:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/45174538/164317953.0.jpg)
Xherdan Shaqiri might be a transfer target for Liverpool this month. Even if he is, Liverpool may have already lost to Roberto Mancini's Inter Milan or may depress us all by being trumped by Stoke City. Brendan Rodgers may not even be interested in the player, but the Transfer Committee might be. Or neither have an interest. Hold on! Rodgers is part of the committee, right?
So is he a rogue individual within the collective? Do Liverpool have money to spend this window? If Liverpool do have money, do they want to spend it? Will any of Liverpool's "misfiring strikers" leave the club before in the coming weeks? Should Liverpool pick up a player whose contract is expiring? What about Wilfried Bony? Have Liverpool missed out by dawdling instead of going for the right player? Did Rodgers want Bony and the committee want Balotelli? What about the continuation of James Milner rumours? Why is Suso being let go? Any news on Jon Flanagan? Isn't his contract expiring this summer? Divock Origi is supposed to be at the club by now injury or no injury, or does it not work like that? Will Jordon Ibe come back instead or will Liverpool sign a striker?
And not a word about Steven Gerrard. What do we expect and want Liverpool FC to do in this window? Expectations and desires are not always compatible, but what should they be for a club that has fallen far behind the standards it set last season? Failing to battle with Manchester City and Chelsea this season isn't a grave concern, as dropping off from last season's surprise league form would have been understandable. Challenging for the title was not the aim, and whether one thinks it should be for a club with such an illustrious history, consolidation would have been the key concept in discussions between FSG and Brendan Rodgers before the season started.
Consecutive top four finishes would enable FSG to operate with increased Champions League broadcasting rights revenue that kicks in next season. Even without the increase, repeating this season's revenue, replete with group stage exit, would be a considerably helpful with complying with FFP, making the club even more attractive commercially, and keeping the club financially healthy. The benefits for the manager is clear in terms of keeping and attracting players. After being absent from Europe's premier competition for what was admittedly too long for a club of Liverpool's stature, failing to retain freshly gained Champions League status would be extremely disappointing.
The current eighth-placed position in the league probably would get a Liverpool manager sacked, and while cup victories may be a good send-off for a departing legend, they do not move Liverpool's owners. The only competition worth winning for Liverpool, outside the virtual impossibility of snaring the Premier League, would be the Europa League as it provides entrance to the Die Meister': Die Besten: Les Grandes Équipes: The Champions. That anthem reinforces the idea that it's the only place to be, and it is. For Liverpool to compete with other clubs along with make the sort of progress that would please everyone connected to the club, there is nowhere like it.
So what now? Is a goalkeeper absolutely essential in light of Rodgers' decisions last month? Should Liverpool purchase a striker along with bringing back Divock Origi from his nightmare in France? Perhaps a long-term target must be acquired if available, irrespective of the current options Liverpool can call upon in the player's favoured positions. Maybe Liverpool will sign a player previously linked or move with impressive stealth to the surprise of many. Is it too early to be worried, or will our patience be rewarded?
