Mark Lawrenson: 'Rodgers must sign a fast, pacey striker'

Mark Lawrenson believes that Brendan Rodgers will sign a "fast, pacey striker" in January to help Liverpool retain Champions League football next season.

Mario Balotelli and Rickie Lambert were both signed in the summer as Rodgers bolstered his forward options in the wake of Luis Suarez's departure, but Lawrenson has said that a quick striker should be a priority for the Reds boss, especially in the absence of Daniel Sturridge.

"I already believe Rodgers is going to have to make a move for a fast, pacey striker during the January transfer window, especially if Sturridge is going to miss chunks of the season through injury," Lawrenson told the Liverpool Echo.

"Balotelli had a decent game but he is a big lump up front. He offers a different kind of threat. He doesn't have pace and he's never going to score 20 goals a season.

"Suarez and Sturridge scored bundles and bundles last season, and the latter needs to be fit sooner rather than later. He's the one player the Reds simply cannot afford to lose for any great length of time."

Liverpool have won just two Premier League games so far this season, and are currently in the bottom half of the table.