For the summer transfer window, Liverpool's priority, regardless of who they lost, was to strengthen the squad as a whole in order to deal with the extra games of Champions League football - which would mean continuous break of just three days between big games for up to three, four or maybe even more months.
After Liverpool brought in nine additions over the summer, with Victor Valdes also likely to be added to become the tenth before Christmas, you could say they achieved their goal. Eight of those will be in and around the first team this season with Divock Origi having been immediately loaned out to get game time at his boyhood club Lille, and the latest of those additions - Mario Balotelli - suddenly looks an even smarter acquisition than it already was, after it was revealed that Daniel Sturridge has injured himself on international duty and could be out for an extended length of time.
Sturridge missed England's next game away at Switzerland and is near certain also to miss the Aston Villa game on Saturday evening, but some newspapers speculate that he could be out for much longer and even up until Christmas-time, which would be a nightmare scenario for the Reds. Sturridge, of course, was the second top Premier League goalscorer last season with 21 goals and is one of the club's best players and his loss would be heavily felt, particularly with the club's Champions League campaign getting underway in a week - but it's not all doom and gloom.
Balotelli was of the club's biggest and best signings of the summer and is someone who will now be relied upon in Sturridge's absence. Despite critics doubting whether he has the commitment or work ethic to fit into the side, the £16 million spent on him rather than acquiring costless agent Samuel Eto'o now looks like a very good decision. With Sturridge out, the Italian is likely to become the main man despite making only a single appearance so far for the club. It's a huge responsibility, but Balotelli is a better fit to be the main man than someone like Eto'o, who is past his best. Albeit, it is a huge blow for Rodgers that the England international is out, especially given the success of the diamond formation which saw Sturridge and Balotelli paired up as a front two away in the latter's debut at Spurs. The balance it gives in the midfield and defence saw them put in their best performance of the season so far, and whilst Sturridge is out - Rodgers may look to return to using a lone forward, which was less successful.
How badly may that affect performances? It will depend. Liverpool have looked very good in the diamond shape, but without it Sturridge suffered from a lack of support with Coutinho's performances in the no.10 below-par. There's no reason that Rodgers has to abandon the diamond after the news of the injury. In fact, Rodgers still has the option of incorporating either Rickie Lambert or Fabio Borini into the system, but in truthfully - they aren't likely to be starters any time soon. Without the diamond formation, Liverpool have lacked invention and threat in the final third - against Southampton and Manchester City. How can they combat that?
Well, Raheem Sterling could be drafted in as a support striker, as he has done before. He could act as a hybrid no.10/no.9 forward in behind with the potential to cause all kinds of havoc, just as he has in the tip of the diamond. Sterling is one of the club's most threatening forwards, and so it would be natural to look to release his talent in such a position. Additionally, Liverpool have the option of operating in a 4-3-3 with Lazar Marković or Philippe Coutinho and Sterling on the flanks off of Balotelli. This would allow them to keep the midfield three, in order to ensure Steven Gerrard is well protected in his reserved role. But, against City, it still left their lone striker without much support - so it's not exactly guaranteed to work.
Given that Rodgers and co.'s next fixture is at Anfield, where they have been formidable in the past 12 months, Liverpool may have room to experiment with their line-up. Nevertheless, they must ensure they don't repeat the mistakes of last year's home fixture against Paul Lambert's side. Last season's success was established through a tight-knit group of players, and a strong nucleus to which only the tactical side of things were changed. Too much change however, had a negative affect. At home to the Villians last season, Rodgers made the error of going for a midfield two, where Villa exposed Steven Gerrard's lack of mobility and stormed into a 2-0 first-half lead. Still, that should not stop Rodgers slightly altering the midfield and front three - especially with Jordan Henderson also rumoured to be suffering from a knock. After all, he's probably going to be forced into changing the set-up. At home is the place for experimentation and so the game against Villa will serve it's purpose as a game to see how the Reds could shape up without Sturridge. Most likely,
Against the likes of Ludogorets in Europe, and West Ham United away - it may not be the same story. Liverpool will have to find a formula that works before that, as those games will require different styles of play to achieve the intended result. Up front, a lot of pressure will now be on Balotelli to produce. Though he will remain a fresh face at Anfield for another few months, the Italian will immediately be trusted to fill in for his forward partner. He's certainly capable, but it's a tough task for a new signing. It's a huge challenge for Brendan Rodgers to cope without Sturridge, but there's no excuse for failure. Liverpool have the squad depth now to rearrange their side, and it is time for Sturridge's new teammates to prove their worth.