And what about Tottenham's five-goal hero in the 9-1 demolition of Wigan, Jermain Defoe?
Believe it or not, some Liverpool fans actually think that's realistic...time to smell the coffee.
First, there's the evidence of two high-profile interviews in recent weeks - the 5Live Q&A with Liverpool FC managing director Christian Purslow, and the Rafa Benitez interview in The Times.
Purslow told 5Live: "We haven't tended to use January as a significant period for player trading. There may be activity, but I wouldn't say it is a key part of our plan."
And Benitez said: "If we want to have money available, then we have to sell some players. We have to sell expensive and buy as cheaply as possible."
Perhaps most tellingly, writer Tony Evans, Football Editor of The Times, added in that interview: "Manager and chief executive may face a difficult transfer window, with the priority being to lower the wage bill. Three or four players may head out of the Anfield exit door, with none of the cash heading back to Benítez..."
Some fans are speculating that club co-owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett will recognise the need for a quality striker and dip into their personal fortunes to pay for one. Maybe.
Whatever happens, it's clear Liverpool are crying out for reinforcements up front with Andriy Voronin failing to recapture the form of either his early days at Anfield, or his loan spell with Hertha Berlin.
Then there's the problems with Fernando Torres' fitness and, while David Ngog has done well, it's too big an ask for a 20-year-old to lead the line on a regular basis.
So it's time for fans to lower their sights. What Liverpool need is a striker who can offer more than Voronin - that is the lowest common denominator.
And given the financial situation, the Reds are looking at a player that is not first choice at another club, maybe getting on in age, has injury problems or has a reputation for having a bad attitude.
Realistically, anyone else will be too expensive.
Whisper it, but we could do worse than look across Stanley Park for inspiration. Louis Saha was allowed to leave Manchester United on a free transfer due to his dire injury record. But Everton have nursed him into form and he has scored nine goals already this season.
Pavlyuchenko for me is a good shout - he's desperate to leave, he's a proven goalscorer and Harry Redknapp clearly doesn't fancy him. But will Spurs really want to loan him to a side they are battling with for a top-four finish?
Defoe, well that's clearly a pipe dream. As, I would suspect, is van Nistelrooy, whose wages alone are likely to be a stumbling block.
Of course, the picture may change if we manage to sell players. But that's a big if. Too many fans think it's simple, offering the 'sell him, him and him and we can buy him' logic.
Like much of the logic around football, it is fatally flawed.
Firstly, some of the Anfield deadwood is hardly likely to be top of the shopping list for other clubs. And teams that are interested will know Liverpool are desperate to sell, and will offer a low price.
Then there's the issue of whether Benitez will actually see the money generated by sales - the reason Voronin is still at the club when there was money on the table for the player from other clubs in the summer.
So, who could we sign?
Well Kevin Davies has been mentioned. Unfashionable, yes. But a proven Premier League performer, and one who can certainly hold the ball up.
And just because players are unfashionable, doesn't mean they can't do a job - remember David Speedie?
Aged 30, he signed for £675,000 in 1991. He was at Anfield for just six months but scored away to Manchester United on his debut, hit two against Everton and finished with stats of six goals in nine starts, with five substitute appearances.
A Speedie-type signing right now would suit Liverpool down to the ground.
My suggestion? What about a loan move for Amr Zaki?
But after then Latics boss Steve Bruce labelled him the most unprofessional player he had worked with, clubs have hardly been queuing up to tempt him away from the Egyptian Premier League.
But the player himself said: "Yes, I was wrong, but my mistakes were not intentional, they resulted from my trouble adapting to England. I want to get back to England to prove that I am a good player, and that I have learned from my mistakes.
"Maybe if I went back to England, I would finish my career there.''
Just a thought...
Richie · 798 weeks ago
Liencam · 798 weeks ago
You've not heard of the African Cup of Nations then?!
Miroslav Klose or Van Nistelrooy are most likely.
robbohuyton 61p · 798 weeks ago
robbohuyton 61p · 798 weeks ago
Liencam · 798 weeks ago
RVN would be available for free. He might earn big coin at Real, but it's a world cup year, and he needs game time. He might even be amenable to a pay-as-you-play deal.
Klose is also a real option - and he recently spoke openly about his admiration for LFC. Despite your opinion that we could be low-balled by clubs, Munich will be swimming in cash in January, as Ribery is almost certainly going to leave*. It's also worth remembering that Munich have been linked with Kuyt & Babel in the past, and that Voronin has Bundesliga Pedigree.
*If Ribery goes to Madrid, they will be extremely keen to get rid of RVN, and we could arrange a loan to potential permanent deal, with them helping pay his wages till the summer.
The bottom line is that there is wriggle room on both potential deals. Zaki is simply a no go.
My views are entirely realistic.
RojoYoda 16p · 798 weeks ago
Voronin for me has been an enigma, thought he was going to be a useful squad member, playing in the 'Gerrard' role! When you saw him play for Ukraine he was normally the one doing the 'donkey work' so that other fella took the credit! Getting him on a free was a bonus! But whether its a case of him not starting regularly he has failed to show what I thought he was capable of in a Red shirt especially after impressing during his loan spell! During the Lyon home game all the pundits were screaming to bring on Babel but I could understand Rafa's thinking of bringing Voronin to just control the ball and for the boys to keep possession of the ball - as I was trying to get myself heard by Messrs Gray and the others, typically Voronin was given the ball and his 1st touch let him down! Don't know how much we'd get for him but I'd be looking to see how much I could sell him on for, in order to reduce our wage bill!
Like you, I don't expect a major name with a large price tag to be brought in or any major activity coming in during January! There needs to be a major decision on Torres' fitness to be made and whether an op is necessary! If they decide to operate, H&G&P need to back Rafa to the hilt and bring in a target man whether on loan or a permanent signing...Pav,RVN or Zaki! Thers no way we'd get Defoe & he's not a target man!
If money was no object them my personal choice would be Carlton Cole but like I said - money no object! But I'd like to see us test West Hams resolve whether it be January or in the summer! Not sure if he'd play 2nd fiddle to Torres so to speak! Am also a fan of Fernando Llorente as well!
But going back to choice between the 3 mentioned - I agree Zaki on loan with an option to sign in the summer would be my choice too for all the options you've stated in your piece!
Another couple of names to drop in there would be David Guiza as a short term option! Whether Fenerbache would agree I can't say! The other is Raul Tamudo, currently having issues at Espanyol apparently.
des · 798 weeks ago
you are stupid. i wish i were a man utd fan, and as revolting as that sounds, it sure sounds a lot better than being fans of the same club as you dumb bunch of morons. tell you what, why dont you swap and be united fans, since you sure as hell hate liverpool so much that you are willing to sabotage our future for you crapshit allegiance to the zone-moron benitez.
shit you very much.
afaris · 798 weeks ago
Varmenni · 798 weeks ago
Then there are players out of contract in the summer. One is Kevin Kurányi of Schalke 04. 27 y/o, 19 goals in 52 caps for Germany and 99 in 222 games for Schalke 04 and Stuttgart. A further bonus is that he will not get himself injured on international duty, as he fell out with Lowe last year.
Then there is the 26y/o Paolo Guerrero of Hamburg. Only seen him play a couple of games in the Europa Vase competition, but was quite impressed. Scoring record might not be the best, but still 9 in 24 internationals and 37 in 111 club games is quite respectable.
des · 798 weeks ago
stan collymore was right - liverpool are a two horse team. you lot made so much noise claiming we are not but the results show it. without torres or gerrard around, we win one in 10 (or 2 in 11 now). how is that not being a twin pony team?
wankers.
afaris · 798 weeks ago
afaris · 798 weeks ago
Gutted · 798 weeks ago
Gutted 2 · 798 weeks ago
afaris · 798 weeks ago
robbohuyton 61p · 798 weeks ago
afaris · 798 weeks ago
zeineldin · 797 weeks ago
afaris · 797 weeks ago
forever · 797 weeks ago
forever · 797 weeks ago
viladust · 796 weeks ago
And i say give the likes of Pacheco or Amoo more playing time