Which Premier League club needs Huntelaar the most?

It’s safe to say Klass-Jan Huntelaar guarantee’s goals!

The Dutch forward is the personification of a ‘fox in the box’ and has scored wherever he has been. After falling out of favour at A.C Milan, Schalke brought Huntelaar and since his arrival he's not stopped doing what he does best!

Huntelaar has scored 67 goals in 94 Schalke matches

With his contract at the German club coming to an end in July, surely Huntelaar has a Premier League move in him.

His build up play might not be the best, but at the end of the day goals win games, and the Dutchman does the business in that department. Here is an assessment of what Premier league sides need him most.

Liverpool

Everyone saw Liverpool coming right? Since the departure of Fernando Torres the Merseyside club have been crying out for a 20 goal a season manager, and at Anfield Huntelaar would do that and some.

The amount of chances that came and went last year was ridiculous and there is only so long you can say 'at least they are creating chances', they've got to be put away.

Huntelaar is far from the stereotypical Brendan Rodgers player, but Fabio Borini is, and that's hardly worked for them. I know its easy to say it, Huntelaar would score loads for Liverpool, but he would, and Rodgers should jump at the chance to sign him.

Most of the Premier League have at some point been linked with Huntelaar

Chelsea

After getting rid of their old guard, Chelsea have only found themselves with one out and out striker at the club, Fernando Torres. Despite the Spaniard scoring more goals, he's still not re-found the form that made him the best striker in the world, and the addition of Huntelaar would mean they could rotate their forwards around, and take the pressure of Torres.

Chelsea will always create chances with the likes of Juan Mata, Edin Hazard and Oscar in the side, and they just need a preditor in the penalty area to convert them, which Huntelaar would do.

Arsenal

How many times have we heard, if only Arsenal have a fox in the box! Well, Arsene Wenger has no excuse not to look at Huntelaar, especially after the Dutchman helped Schalke to a win at the Emirates on Wednesday.

Granted Wenger doesn't go usually chase a player whose gone 27, but after a slow start, they need someone to replace Robin Van Persie, which so far Olivier Giroud is yet to do.

Liverpool just short of top four quality

The appointment of Brendan Rodgers is a bold yet positive one from Liverpool; however replacing 'King Kenny', despite an average Premier League campaign won't be easy for the former Swansea manager. His approach to the game earned Rodgers countless plaudits and Liverpool fans will be excited at the prospect of him replicating his 'Swansealona' style in front of the Kop.



Rodgers has brought in two of his former players in Fabio Borini and Joe Allen. Both players fit perfectly into the Rodgers mold; however questions over whether Borini has the goals in him to fire Liverpool to the top four and whether Allen's £15million transfer fee is too much are being asked. The returning Joe Cole is like a new transfer, and under Rodgers he could find the form that made him an England regular. Whether or not he'll fit into Rodgers preferred 4-3-3 formation is another thing, with Cole's favourite position in the hole of the striker.

Martin Skrtel and Daniel Agger are a solid centre back partnership, and Swansea under Rodgers didn't concede many goals at the Liberty Stadium meaning that Liverpool should be solid defensively. Lucas Leiva's return from an injury a huge boost to the club, as they heavily missed the Brazilian following his season ending injury in November.

Key player - Luis Suarez. Putting the controversy aside, Suarez is at times unplayable. Technically superb and his ball retention in close space is incredible (the assist for Dirk Kuyt vs Manchester United two seasons ago a perfect example of this). Liverpool's poor goal return was a reason why they were never really top four contenders, so Suarez will have to get closer to 20 goals this Premier League campaign if they are to be successful.

Prediction - 7th. Rodgers is a long term appointment and I do believe he'll get Liverpool back into the top four; however I don't think it'll be this season. They're miles behind both Manchester clubs, whilst they don't have the consistency to compete with the London trio of Arsenal, Chelsea and Spurs. Cup success however isn't out of the question.

View from a fan - Jack Watson @JackWatsonLFC

What would be a perfect season?
Ideally a long fight for fourth place and securing a Champions League; however will probably finish fifth.

What would be a nightmare season?
An awful season would be being knocked out of the cups with a whimper and a mid-table finish.

Do you have the right man in charge?
Yes, quite confident in Rodgers and what he's aiming to do. He has the right philosophy but it will take time to implement.

Which Premier League player would you sign given the chance?
Tough one to be honest. We're close to signing Joe Allen, so I'll go with him. A tidy midfielder who'll fit into the system. (Question asked before Allen was confirmed as a Liverpool player)

Will this be Jamie Carragher's last season?
I think it might be. I love what he's done at the club but he really shouldn't be anywhere near the first team now.

Would you prefer to regain the Carling Cup or break into the top four?
I'd prefer the top four finish. The money and attraction for players it brings is unrivaled. That's where we need to be.

Liverpool are short of Champions League quality

After a great end to the 2010-11 season, Liverpool started the season with realistic hopes of regaining a top four finish, with Mark Bright incredibly even tipping them for the title. However a recent run of poor form has left them seventh in the table despite spending a net £44million since King Kenny's Liverpool return.

Has King Kenny got his transfers wrong and what can Liverpool achieve?

Since the return of the Liverpool legend to the helm of the club; he has brought nine players, all with differing success.

Good purchases

Luis Suarez- The Uruguayan striker has been an undoubted success. Suarez took no time in adjusting to the English game and was fantastic towards the end of last season. The former Ajax man has scored just twice in eleven games before his recent ban; but was still a consistent threat. Since his ban Liverpool have struggled and if they are to achieve their goals this season, they will need Suarez in good form.

Jose Enrique- Liverpool’s left back represented a bargain move at £6million, in doing so solving their problem area. Defensively Liverpool have actually been strong this season, with Enrique’s addition a vital one. The former Newcastle man is as comfortable in his own half as the oppositions, with many calling for him to be selected in the Spanish national side.

Craig Bellamy- A free transfer from Manchester City, Bellamy has been good whenever he’s pulled on the red of Liverpool. A versatile player, with his ability to playing on the wing or up front, meant the dealt was always worth the gamble. Bellamy has often been selected in the key games ahead of out and out wingers, and his goal threat is still as good as ever.

Poor purchases

Andy Carroll- Dalglish quoted him as the ‘minus £15million man’; however the £35million deal has backfired spectacularly on not on him but Liverpool, with a return of just four Premier League goals in 25 games for the former Newcastle man.

Stewart Downing- Was brilliant for Villa, distinctly average for Liverpool. Without a goal or an assist in the Premier League, it’s fair to say Downing’s start with Liverpool has yet to get going.

Jordan Henderson- Another overpriced move for a young English midfielder, Henderson is another who has struggled in the red of Liverpool. Of the three signings in this category, Henderson has been the best and I’m sure will get better over time.

All three have lost or are struggling to keep a hold of their England squad place ahead of Euro 2012.

Done ok

Charlie Adam- Liverpool got their target after attempting to purchase the Scottish midfielder in the transfer window of January 2011; however for me he isn’t as good as two of the centre midfielders Dalglish let go in Alberto Aquilani and Raul Meireles. With Lucas injured, the partnering of Adam with Steven Gerrard in the recent defeat at Bolton only highlighted that the similar duo probably can’t play together, meaning Adam may be edged out of the side in favour of a holding midfielder.  

Doni- A free from Roma, the second choice keeper is yet to figure for Liverpool; however his addition adds strength to the area as Doni is a better goalkeeper then Brad Jones.

Sebastian Coates- The defender was voted young player of the recent Copa America tournament and is seen by many as the replacement to Jamie Carragher when the Liverpool legend hangs up his boots. Due to Daniel Agger and Martin Skrtel’s form, he has had limited chances to impress this season; however he is young and looks a good prospect.

Where can Liverpool finish this season?

For me Champions League football is out of the question for Liverpool. They’ve been fortunate in the sense that Chelsea and Arsenal have been poor this season, but Liverpool’s inability to score goals have resulted in far too many home draws. In the big games this season Liverpool have actually been good; with wins away to Arsenal and Chelsea particular highlights, but their recent failure away to Bolton only highlighted how desperately they need Luis Suarez, with Carroll again poor. The defeat to Bolton wasn’t only a poor performance, but its timing couldn’t have been worse, with all of their rivals for a Champions League spot failing to win, meaning Dalglish’s side missed an brilliant chance to close the gap, against a side whose home form was the worst of all 92 League clubs. I think Chelsea will have too much for them in the fight for fourth, so a Europa League spot is the best they can achieve.

They currently hold a 1-0 advantage going into the home leg against Manchester City and with either Crystal Palace or Cardiff in the final, the League Cup is theirs to lose, and with Manchester United in the F.A cup, the League Cup is their best chance at silverware this season.

Kenny Dalglish heavily criticised his players in the recent defeat at Bolton stating they won't be here long if they continue to under-perform, yet he must take some of the blame for this, as six of the 13 who featured were his purchases. Don't get me wrong, Liverpool have improved under Dalglish since his return, but for me they are still miles behind not only both Manchester clubs, but also Tottenham.

Johnson's strike seals a late victory for Liverpool

Glen Johnson scored a late winner to stun his old club, as Liverpool went level on points with Chelsea after an entertaining victory.

Johnson’s winner came when the game looked certain to finish level, however the right back’s adventuress nature paid dividends, as they beat Chelsea for a third time in a row.

Deservedly Liverpool opened the scoring through the surprise selection Maxi Rodriguez as the Merseyside club dominated the first half. Chelsea levelled early in the second half as Daniel Sturridge couldn’t miss after Florent Malouda’s cross come shot, feel perfectly for the recently capped England international; however as the game was coming to a conclusion Johnson popped up to steal the three points.

Fernando Torres and Raul Meireles both had to settle for a place on the bench as they come up against their former side. Liverpool selected Craig Bellamy and Maxi for the second and first time respectively in the Premier League as Kenny Dalglish started with an attacking line-up.

Juan Mata blew the games first real chance after Malouda did brilliantly to get his cross in. The Frenchman stuck the ball up well to the back post and Mata’s volley, which was probably going wide, was cleared well by Martin Skrtel. With Didier Drogba at the back post, whether Mata was going for goal or attempting to find Drogba is questionable.

A Drogba free-kick went marginally wide of Pepe Reina’s post, with the Spanish goalkeeper confident the ball was never going in.

Luis Suarez blew a great chance to find a team mate as Dirk Kuyt won the ball on the half way line, and after finding Suarez, the Uruguayan, with men over in a four against three attack, could only find David Luiz and the chance was gone; however despite the missed chance, Liverpool were in control as Lucas and Charlie Adam in particular dominating the midfield.

The returning duo of Maxi and Bellamy combined to open the scoring as the former Atletico Madrid man capitalised on a Jon Obi Mikel mistake. The Nigerian lost the ball to Adam who fed Bellamy who played a nice one-two with Suarez before finding Maxi who finished past Cech comfortably.

Liverpool nearly doubled their lead as a Suarez cross was deflected goal wards by Luiz, only just going past the post as it rippled the side netting.

Andre Vilas-Boas made a change at half-time as Sturridge replaced the poor Mikel, which meant Chelsea, changed to a 4-2-3-1 formation with Mata playing off the ineffective Drogba.

Drogba found a bit of space after Johnson failed to win the ball in a 50/50 with the Ivorian; however the striker’s finish was always going over Reina’s goal.

Chelsea come out of the traps the better side and levelled through substitute Sturridge. Malouda ran into the heart of the Liverpool defence and his cross come shot was perfect for the on rushing Sturridge at the back post who couldn’t miss.

Luiz almost turned the game on its head moments after Sturridge’s equaliser, as the Brazilian centre half was only prevented by a fantastic save from Reina who got down brilliantly to save the goal bound header.

At this stage Chelsea were dominate, however for long periods of the game their possession and territorial threat rarely resulted in a clear cut chance.

Liverpool’s two former boys Torres and Meireles both came on for Drogba and Ramires.

Kuyt missed Liverpool’s best chance of the half after sub Jordan Henderson did well to beat two Chelsea defenders before feeding Adam who found Kuyt, however the Dutchman put it wide when well placed on the edge of the area.

Kuyt’s miss was irrelevant shortly after however as the unlikeliest of sources in Johnson finished brilliantly. The former Chelsea man did excellently well to beat Ashley Cole and when one-on-one with Cech, the right back slotted home well beating Terry’s despairing lunge to give Liverpool their second lead of the day.

The late strike ensured Chelsea lost for the third time in four Premier League matches, meaning they trail Manchester City now by an alarming 12 points. Liverpool’s second victory in the capital this season however will only boost their chances of a top four finish for the first time in three years.

Chelsea: Cech 6, Ivanovic 5, Terry 5, Luiz 5, Cole 6, Mikel 4 (Sturridge 7), Ramires 6 (Meireles 5), Lampard 6, Malouda 6, Mata 7, Drogba 5 (Torres 5)

Liverpool: Reina 7, Johnson 7, Skrtel 7, Agger 7, Enrique 7, Lucas 8, Adam 8, Maxi 7 (Downing 6), Bellamy 7 (Henderson 6), Kuyt 7, Suarez 7 (Carroll 5)