Rodgers vexed by transfer failures

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers admits he will be forced to look into signing free agent forwards Michael Owen and Didier Drogba after his club's worst league start for 50 years.

Having allowed Andy Carroll to join West Ham on loan, Rodgers expected the club's hierarchy to complete a move for Fulham forward Clint Dempsey, who had made no secret of his desire to move to Anfield.

However, Liverpool reportedly offered 3 million ($4.76 million) for US international Dempsey, who subsequently joined Tottenham for twice that fee, leaving Rodgers perilously short of attacking options for the foreseeable future.