Has Kenny done enough to fix Liverpool’s weaknesses?

This time last year Liverpool fans were looking forward to the upcoming season with new manager Roy Hodgson at the helm. Beneitez had left after a six-year spell and Hodgson, who had just taken Fulham to the Europa League final, was expected to steady the Anfieldship.

However with owners Hicks and Gillett still in charge, Hodgson was given only tight purse strings and some of his poorer signings included Paul Konchesky and Christian Poulsen. He only lasted six months in charge as Liverpool endured their worst start to the season in over fifty years. Hicks and Gillett were also soon out to be replaced by New England Sports Ventures under John W. Henry

Kop legend, Dalglish was given the job in order to turn round the fortunes on the pitch while ensuring the support from the Anfield faithful. He took them to a sixth place finish, bringing through numerous young players to help a shattered squad while still adding in January.

Damien Comoli was brought in as Director of Football to head the club’s recruitment process and since the start of 2011, they have added talent to a squad that needed refreshing after the end of Benitez’s six-year term.

With the scars of Hicks and Gillet’s time in charge still remaining at Anfield, this summer has been about trying to remove these marks and to start looking to the future. Kenny has been given all the funds he requires by Henry who is obviously willing to support him in order to achieve success but has he done enough?

Breaking the £35m British transfer record to secure Andy Carroll, paying an estimated £16m for Jordan Henderson, picking up Charlie Adam for £9m and spending £20m to sign Stewart Downing are some of the names who have signed. Now that these players have been secured in 2011, spending has reached over £80m.

PFA Player of the year nominate, Adam was always going to leave Blackpool after their relegation, Henderson was linked with a move to Old Trafford but they baulked at Sunderland’s valuation and Downing is a natural winger who has the ability to support Carroll. Kenny now has a pleasant selection dilemma in midfield and it is likely that a few players will be leaving permanently or a long term loan to get some first team football.

While focusing on the midfield and attack Kenny seems to have forgotten about strengthening at the back despite the crying need for a new left-back and probably a fresh centre-back. He has missed on Gael Clichy but Jose Enrique has been mentioned and the Spanish left-back could just be the man to solve the problem position.

The new owners look prepared to let Kenny spent big on young players that could have a successful future and therefore will have a large re-sell value. Not only are these signings investments for the future but they should also help the side achieve on the pitch. This would help to explain some of the over-blown transfer fees paid especially on the English players.

The Liverpool squad now looks the strongest it has for a while but after spending over £100 million on creating it, what needs to be achieved on the pitch to consider it a successful season? Would winning a cup constitute a success or is a top four place now required?

Spending big before the UEFA Financial Fair Play rules kick in at the start of next year and creating a squad that has strong British foundations while giving the squad some reasonable depth seems like a sensible thing to do in a team that only finished sixth last season.

Dalglish knows that Liverpool proabably won’t be competing for this title this year as it takes time to build a team capable of challenging. But without a European competition to concentrate on Kenny will have time to focus on finishing as high as possible in the league.

If the Anfield club can secure a Champions League spot for next season maybe then we see more of the marquee signings that some fans want but for now Liverpool have a team made up of young and hungry players who have tested themselves in the Premier League. It can take a long time to rebuild a broken team but Kenny seems to be taking the right approach. We will only see the evidence to whether this is the correct approach in May.

Written by Aidan McCartney for FootballFancast.com. Do you think Kenny had done enough in the transfer market this summer? Let me know your thoughts and follow me on twitter @aidanmccartney

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