Liverpool wants more this week!

Liverpool wants more this week!

It's not easy being a Liverpool supporter right now. The once great Reds, a side that up until last season was joint holder of the most English first division titles, hasn't won one in over two decades.

This year, one that started with such promise has gone from cautiously optimistic to downright depressing and thoughts of challenging for the EPL title have shifted to hopes of qualifying for the Champions League.Currently sitting in a disappointing 7th place, a point behind both Arsenal and Newcastle, the revival brought on by Kenny Dalglish last season is nothing more than a distant memory. The team, as it is right now, needs help. Winning the title is totally out of the question as first place Manchester City is an insurmountable 16 points ahead.

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The Champions League, however, is not yet out of reach as the equally poor Blues of Chelsea sit only an arms-length five points away. With a glut of make-or-break type matches on the horizon, it's now or never for Liverpool to get its act together and to start producing like it is capable of.

From a talent standpoint, the Reds have plenty of it. They also have plenty of cash behind them, unparalleled support and expectations that are rivaled by only its 'big English club' rivals. Essentially, they should always be in the mix for the top honors but that isn't always the case. This season has been a step backwards and before they can move forward corrections need to be made.

Dalglish said it best following his side's drab 0-0 draw with Stoke at Anfield this past weekend. It was the team's seventh stalemate at home this season. Only 14 goals have been scored the Reds in those matches.

"We looked pretty solid at the back, I think they had one shot in the first half and not much more after that but it’s our responsibility to break them down, and we, on the day, just weren’t good enough," said Dalglish. "There was nothing wrong with their effort or determination but on the day we weren’t good enough to break them down."

So what exactly does the team do to get things right? It’s not the most simplest of solutions, but there are a few steps that can be taken to get it moving in the right direction.Firstly, the biggest issue in the side is the poor scoring return. Defense? Not an issue -- but scoring certainly. We can all say at this point Andy Carroll has been a huge bust since his move from Newcastle a year ago. The dude just can’t get it done. Having said that, he’s been playing second fiddle to Luis Suarez during most of that time, and since the Uruguayan has been suspended, Carroll has been lumped up front with the expectation that he’ll provide the offense almost exclusively.

My question is this: why not play them both up front at once? Or at least two strikers? For most of this season, it’s seemed as though the Reds have just worked the attack through the middle with the hopes that it would culminate in something from guy waiting in the box. Not always that easy, really...and obviously the numbers speak for themselves.

Playing a duo up top to relieve some of the pressure on a midfield that isn’t exactly Barcelona quality could go a long way in producing goals. Plus, it’s not like the players it has aren’t able to defend. Most of the center mids have that ability. That’s just one idea.

From there, you look at the return of Steven Gerrard and how that helps the team’s chances. In his initial return against Newcastle, he completely changed the game and added that extra bit of quality (as they say) that the players on the pitch before him couldn’t add. His presence in the few matches since has been slightly muted but he still is the best player in Dalglish’s team. Keeping him healthy will surely help the flow of the offense, particularly when Suarez returns. That, though, is easier said than done given his recent track record.

Finally...give the team a bit of slack, Kenny! The system in place is decent and it’s British and promotes good, decent soccer, but come on, it’s boring and slow and slightly outdated. Players like Charlie Adam and Stewart Downing and certainly Stevie G can open things up a bit and make the match flow to their liking. Against an awful team like Bolton this weekend, it shouldn’t be a problem. You would think.