitman Kostas Mitroglou score twice against Romania last night but fellow target Alexandru Maxim hardly featured.

Brendan Rodgers is understood to have dispatched scouts to all four World Cup play-off matches taking place in Europe last night with several players in mind, but it was Olympiakos striker Mitroglou who impressed the most as his double strike gave Greece a 3-1 first-leg lead to take to Bucharest.
The 25-year-old has been on the radar of Arsenal and Liverpool for over a year after finishing last season with an impressive tally of eleven goals in 10 league starts and four goals in three starts in the Champions League.

However, his record this season is even better with the Greece international already in double figures in domestic competition while bagging a hat-trick away at Anderlecht in the Champions League.
Rodgers is interested in strengthening his forward corps in January and may submit an offer to Olympiakos who are thought to want just £7million.

However, there has also been reported interest from Inter Milan, Genoa, Benfica and Sporting Lisbon.
Maxim, who came on for the last few minutes in Greece last night, is a highly-rated Romanian currently playing for Vfb Stuttgart in the Bundesliga.

Borussia Dortmund are also said to be keen on securing the services of the 23-year-old playmaker who has scored four goals in 10 starts this season.

‘Brendan Rodgers should sign Lars Bender’

Liverpool transfers: Former Reds midfielder Jan Molby urges Brendan Rodgers to make a move for Lars Bender in January

Jan Molby believes Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers should make Bayer Leverkusen midfielder Lars Bender is top target this January.

The Reds manager has made no secret of his desire to strengthen his squad in the transfer window as Liverpool aim to keep their top-four bid on track.

Molby, who won three top-flight titles during a 11-year career at the Reds, feels Rodgers should attempt to sign Germany international Bender.

“My suggestion would be for Liverpool to go after Bayer Leverkusen’s Lars Bender,” Molby wrote in his Liverpool Echo column.

“There are a lot of top players in Germany and I look at Bender and believe he is the real deal.

“For me, he ticks all the boxes.

“But, as I say, you can never second guess managers these days and my views may be seen as a little old school.

“You find that many top flight managers look for specialist players.”

Bender has scored 14 goals in 150 appearances for Sami Hyypia’s side after moving to Bayer Leverkusen from 1860 Munich in 2009.

Liverpool, who signed eight players in the summer transfer window, are currently second in the Premier League table following last Saturday’s 4-0 win against Fulham.

The Next Coutinho?

The Next Coutinho? 

Liverpool’s deadly duo of Daniel Sturridge and Luis Suarez not stopped scoring since January when the Englishman arrived at Anfield. The pair’s partnership has now even earned a nickname: SAS. They’re supported by the sublime Philippe Coutinho who drifts inside from the left wing to cause havoc for defenders. SAS’ deadly movement paired with Coutinho’s impossible vision and passing is a perfect combination. The only problem Brendan Rodgers may have is the lack of back-up for the trio. Should one be injured or suspended, Rodgers’ is short in attacking creativity so should look for a new attacking recruit in January.

Hoffenheim’s Roberto Firmino has had a superb start to the season, scoring seven times in 11 Bundesliga matches – the most at the club. He could be ideal for Liverpool. Hoffenheim’s  has created 18 chances, including four assists. Again, the most at the club. Hoffenheim are 12th in the division and have scored more goals than Bayern Munich so far (28), and Firmino is a main reason behind that figure.

The 22-year-old is a typical Brazilian attacking player. Matched with sublime skill and fantastic dribbling is his eye for goal and his ability to pick the perfect pass. Coutinho is similar to Firmino but the latter is more of a showboat. Don’t let that cloud your judgement on Firmino, though. He is extraordinarily effective in the final third of the pitch and is a threat whenever he collects the ball.

For a skilful South American, the stereotype normally means he can’t battle well. Although he may carry a certain stereotype, Firmino is capable of fighting his own battles on the pitch having won 84% of his tackles this season. He fulfils the other end of that stereotype, though, having completed 36 out of 55 takes-on in his 11 games.

His average pass distance of 16 metres, this season, is the third-lowest in the squad which shows exactly how and where he passes the ball. His passes are shorter than average which would generally mean he plays short, incisive passes in the final third – a good trait to have.

Firmino isn’t just a one-trick pony, though. He does a lot of running and gets around the pitch which shows he has a strong work ethic, something Rodgers believes has to be instilled in a player for him to fit into his system and style of play. His Heat Map against Hannover 96 proves his desire to cover the pitch.

Firmino is good enough to start for Liverpool and he could easily fit into the side. In the Reds' recent 4-0 win over Fulham at Anfield, Rodgers deployed a 4-2-2-2 system with Coutinho and Jordan Henderson in the 'second 2'. If Rodgers were to use Firmino next to Coutinho, Sturridge and Suarez would never stop scoring with the amount of chances the Brazilian's could create.

Firmino is a superb talent, he's young and will have Europe's biggest sides watching him within months - if not already. If Rodgers wants a top class attacking talent, then he should consider Firmino.

Liverpool join race to sign €40m striker

Liverpool join race to sign €40m striker

Porto striker Jackson Martinez is reportedly on Brendan Rodgers' radar

Martinez is a prolific striker. (©GettyImages)

The race to sign FC Porto striker Jackson Martinez continues to gather pace, with rumours suggesting that Liverpool are the latest club keen to sign the prolific marksman.

27-year-old Martinez has wasted no time in establishing himself as one of Europe's most talented strikers since moving to Portugal from Mexican outfit Chiapas last summer.

The Colombian international - who has won 23 senior international caps for his nation and will hope to feature prominently on his home continent during the World Cup next summer - notched a staggering 26 goals in just 20 Primeira Liga starts last season.

While some might have expected such impressive statistics to fall as defenders inevitably become accustomed to his explosive style, Martinez has showed no signs of slowing down during the early stages of the current campaign, with seven goals in six league starts.

Such impressive form has led the talented frontman to be linked with moves to a plethora of clubs, with Chelsea and Arsenal both reportedly interested in his services.

However, it now appears as if there is yet more Premier League interest building in the fearsome striker.

According to reports cited by Portuguese newspaper A Bola, Liverpool have joined the race for Martinez - who reportedly has a €40 million release clause in his current deal - as manager Brendan Rodgers looks to add attacking reinforcements to sustain their surprise title charge.

The Reds have confounded lowly pre-season expectations by starting the 2013/14 season in excellent form, with the formidable forward duo of Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge firing the club to second place in the top-flight table.

Given the form of that aforementioned pair, it may come as somewhat of a surprise to learn that Rodgers is on the hunt for yet another prolific forward.

Arsenal and Chelsea's needs in that department, however, would appear to be much greater. While Arsenal have one of the Premier League's most improved frontmen in Olivier Giroud, they evidently lack of alternative options to the Frenchman.

Chelsea, meanwhile, are in obvious need to add another striker in an attempt to ease the burden on improving Spaniard Fernando Torres.

Liverpool manager hints at squad rotation

Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers wants to adopt a squad rotational policy

Brendan Rodgers is set to ring the changes at Anfield (©GettyImages)

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers is now ready to rotate his squad as he anticipates a packed Christmas period for the Reds. 

Speaking to the club’s official website after the club’s 4-0 drubbing of Fulham, Rodgers said he is planning to rotate his squad to give his fringe players “some oxygen” in the coming weeks.

Rodgers reverted to a more familiar 4-3-3 system for the game against the Cottagers, resting former Arsenal and Manchester City defender Kolo Toure and starting with Daniel Agger as well as handing a starting berth to Philippe Coutinho.

“The players are working very well and very hard on a daily basis but I need to give oxygen to some players, so they can see a light at the end of the tunnel,” said Rodgers. 

The former Swansea City manager will therefore look to give his fringe players more playing time to help the Reds negotiate a tricky festive period which sees them take on Manchester City, Tottenham Hotspurs and Chelsea in 14 days. 

Fortunately for the Anfield outfit they have only the Premier League to worry about as they are out of European and domestic cup action - at least until the FA Cup kicks off in January. 

The Reds’ faithful will look to take advantage of the relatively busier schedules of direct rivals -such as Manchester United, Chelsea and Spurs; who will not only have a packed Premier League fixture list to contend with, but Champions League and Capital One Cup action as well.

Expect therefore to see more of forgotten stars such as Joe Allen, Luis Alberto and Raheem Sterling, who have just one Premier League start between them. 

Former Chelsea and Wigan Athletic winger made a promising start to life in Merseyside but hasn’t started a league game since the 2-2 draw with Newcastle; and will therefore be hoping to get more playing time under his belt. 

Another area where Liverpool are not short of players is in the centre of defence, where no less than four accomplished centre-backs are embroiled in a four-way tussle for a starting berth. 

Martin Skrtel, Daniel Agger, Mamadou Sakho and Kolo Toure have all impressed over the course of the season; and it will be interesting to see how the manager goes about sorting out that welcomed crisis as well.