IF LIVERPOOL had Robin van Persie up front I’ve got no doubt we would be challenging for the title this season. The striker showed us what we’re missing with his two clinical strikes to earn Arsenal victory at Anfield on Saturday.

The fact we didn’t get anything out of the game was ridiculous. The points should have been wrapped up before half-time but we’re not ruthless enough.

We lack an out and out goalscorer and it’s been a big problem all season.

A player like van Persie is priceless. He had two chances and put them both away. When you talk about the best in Europe, he’s right up there with Messi and Ronaldo.

If I was Barcelona or Real Madrid I would break the bank to sign Van Persie this summer.

Take him out of a poor Arsenal team and they would be below halfway in the league. Put him into this Liverpool side and we would be alongside Manchester City and Manchester United in the title race.

Saturday was Groundhog Day and I’m tired of repeating myself.

We played exceptionally well but once again we failed to make our domination at Anfield count.

Our home form simply hasn’t been good enough. To only win four out of 13 games explains why we’re going to miss out on Champions League qualification. I think fourth place has gone now. I can’t see us catching Arsenal. To have any chance we would need to win about eight on the bounce but we just don’t seem to have the firepower to go on a run like that.

Since Christmas we’ve taken just nine points out of 27 in the league and the most frustrating thing is that this season offered the perfect chance for us to get back in the top four.

Arsenal aren’t the force they were and Chelsea have been in crisis. They have both slipped up so often but we haven’t been able to take advantage.

I’m sure Kenny Dalglish will be assessing what he needs for next season. I think there are three big positions we need to strengthen.

We need a goalscorer, a central midfielder with a big presence and a right-sided midfielder with guile.

Kenny could solve one of those problems by asking Steven Gerrard to do a David Beckham for him.

I think it would be a stroke of genius to play Steven on the right, give him a free role and get him to deliver great balls into the box.

Steven would have to agree to it but he would do a job on that side, especially next season with Lucas to come back into the middle. It would release Steven to play further forward.

Even if we don’t make the Champions League, I’m sure the club will still be able to attract top players. Hopefully before the summer there will be some positive news on a new stadium and that would send out a message about where the club is heading.

Without doubt the most crucial buy will be a striker – someone to get us 20 goals a season. We need to scour the world to get the right man.

With the FA Cup up for grabs there’s plenty still to play for this season. We have to go to Sunderland on Saturday and try to get back to winning ways. We need to ensure we go into next week’s derby on a high.