Former Liverpool star: Reds need a Defoe or Jelavic

Former Liverpool striker John Aldridge says the Reds are in desperate need of a striker similar to Tottenham's Jermain Defoe or Everton's Nikica Jelavic to provide them with more cutting edge.

Liverpool have won only once in the Premier League this season, and looked devoid of a genuine goalscoring threat in the weekend's goalless draw with Stoke City.

Luis Suarez was often isolated and lacked support from Liverpool teammates when he managed to win the ball and Brendan Rodgers hinted he may be forced to look for forward reinforcements in January.

Suarez has managed to score five goals in the Premier League this term, but the summer departures of Dirk Kuyt and Andy Carroll have left Liverpool incredibly light in the striker department.

And Aldridge, who found the net 63 times for Liverpool in three years at Anfield, says signing another striker is imperative for Rodgers.

"Sunday's stalemate with Stoke once again demonstrated how much we’re lacking a poacher in the box to get on the end of things and stick the ball away," he told the Liverpool Echo.

"Top of the shopping list in January has to be a natural goalscorer. Someone to do for us what Jelavic does for Everton and Defoe does for Spurs."

Jelavic has scored four goals for Everton this season, to go with the 11 he netted in 16 appearances last term, while Defoe has also notched four strikes for Tottenham in 2012-13.