Mark Lawrenson believes that Liverpool should be planning a swoop for Reading keeper Alex McCarthy after the 23 year old put in a brilliant performance for Reading against the Reds at the weekend to help his side gain a valuable point.

McCarthy kept Reading in the match on multiple occasions against Liverpool, with the eventual result 0-0 to the relegation battlers, but it doesn't look like it will be enough to save them from the drop.

The Royals are currently bottom of the table, 10 points behind 17th placed Aston Villa, and Lawrenson believes the time is right for Liverpool to pounce on the England Under 21 international and offer him an immediate future in the Premier League.

"They all say McCarthy has a fantastic attitude, he is happy to train every day, he works like a dog and has a great build for a goalkeeper," he said in the Liverpool Daily Post.

Alex McCarthy
Alex McCarthy should be a target for Liverpool this summer, Mark Lawrenson argues.

"Sometimes you can tell from watching a player at a young age they are going to make it, and many have said that about McCarthy.

"Because of that, you wonder if Liverpool might take a little look at him.

"Rodgers will have known about him from his own time at the Madejski. At 23, he would fit the criteria of Fenway Sports Group. And Reading's imminent relegation would presumably make it easier to lure the player away."

Pepe Reina has become Liverpool's undisputed number one since joining the club in 2005, but this season the Spaniard has been somewhat inconsistent, admitting himself that he has been disappointed with his own performances over the course of the campaign.

Speculation has also claimed that Reina might be set for a return to boyhood club Barcelona, with the Catalan giants likely to sell Victor Valdes after failing to reach an agreement on a new contract with the keeper.

Rodgers admitted that he was impressed with the performance of McCarthy and should be decide he needs a new keeper at the club then he may well be interested in the Reading stopper.

Speaking after the draw with Reading, Rodgers said: "Their goalkeeper was outstanding and on another day the goals go in. It was as good a goalkeeping performance as I have seen in a long time."