Liverpool chasing Berahino shadow as striker options run dry

Latest reports linking Liverpool with a potential move for West Brom’s Saido Berahino are highly unlikely to amount to any deal, especially as early as January, leaving the Reds in the sticky stuff for the remainder of the season.

Daniel Sturridge’s recurring injury problems have plunged Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers into a real dilemma approaching the busy festive period, as none of the other strikers on his books have as yet contributed a Premier League goal to the cause.

So given Berahino’s rise to prominence off the back of seven top-flight strikes this season, it is little surprise to see the likes of Liverpool and Tottenham placed in the frame to sign the Englishman.

However, the Baggies are obviously digging in over such a promising asset, and the official line that he will not be sold to any bidder in January is as predictable as any interest in the Burundi-born striker.

Ironically enough, technically the Reds already have a hugely gifted young centre-forward on their books already, but the possibility of cutting Divock Origi out of his season-long loan with Lille has now been ruled out too.

Signed for £10m in the summer, hopes were raised that the Belgian World Cup star could be drafted in to help solve the crippling goals shortage at Anfield, though an extra £5m on top was the mooted cost.

At this moment ahead of Liverpool’s trip to Crystal Palace – where the visitors are odds-on at 5/6 to only manage 0-1 goals at Selhurst Park – it looks every bit like Rodgers will have to eek more out of his current striking roster.

Despite Sturridge’s ongoing omission from the squad, it is widely reported that the Northern Irishman will be able to call upon Mario Balotelli, given a clean bill of health after returning from the internationals with a slight hamstring injury.

All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.

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