Following the recent news that Iago Aspas is to be loaned out to Spanish side Sevilla, after a rather disappointing first season at Anfield, the legendary number 9 is now up for grabs. Despite being hyped-up upon signing for the Reds a year ago, and having a very good pre-season, Iago Aspas only managed to net once in 15 appearances during 2013/14. At a club as esteemed as Liverpool, the number 9 shirt is normally very hard to get hold of; however, it seems that this time around there was a rather large amount of overestimation when it came to judging how well Aspas would perform. The question is: who really deserves this prestigious number?
Anfield has seen many illustrious players bare that shirt throughout their history, and it is no doubt that the pressure that comes with being granted the responsibility of representing the number 9 for Liverpool Football Club must be rather overwhelming. With players such as Ian Rush and Robbie Fowler having excelled as Liverpool number 9’s during their time at the club, and scoring 529 goals between them, it is no surprise that the number 9’s finish high on the Liverpool all-time top goal scorers list. In addition to this, with Ian Rush having scored 346 of those goals alone, (a total that is yet to be beaten), it is a wonder whether his record will ever be challenged, especially with the lack of loyalty that is becoming more frequent in modern football. With all of that said, the overriding feeling is that this particular shirt carries a great amount of expectation with it; who will rise to the challenge?
Perhaps the most obvious choice would be the current number 15, Daniel Sturridge, who scored 21 goals for Liverpool last season, finishing second highest in the league behind the now departed, Luis Suárez. Despite there being a few other options, Daniel may just be the fans favourite, and having preached his loyalty to the club on many an occasion, it appears the England striker won’t be going anywhere. This could prove very good news for the future of Liverpool Football Club.
However, another option could be the newly signed Rickie Lambert who, having been a Liverpool fan all his life, will undoubtedly cherish the shirt, and give his all every time he steps onto the pitch. On the other hand, it could be said that this prestigious number should be given to somebody who will represent the club for many years to come, and hopefully take the number 9 back to its legendary days when it was worn by players such as Ian Rush or Robbie Fowler. With Rickie Lambert now at the ripe old age of 32, it has to be questioned, for how many years would he wear this shirt? Either way, the fans will be hoping the number will be given to the player who is most deserving, and not ‘wasted’ like it arguably has been in recent years. After all, this number is very special.
The last option would be to give it to a new signing. With the recent departure of Luis Suárez, Liverpool may need to be on the look-out for a new star, as it is uncertain whether Daniel Sturridge is more suited to being the main man, or whether he is better supporting the player highest up the pitch? This season showed that despite playing second fiddle to Luis Suárez, he played it awfully well. Liverpool now have the cash to splash, with £75m being made from the sale of Suárez, you can count on Brendan Rodgers to bring in quality, even if it is pretty much impossible to completely replace somebody with an ability as great as the little Uruguayan.
Rumours have been flying around as to who Liverpool are linked with, and names such as Wilfried Bony from Swansea City, Marco Reus from Borussia Dortmund, and Karim Benzema from Real Madrid have appeared a few times. However, you can decide for yourselves how reliable you think those rumours are. At the end of the day, a rumour is a rumour. Most football fans would say Bony is definitely the more likely, but would he deserve to go straight in with the number 9, when Daniel Sturridge has fought so hard? And is he the standard of player that Liverpool need? Would it be wise for Liverpool to offer up the number 9 so easily, when the last 2 players to wear the shirt, Andy Carroll and Iago Aspas, have proved so anticlimactic?
Brendan Rodgers clearly has a plethora of options when it comes to deciding who he gives the number 9 to. Will it be the fans favourite, Daniel Sturridge, or maybe the new boy on the block, Rickie Lambert? Or even a new player entirely? In the end, he may decide to keep hold of it for another season, and see who earns it during the coming year. Hopefully, whoever is granted the responsibility will not allow themselves to be affected by the fact that one of Liverpool's previous number 9's, Robbie Fowler, is now referred to as "God". No pressure.
