Liverpool Favourite: Rodgers Is Sending Message To Board Over Transfers

Mark Lawrenson believes that Brendan Rodgers' recent comments about not having a big enough squad to cope with multiple injuries was a message to the board to give him significant funds in the January transfer window.

Rodgers brought in eight new faces in the summer transfer window and the side have so far been successful in the table, sitting in the top four while Daniel Sturridge and Luis Suarez have been in sensational goal-scoring form.

But with Sturridge now out for up to eight weeks with an ankle injury the side's weaknesses were exposed against Hull at the weekend, losing 3-1. They recovered to defeat Norwich 5-1 but Rodgers will be aware of the depth a squad needs to continue challenging for Champions League qualification until the end of the season.

And Lawrenson believes that Rodgers' comments about the size of his squad was a subtle way of telling Fenway Sports Group he wants to make more purchases in January.

"They can't, says Rodgers, cope with, in this case, Daniel Sturridge and Philippe Coutinho on the sidelines," he said in the Daily Post. "I think we all know that's not entirely true.

"Instead, I believe the manager is sending out a message to the club's owners, Fenway Sports Group.

"Rodgers is trying to bring in new players in January and I wouldn't be surprised if the Americans are dragging their heels a bit over one or two things.

"Perhaps he is playing a game. Rodgers may have somebody lined up that he wants to spend an extra £3m more on to sign and the owners won't budge on it.

"Liverpool have a system where, with Sturridge and Luis Suarez in outstanding form, has cut teams apart.

"But the problem is that, beyond the front two, they haven't really got anybody else who appears capable of stepping up to the player."