Poll: Is Liverpool Right to Focus on Unlikely League Success?

Since the close of the transfer window, much has been made of Liverpool's worrying lack of depth in attack. News that Samid Yesil, Fernando Suso, and Dani Pacheco will all be in the squad that faces BSC Young Boys in Bern on Thursday has only highlighted this. Some will argue it's good to see kids given a chance, and it's always possible that a few of them will follow the lead of Raheem Sterling and show themselves ready to make an instant impact for the senior side.

Still, beyond the hope there is the more likely reality: Liverpool simply don't have enough quality depth to push for success on multiple fronts. The early signs are that manager Brendan Rodgers will make league success his sole focus, with the three cup competitions—Europa, FA, and the League Cup—likely not even deserving of being called secondary in Liverpool's plans this year. But is this the right choice?

The early signs may suggest Rodgers is focusing on the league, but they also suggest Liverpool has no realistic chance of seriously challenging for the top four this season. And if the club can't realistically aspire to fourth with their current lineup, there's real reason to question whether an all-out focus on success in the league is the wisest choice to make.

Meanwhile, Fenway Sports Group may have sacked Kenny Dalglish in spite of cup success when he didn't achieve their league target, but the owners would have to be completely out of touch with reality to think those league targets remain achievable for this Liverpool squad.

And so the question for today is, what do you think the goal should be for Rodgers and the club this year? If it was your call, would you rather see Liverpool focus on the league regardless of how unlikely a top four finish appears and at the expense of even attempting to compete in the cups? Would you try to win another piece of silverware? Or would you attempt to stay competitive in two competitions despite that it would make the club's already slight chances of success in any one of them even slimmer?

The natural inclination for many will always be to want to see Liverpool challenge in every competition they compete in, but this year—with this thin squad—that seems a recipe for disaster. Would you risk trying for success in multiple competitions despite that risk? Or would you focus on one? And if so, would that one be the same as the one Brendan Rodgers appears to be focusing on?