Liverpool were dealt a big blow this week with news that Lucas Leiva, arguably their best player of late, will not play again until next season after injuring his knee against Chelsea, so we've come up with 10 players we believe manager Kenny Dalglish should consider bringing in to maintain the Reds' bid for a top four finish.
Liverpool fans, who would you like to see come in?
CHEIK TIOTE
CLUB: NEWCASTLE
Newcastle's blistering start to the season owes much to the tough tackling of their Ivorian midfielder, who has successfully shielded one of the top flight's meanest back lines. Newcastle, who sold striker Andy Carroll to Liverpool for £35m in January 2011, have proven that they will demand big money for their best players should they wish to leave St James' Park. Could the Reds take a third Toon star to Anfield (after Carroll and left-back Jose Enrique) in just 12 months?
JADSON
CLUB: SHAKHTAR DONETSK
Not necessarily a like-for-like replacement for Lucas as this Brazilian has more of an eye for goal and given Steven Gerrard's recent injury problems, it's no surprise King Kenny is keeping a look out for a more complete midfielder ahead of the January transfer window. He's played in the Ukraine since 2005 and would feel at home in Liverpool alongside Brazilian pals Lucas, Fabio Aurelio and Doni. At 28, Jadson is a late bloomer on the international stage having made his Brazil debut in February 2011 and knows a move to the Premier League could cement his place among the Samba Boys' elite.
Leon Britton
CLUB: Swansea
Statistically the most accurate passer of the ball in Europe this season and who, at the age of 29, is enjoying a new lease of life in the top flight. Britton forms the base of Swansea's free-flowing five-man midfield and both he and Swansea may find it difficult to turn down an offer from a club with Liverpool's financial muscle. Charlie Adam was the brightest of the promoted players in the Premier League last season and this time round it's been pint-sized Britton who has starred for a team that was everyone's pre-season relegation favourites.
MIGUEL VELOSO
CLUB: GENOA
Linked to various Premier League clubs in the past including Liverpool, Veloso instead chose to join Genoa for around £8m from Sporting Lisbon 18 months ago. The defensive midfielder has since established himself in Serie A and broken into Portugal's starting XI ahead of Euro 2012, scoring a stunning free-kick in the 6-2 play-off victory over Bosnia. An added bonus in opting for Veloso would be his ability to operate as an attacking left-back should new boy Jose Enrique suffer from injury or suspension.
MAXIME GONALONS
CLUB: LYON
Suggested as the ideal replacement for Lucas this week by former France international Frank Leboeuf, 22-year-old Gonalons has recently made the step up into the French senior side. His club Lyon would, however, demand a huge transfer fee for a youngster they hope will be the key to kick-starting their fading title hopes in the new year. One of the more ambitious targets on our list, he is being tipped to become of Europe's best defensive midfield men for years to come, and certainly someone Dalglish should consider if Liverpool are to challenge at the very top of the Premier League.
LEROY FER
CLUB: FC TWENTE
Another youngster linked with a move to Anfield this week, who is putting in powerful performances for Dutch side Twente both domestically and in the Europa League. The 21-year-old Netherlands international has also chipped in with five goals this season, two more than he managed during the whole of last term. Newcastle and Everton have both tried and failed to lure £10m-rated Fer to the Premier League in the past 12 months.
LASSANA DIARRA
CLUB: REAL MADRID
The former Chelsea, Arsenal and Portsmouth holding midfielder has been at Real Madrid since 2009 and was recently quoted as saying, "there's too much competition here. I do not want to stay on the bench any longer." That appears to have alerted Roma in Serie A but Lucas' season-long injury may prompt Liverpool to make a move for the man who won consecutive FA Cup winners' medals with Chelsea and Portsmouth in 2007 and 2008.
YANN M'VILA
CLUB: RENNES
A product of the same youth academy that found former Arsenal striker Slyvain Wiltord, M'Vila is a French midfielder who, at just 21, has already amassed 17 senior caps for Les Bleus. Last season he made it into France's Ligue 1 team of the year, helping his team to an impressive sixth-place finish, but like Gonalons is likely to demand a lofty transfer fee given his age and international experience. Rennes have publically stated their desire to keep M'Vila on their books until at least the end of this season as interest from Liverpool, Real Madrid and Arsenal gathers pace.
MOUSSA SISSOKO
CLUB: TOULOUSE
A slightly cheaper option than M'Vila, perhaps, who made his France debut against the Faroe Islands towards the end of their World Cup qualifying campaign in 2010. Sissoko failed to make Ramond Domenech's World Cup squad, however, and has struggled for games under new boss Laurent Blanc, so a move to a club of Liverpool's stature could help the youngster force his way into France's Euro 2012 team. His contract runs until the summer of 2013, so it's thought a fee in the region of £20m would be needed for Toulouse to let go of their prized asset.
DANIELE DE ROSSI
CLUB: ROMA
Tempting De Rossi away from boyhood club Roma could prove to be tricky, although with his contract expiring next year and recent contract talks stalling, he could come at a bargain price. Rumours that the Italian side are chasing Real Madrid's Lassana Diarra has only added to speculation that De Rossi will be departing soon and unlike Lucas, he isn't shy of chipping in with the odd goal. Kenny Dalglish may also find it difficult to compete with the interest of Man City, whose Italian boss Roberto Mancini is a long-time admirer of De Rossi's talents.
AND THE MAN WHO COULD SAVE LIVERPOOL A FORTUNE…
Jay Spearing
Liverpool may need to look no further than a player already on their books. Often described as a "youngster", at 23 years old Spearing is definitely old enough to make the step up to first team regular in Lucas' absence. Indeed, Dalglish gave Spearing an extended run in the team towards the end of last season after Steven Gerrard was ruled out through injury and his tenacious displays did much to help the Reds go on an impressive run. The first person Liverpool should turn to is Spearing.
