Next year will be our year.Liverpool fans have uttered that phrase so often it's become a verbal stick to beat them with.Still, when they lifted the old Division One crown on April 28, 1990, few expected a title drought to follow. It is coming up for 27 years since that 18th and last championship. This year threatened to be their yearJurgen Klopp's squad were Chelsea's nearest challengers at the start of 2017but a dreadful January put paid to all the title talk.Now the Reds are fighting hard just to finish in the top four, with a possible return to the UEFA Champions League a solid enough consolation prize. Miss out, though, and the campaign must be considered a disappointment.Their pursuit of English football's Holy Grail fell apart due to defensive shortcomings, a shallow first-team squad and too many no-shows on the road.Could one man have made a difference, though' During the international break, Bleacher Report offered supporters the chance to vote for the one former Red they'd like to have back.The Twitter poll offered four choices. Pepe Reina, Steven Gerrard and Luis Suarez were the players listed, along with an "other" option.The verdict is init is time to discuss the result:The "Other" OptionsOpening up the floor to alternative names was always going to offer the opportunity for some obscure selections. We can only hope the follower who suggested Neil Ruddock was doing so for a laugh:While Ruddock doesn't fit the bill for Klopp, two more suitable defenders from Liverpool's past would be welcomed back: Jamie Carragherthe boyhood Everton fan who made more Premier League appearances for the Reds than anyone elseand Sami Hyypia.Either of the centre-back pairing would be upgrades over the options currently available.Yet having Hyypia back might make the most sense. The tall Finnsigned for just 3.83 million from Willem II, according to Transfermarktwould fit right in next to Joel Matip.Talented on the ball and tough to beat in the air, Hyypia was a foundational piece in successful Liverpool teams under former bosses Gerard Houllier and Rafael Benitez. While not blessed with pace, he wouldn't have to worry too much about the space in behind with the zippy Matip alongside him to cover.Dan Agger also got a mention, showing Liverpool fans feel the need for defensive reinforcements. Klopp would surely welcome any of the (serious) options mentioned.He'd also like to have Xabi Alonso in his prime, too. The Spaniardwho hangs up his boots this summercould slot in at the base of the midfield, with his passing abilities a potential solution for Liverpool's problem of breaking down teams who sit deep and deny them space in which to work.In It For KeepersReina polled just six per cent of the vote, a surprisingly low number considering Liverpool are still searching for a top-class replacement.Klopp has flip-flopped between Simon Mignolet and Loris Karius as his first-choice goalkeeper this season. The former seems ensconced in the role right now, but he's only ever one mistake from having his place scrutinised again.Despite the presence of the pair, barely a week goes by without media speculation linking Liverpool to another keeper.Joe Hart's name crops up repeatedly. Deemed surplus to requirements this season at Manchester City and sent out on loan to Torino, the England international could need to find a new permanent residence during the summer.Anfield has been suggested as a possible destination, yet Klopp has insisted he's happy with his current options. "It is the life of a goalkeeper that you are the last man standing. Then you are not too happy but I am happy with our goalkeepers, yes," he said, per David Maddock of the Mirror.Those words will make some, possibly the vast majority, of the club's supporters wince. They yearn for a more commanding presence as the last line of defence. Reina offered that, albeit his form fluctuated during his time on Merseyside.Liverpool's goalkeeper isn't often over-workedbut they are instead expected to make big stops at crucial moments in games."When you talk about goalkeepers who play for top teams, they dont tend to have that much to do during games," Benitez said in 2010, per the Liverpool Echo. "What sets them apart is being able to make important saves after they have not been busy and we have seen Pepe do that lots of times.Reinaa three-time Golden Glove winner (the award given to the goalkeeper who keeps the most clean sheets in the English top flight each season)was good in possession and always keen to come for a cross. Crucially, though, his defenders had a level of trust in him that allowed them to focus on their own jobs.His Anfield career came to a rather bitter end during Brendan Rodgers' reign, but the Spaniard still remains Liverpool's best keeper of the Premier League era.The Club LegendSteven Gerrard did, of course, come back to Anfield this year. After announcing his retirement at the end of 2016, the ex-Liverpool captain started his coaching career by taking a job at his hometown clubs academy."It feels like completing the circle; returning to the place where professionally it all began," he said of the move, per Chris Bascombe of the Telegraph.You dont need to be Mystic Meg to predict what might happen in his future. Gerrard could follow in the footsteps of Kenny Dalglish and Graeme Souness in both playing and managing the club.But what if Gerrard the player were still around right now'Liverpool's engine room is a major strength for the current squad. Jordan Henderson has found a niche as the deepest of Klopp's midfield trio, while Georginio Wijnaldum is a box-to-box runner who has chipped in with some crucial goals, most notably the winner against Manchester City at Anfield last December.Meanwhile, at the head of the three, Adam Lallana has excelled. He's scored seven goals and provided the same number of assists in the Premier League this season, all while becoming teacher's pet for his non-stop running.Gerrard, though, was all three of those players wrapped up in one.When interviewed by Jamie Carragher for the Daily Mail, Chelsea legend Frank Lampard said: "He [Gerrard] had everything. He'd deal with you defensively and hurt you going forward."Slight in frame but huge in stature, Gerrard was forever willing to put the team on his back. He was the driving force behind the Miracle of Istanbul, as Liverpool rallied from a 3-0 deficit to beat AC Milan in the 2005 Champions League final. It was the skipper who spared the Reds in the FA Cup final the following year too, lashing home a long-range drive in injury time to stop West Ham United from lifting the trophy.When Klopp's current crop hit top gear, Gerrard's absence isn't so keenly felt.However, the talismanic midfielder's presence would surely have helped when the Reds failed to show up in away games at Hull City and Leicester City in February.Those matches are when Gerrard is still sorely missed. Even though it's now nearly two years since his last appearance for Liverpool, the memories of his exploits will linger on for a lifetime.The Forward ThinkersSuarez was the clear winner of the poll, showing Liverpool fans still hold a candle for a player who angled his way out of the club in the summer of 2014. It's unlikely that flame will ever be extinguished, either.Mind, you cannot blame them for wanting to bring back the Barcelona forward.Suarez scored 69 times in 110 Premier League appearances (a goals-per-game ratio of 0.627), per LFC History. He spearheaded a title charge in the 2013/14 season, shedding tears at Crystal Palace when it became clear Liverpool's faltering finish would see them pipped to the post by Manchester City.Rodgers' squad scored 101 league goals in that campaign, despite Suarez missing the first six fixtures while completing a 10-match ban for biting Chelsea's Branislav Ivanovic.The current squad are the leading scorers this season, too. Sadio Mane tops the charts with 12, although the Senegalese lines up on the right of Klopp's attacking trio.Roberto Firmino is the German's preferred choice in the central role Suarez used to occupy. The Brazilian leads Liverpool's press from thefront and has also weighed in with nine goals.But, for all his effort and enthusiasm, Firmino is not a clinical finisher. For example, during the second half of Sunday's 1-1 draw at Manchester City, he fluffed a glorious one-on-one opportunity. His run in behind the defence was outstanding, but the final shot failed to match it in terms of quality.Now just imagine Suarez was in that situation instead. While it's not quite a guaranteed goal, you'd back him to find a way to get the ball beyond goalkeeper Willy Caballero.Yet Suarez brings more than just a cool head in front of goal. He harasses defenders and creates for others, as former team-mate Gerrard told BT Sport (h/t Sean Kearns of Metro.co.uk):Hes relentlessthats the word to sum him up. He scores great goals, all type of goals, he creates out of nothing.He occupies the whole back four by himself. He was an absolute dream to play with. He was always on the move so that you could pick him out. Just a phenomenal footballer. Hes gone to another level since he moved to Barcelona with his goal and assist return.Swapping out Firmino for Suarez feels like exchanging a catapult for a rocket launcher.There were other forwards suggested by fans in the comments section; Michael Owen and Fernando Torres were sensible suggestions. Andy Carroll, however, was only mentioned for comedy value.Owen, Torres and also Robbie Fowler each hit a century of goals for Liverpool in the Premier League era. All three also suffered injuries that decreased their effectiveness after leaving the club. Suarez, in contrast, has only improved since moving to Spain (it does helpto play alongside Lionel Messi and Neymar, too).Liverpool may be leaky at the back, but goals tend to paper over any cracks. Supporters will overlook defensive frailties if they've a frontman to love.With Suarez, despite his disciplinary issues, the Reds couldn't help but fall head over heels for a bad boy.All statistics used in the article are from WhoScored.com unless otherwise stated.
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