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The transfer window has officially closed, and what drama there was with Rickie Lambert's miniature transfer saga that lasted for less than a day. Aston Villa were desperate to add goals to a misfiring attack, and Lambert offers Premier League proven goalscoring ability over the past couple of seasons.
Aston Villa's £5 million offer was tempting as it would have given Liverpool a profit on a 32-year-old who was only signed in the summer, but after returning to his boyhood club after spending many years away, Rickie Lambert decided to spend at least a season at Liverpool. It was a good offer for a player who has scored three goals in 24 appearances in all competitions, a record that makes him Liverpool's top-scoring striker at the club.
Paul Lambert will need to look within for answers to a desperately anaemic attack without a win in eight games ahead of a clash against Premier League leaders Chelsea. An improvement on eleven league goals so far in a depressing campaign must come from somewhere. However, Rickie Lambert will not be part of the solution for one of the Premier League's longest serving managers.
Liverpool's striking options for the remaining few months of the season are Daniel Sturridge, Mario Balotelli, Fabio Borini, and Rickie Lambert. The former Southampton striker can focus down to getting ready for a possible start against Bolton Wanderers in the FA Cup on Wednesday as Brendan Rodgers will look to shuffle his players around with a Merseyside derby waiting on the weekend.
Lambert was brought in to provide backup and a different option to other strikers at the club, and hopefully he'll make some vital contributions from the start or the bench as the season progresses. Liverpool need more from the current set of strikers with much to aim for in three competitions between now and May.
