When the transfer window opened this summer, Liverpool fans were patiently awaiting defensive recruitments following their sixth-placed finish in the Premier League last season.
With Mamadou Sakho injured for the majority of the campaign and Dejan Lovren simply abysmal in his first season with the Reds, Martin Skrtel was deemed as the best of a bad bunch, despite performing under par himself.
Full-backs Javier Manquillo and Alberto Moreno struggled in their first years in England, with the former having his two-year loan deal cut short as a result, whilst Glen Johnson has been released this summer after another poor season. Emre Can filled in at right-back towards the end of the campaign because of Johnson's displays, but even the young, talented and extremely versatile German could not improve things significantly here, with the position seemingly too far out of his very large comfort zone.
Still, Liverpool ended the season with 48 goals conceded in 38 games. It was the eighth best tally in the league and a slight improvement on the previous year's tally of 50 conceded, which was also the eighth best that year.
Instead, it was the goals scored that let them down
Liverpool's attacking firepower suffered massively in the season gone, and they ended the campaign with 52 goals scored - almost a dramatic 50 per cent less than the amount scored in their 2013-14 season (101).
It may have still been the seventh best tally this year, but the teams who made the top four scored at least 10 more than the Reds to accomplish their target finish, with Manchester City again the highest scoring side with 83 goals, having netted the best in 2013-14 as well with 102.
There's no doubt that Liverpool's defence certainly needs looking at, and the signings of both Nathaniel Clyne and Joe Gomez have been made to address the issue, whilst Lucas Digne's name continues to be linked with a move to Anfield, but it is going forward where the Merseysiders simply have to improve this year if they want to make it into the top four again.
Credit must be given to Brendan Rodgers though, as the Northern Irishman has made a number of signings that will indeed strengthen and bolster his side's attack.
In Roberto Firmino, he has acquired one of Europe's hottest young prospects, who creates and scores goals; Christian Benteke arrives at Anfield boasting an incredible record of 49 goals in 100 games for a regular relegation contender in Aston Villa; free transfer Danny Ings was responsible for 11 of relegated Burnley's 28 goals last year; whilst James Milner has consistently scored a handful from midfield throughout his career and has already netted twice for his new club in pre-season.
Together, based on their totals from the past three seasons, these four new faces average a combined 38 goals per season - which, added to the team's total last season, takes Liverpool up to 90 goals - or 83 if you minus Raheem Sterling's seven strikes.
Add to this the returns of Daniel Sturridge, who spent the majority of last season injured, and Divock Origi, and it's obvious that Liverpool's front line is going to be much improved in comparison to last year's, but can it improve enough to take the Reds back into the top four?
How many goals do Liverpool need to score?
Given Liverpool's defensive frailties, the club may need to target an almighty total like that achieved in the 2013-14 season if they want to ensure Champions League football again. However, it seems likely that the defence will improve somewhat with the new signings, and the goals conceded column is sure to boast a smaller number in 12 months time by at least a few goals as a result.
Still, to be sure, Liverpool should be targeting at least 80 goals scored in the coming campaign if they want a top four finish. This would give them a +32 goal difference based on last year's defensive displays, which is greater than fourth-placed Manchester United's +25 and just less than third-placed Arsenal's +35.
How will Liverpool's strikers fare this season?
It's easy to suggest the Reds will score a significantly higher total of goals this year, but the real question is; where will these come from?
The obvious players that the team will look to for goals are their strikers - Benteke, Sturridge, Ings and Origi being the ones certain to stick around, whereas the futures of Mario Balotelli, Fabio Borini and Rickie Lambert look to be away from Anfield.
With three of these players preparing for their debut seasons in the famous red of Liverpool, and one of them for their first season in England altogether, it's difficult to predict how they will do as they adapt to life on Merseyside.
However, one can expect Benteke to lead the way on the scoring charts this season with at least 12 goals to his name, though this could rise to even more. The Belgian netted 13 for Villa last time out, and given that he is expected to see more chances in this creative Liverpool side, it's conceivable that his total could be considerably higher than this with the Reds, depending on how he adapts to the new team. Still, 12 should be the minimum he nets this year.
As for Ings and Origi, neither are expected to start ahead of Benteke and Sturridge, and so should finish the season with lower totals. Yet, they are bound to be given their chances as Rodgers is expected to rotate heavily this year, and should chalk up decent numbers. Ings is not the greatest finisher, but he will be given enough chances to miss this season, and showed that he can score when it matters whilst playing at Burnley. Though it could rise if he is given more minutes, one would expect Ings' minimum target this season to be around seven goals.
Origi will be adapting to a new league, new environment and a new team this season, so, when combined with the fact that he is lower down the pecking order, like Ings, one should not put too much pressure on the youngster and be expecting double figures from him. Five goals would be a decent return from the Belgian this season, a tally he can build upon next year after settling into the Premier League.
Sturridge's target, on the other hand, simply depends on whether he can stay fit. If the England international bounces back from injury in style and hits the ground running, he could be that 20 goal striker again, but this is unlikely and it's more realistic to expect a lower total, with him sure to be rested when games come thick and fast to prevent more injuries, but he should still hit double figures given his experience in the league. With all considered, 10 goals is what Sturridge should aim for and should score if his body is good to him.
The Reds' attack-minded midfield will chip in too
The strikers at Liverpool are fortunate in that they do not have to carry the goal-scoring burden on their own because the team boasts plenty of midfielders capable of finding the back of the net too. From number 10s to traditional box-to-box players to wide men, there are plenty of goals in the midfield in this team.
Philippe Coutinho and Firmino will be one's best bet to top the goal-scoring charts in this area of the park this season. Coutinho has openly admitted his desire to add more goals to his game, and his eight scored in all competitions last season was by far the best total of his senior career so far. Five of these came in the league, but one would expect this to increase this year given the increased creativity in the team, and the Brazilian should net at least seven as a result.
As for Firmino, he may be settling into a new league, but with Coutinho around him, a player he links up with well for Brazil and understands on the pitch, as well as numerous other inventive attacking personalities, he should have few problems matching his compatriot with seven strikes, especially after proving his goal-scoring prowess with a mid-table Bundesliga team in TSG 1899 Hoffenheim in the past five years, leaving the club with a total of 49 goals scored in 153 games.
Adam Lallana is the other player bidding for a game in the attacking midfield role and, whilst he is more likely to get his chances out wide, though a few in the centre, his lively pre-season has shown he is in the mood for goals and a good season overall. Lallana was openly critical of himself last year, although he wasn't exactly terrible, just below par in comparison to his years with Southampton.
However, injuries in the summer prevented him from getting a good pre-season under his belt, but he has been granted one this year and looks determined to impress. Five goals are not beyond the former-Saints playmaker.
Another player who has spoke of wanting to add goals to his game is Jordan Henderson. With the captain's armband predicted to inspire the midfielder into having a sublime season, he should equal last season's best ever tally of six finishes - or surpass it by some margin if he is handed the penalty taking duties that are free after Steven Gerrard's departure.
Another box-to-box player, Milner, should be looking for a target of around five goals. He looks like he will finally get to play in his natural position this year, and needs to prove his worth here by getting his name on the scoresheet on a handful of occasions.
He's never been a prolific goal-scorer, but mostly because he has been deployed out wide for the majority of his previous seasons, meaning he has created plenty, but not scored enough. Milner has already found the back of the net twice in pre-season, and whilst this was against weaker opposition, it was his runs into the area and good positioning that gave him the goals, not the lack of quality of the opponents.
Though one does not expect Lucas Leiva to get on the scoresheet this year, the defensive midfielder having only ever netted once in the league in his Liverpool career and six times in all competitions, Joe Allen should bag himself at least a couple when he gets the chance to play.
Allen has netted once in each of his previous two seasons for Liverpool, with another two coming in cup competitions in his first year with the Reds, and he will be keen to impress in his predicted-to-be-limited opportunities this season, so his late runs into the area should help him net at least two goals in the coming campaign.
Can should also break his duck and power in his first Liverpool goal, with him having shown promise of doing so from defence last year and more likely to get on the scoresheet from midfield.
The widemen, Jordon Ibe and Lazar Markovic, have both had promising pre-season campaigns too, especially the former, and both youngsters will be keen to have an impact this season after getting a handful of chances last year, but not too many. The youngsters are capable of netting three each, and should prove to be the providers for many other goals too.
Defensive contributions
There's no reason why Liverpool's back line can't help the cause either, especially given the towering and physical presence of several of them from set-pieces.
Skrtel is the obvious contender for the top scorer prize in defence, with 17 in his Liverpool career from 293 appearances - seven of which came in the 2013-14 Premier League season. The Slovakian international managed just one last year, but should be able to double this in the upcoming season.
The attacking threat posed by both Clyne and Moreno on the right and left of defence respectively should also be fruitful in the final third. Moreno showed his quality with an incredible individual effort against Tottenham Hotspur early on in the 2014-15 season, finally finishing the year with two goals, and he should match this again, whilst Clyne showed what he can do with a terrific strike against Liverpool for Southampton last season and should also bag a couple for the Reds this year.
Sakho has just one goal from his two injury-hit seasons with Liverpool, that have limited him to just 46 games so far, but can also chip in with one again this year as he looks set to earn himself more minutes - if he can stay fit, that is.
Fringe players will look to grab attention with goals
There are a handful of players whose inclusion with the team this season looks in the balance.
Past signings yet to earn a regular starting berth, such as Lovren and Tiago Ilori, are two of these, whilst youngster Joao Teixeira looks like he could be given more game time with the first team this year, and teenagers Joe Gomez and Jordan Rossiter, amongst others, should also be involved - unless the latter is loaned out.
Teixeira is one who will definitely add a few goals if he gets the minutes he deserves after a solid pre-season campaign and a terrific year on loan with Brighton and Hove Albion. The creative wideman or playmaker bagged six for the Championship side last season and is determined to have an impact at Anfield in the coming campaign.
Lovren, Ilori and Gomez, however, would be more likely to grab goals from set pieces if at all, with the latter looking nailed on for time in the first team, despite being only 18-years-old, though not looking like a big goal-scoring threat and instead more of a source for assists down the left.
Rossiter faces tough competition for minutes this season, and is more likely to get games in Europe if not loaned out, with his involvement in the league likely to be very little. Yet, he does have one goal from his one appearance for the first team so far, coming against Middlesbrough in the League Cup last season, via a deflection.
Can the team come together and reach a total of 80? Or will Liverpool fall short of the top four again?
The Reds certainly have the potential to hit 80 and even more, with their players possessing all the tools to do exactly this.
However, whether they can actually use these properly depends on a number of factors - namely how new signings settle in and whether certain players can maintain their fitness.
It all comes down to confidence and starting the season well, otherwise it will be a big mountain for the misfiring attack to climb.