After having watched Liverpool’s pre-season tour of the United States Sky Sports pundit Trevor Francis thinks Liverpool must sign a top rated striker after having watched new boy Rickie Lambert struggle.
The England international joined Liverpool from Southampton for just £4 million as the transfer window opened and is the only new striker signing in the team following the departure of Luis Suarez.
So far the 32-year-old has failed to find the back of the net for the Reds in any of the pre-season friendlies while also missing a golden opportunity to get on the score sheet in last night’s International Champions Cup final against Manchester United.
“He would have expected more from Lambert,” said Francis.
“He will try and gloss over it in the best way possible because he wants to keep his confidence high, but this is a player who at the moment is struggling.
“I’ve watched him in three or four games and in one game he was taken off at half-time and today he struggled throughout. He didn’t look comfortable playing in those surroundings.
“He is desperate for a goal. Steven Gerrard scored the goal from the penalty spot and I wish that had been Lambert because he needs a goal. The quicker he gets it, the better for him.
“He’s got an important role to play there.”
Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers is saying that he wants to make two more signings before the window closes with Francis insisting one must be a big name striker.
He added: “If they get the left-back Alberto Moreno then I think that’s going to cost close to £20million and that will take the spending up to £110million and £10million of that was spent on Divock Origi who has gone back on loan to Lille.
“So forget the young Belgian player for the moment, there’s £100million spent and only £4million put aside for a striker, that being Lambert.
“I just think that somewhere along the line the balance is not right. He needed a £30milion striker. Don’t ask me who because that’s not my job – that’s why he is in the job and why he has got scouts all over the world looking to try to bring somebody in.
“Ultimately it might come back to bite him. Whatever he’s going to do, he has got to be positive and I believe he’s got to do it before the transfer window closes at the end of August.”
