Legend Calls On Owners To Back Rodgers’ January Plans

Liverpool legend John Aldridge has called on the club's owners to back a massive plan by Brendan Rodgers to build on the squad in January, and get through a tough period without the strikers he had hoped to have on board before deadline day came to a close.

Aldridge, who starred for the Reds in the 1980s when the side had some of their most successful years, watched with frustration as the club failed to sign a striker to replace Andy Carroll on the last day of the summer transfer window, with Clint Dempsey heading to Spurs over Anfield at the last minute.

Rodgers admitted that he would need to take a look at the January window to keep depth in the squad for the entirety of the season, and as Liverpool struggle in front of goal - even though Luis Suarez has a better chance-to-goal ratio than any other striker in the Premier League - Aldridge says patience and trust is needed to deliver success.

"The owners have to trust in Brendan Rodgers and back him in the transfer market in January," he wrote for the Liverpool Echo.

"That transfer window is never a good time to do business, but we need to be scouring the world markets now so that we can add some firepower to the side.

"Our inability to score goals is placing even greater pressure on the side to keep clean sheets - and that's not happening at the moment.

"Teams are only having to ping in one or two shots these days to score a goal - which given our lack of firepower makes it even more difficult to win matches.

"But if the team continues to perform like it did on Saturday and against Manchester City last month, the victories will come. We just have to be patient and continue to back Brendan Rodgers."

Liverpool have made no secret of the fact that after Kenny Dalglish's spending spree in his 18 months in charge, money isn't as easy to come by as it was previously.

Without Champions League football, the Merseyside club have found it difficult to compete with the bigger teams when players are considering moves.

This weekend's match-up with Manchester United will be a real test for the Reds, who historically have made Anfield their fortress but have struggled to win at home for the past two years.