Playmaker signing essential to help Liverpool break into top four

Another big-spending summer is unlikely at Liverpool after the outlay in the last 18 months, but purchasing a playmaker could be vital if Kenny Dalglish harbours serious aspirations of finishing in the top four next season.

Even the most hardened and optimistic Liverpool fans must believe that their top-four challenge for this season is over as they now have ten points to make up with just the same number of games remaining.

Their task is made no easier by fourth-placed Arsenal being in the midst of a five-fixture winning run.

Home form has been the big problem for Liverpool and it is their predictability that is the main cause for them winning just five of their 14 games at Anfield in the Premier League this campaign.

Many would argue that Liverpool need a regular goalscorer to take them forward, with Andy Carroll proving a flop and Luis Suarez for all his industrious play, failing to trouble the scorers enough.

However, Suarez has the capability of being the scorer the club needs, providing he has the creativity behind him to provide the chances.

Suarez is trying to be creator, playmaker and scorer at present and it is obviously impossible to star in all of these roles.

A player in the mould of David Silva or Juan Mata would be a big asset for Liverpool, as centrally at present they are almost solely relying on Steven Gerrard for creativity, who is more direct and forceful with his approach.

There is a strong likelihood that Junior Hoilett may arrive from Blackburn on a free transfer, but he is more likely to be utilised filling a vacancy in the wide areas.

Therefore, although Dalglish has already spent in excess of £100m, owner John W Henry may have to dip into his pocket one more time.

Athletic Bilbao’s Iker Munian is one named that has been linked, while Liverpool face competition with a number of other Premier League clubs for Lille’s Eden Hazard.

But with Javier Pastore apparently unhappy at Paris Saint-Germain, he could be a hugely valuable signing, albeit a slight risk.