Rodgers: That man is unplayable
Brendan Rodgers believes Liverpool's performance in the 1-1 draw with Newcastle proves they are just a couple of reinforcements away from being serious contenders.
Rodgers felt goalscorer Luis Suarez was 'unplayable' on Sunday afternoon - and that Magpies skipper Fabricio Coloccini receiving a red card for fouling him in the 84th minute was a result of sheer frustration.
Now he feels that adding attacking options to play alongside his 'false 9' is the key to turning controlled performances into regular victories.
The boss said: "I thought he was unplayable. Coloccini getting sent off was frustration. I don't think he could get near him today, and he's a good defender, Coloccini. He has been a great player over these last number of years for Newcastle.
"Suarez is so bright, so clever, he's a world-class striker. On that form today he really frustrates and provokes defenders.
"He is an absolute joy to work with. Every single day he's in to train, to get better and improve. He's still a young player and he's committed his best years to us here.
"We play him in that false 9 role. He's not a traditional No.9 who's up there, stood, static. That's why when we get a number of players in who can work off his qualities, that's going to make us a real threat.
"I ask him to get on the move and get defenders out of their positions. It's then important that we've got men running in off that.
"If we can add to the group, you can see the excitement in our team. We have got a lot of young players, the senior players have been fantastic.
"For now we'll keep plugging away and working hard."
Suarez equalised a Yohan Cabaye volley which came against the run of play at the end of the first half.
Liverpool had 23 shots to Newcastle's 11 and had 66 per cent of the possession.
Rodgers added: "I thought our performance was outstanding. In the first half our possession and intensity was relentless, we had some chances but we just switched off before half-time.
"I'm really pleased about how our game is developing. The patience in our game.
"It's important we move the ball quickly through the lines, which we're doing. And importantly we're creating chances while playing this way.
"But that's five draws now in 10 leagues games, and of those draws we should have won at least three.
"Once we can turn those draws into wins by converting the chances... But that's about players, the type of players you need. If we can get that over the next couple of windows it bodes really well for us.
"It gives us great hope going forward that once we get that profile of player in it's going to finish off a lot of great work from us."
One area of the game where Rodgers accepts the need for improvement is the distribution of goals around the team.
Asked if he was worried about an over-reliance on 10-goal Suarez, he replied: "It doesn't worry me. He gets paid to score goals. But of course I would want them to be a bit more spread out.
"That's the key feature going forward, we need to get goals from other areas."