Liverpool need more goals from out wide and Belgian is the answer

Liverpool need more sources of goals if they are to be considered serious challengers for a top-four finish this season at 9/1 and a January swoop for Dries Mertens would almost certainly boost their goals tally from midfield.

Fabio Borini and Raheem Sterling have been the more regular starters in the wide forward positions under Brendan Rodgers, but neither have contributed to the scoresheet in the opening seven games.

Compare this to the contributions of Eden Hazard and Juan Mata at Chelsea or Lukas Podolski and Theo Walcott at Arsenal and this is where Liverpool are coming up short.

Luis Suarez does have five league goals, but even he continues to score at the same rate for the whole season, which is unlikely, Liverpool will struggle to upset odds of 9/1 to break into the top four.

Mertens was Belgium’s best player when started wide in their recent World Cup qualifier victory over Wales and has been a regular contributor of goals for PSV in the past 12 months.

He scored 20 goals last season for PSV and has been equally as effective in the current campaign with four goals in five appearances.

With speculation suggesting he may be available for as little as £10m in January, Rodgers may opt to take a chance to boost his scoring threat from midfield.

Doing so should also provide Borini with more opportunities to play as a central striker, which is a position he will be more familiar with and should pose a greater threat from, given that his impact has been largely minimal since his summer arrival.

Liverpool were previously linked with Mertens during the spell of Kenny Dalglish as manager and even though he may have been available for nearer £7.5m in this period, no offer was seemingly ever made.

All odds and markets correct as of publication