Reds searching for a retrofit

Liverpool in limbo as club scrambles to find lost glory

Liverpool's greatest manager Bill Shankly once stated that winning the league title was the club's "bread and butter", so it is a sad reflection that its only recent crumb of comfort is finishing as runner-up 17 months ago.

On April 27 last year, Brendan Rodgers' squad was in striking distance of the Reds' first domestic league crown in 24 years, but they - and captain Steven Gerrard - slipped at the end and finished second, two points behind Manchester City.