Can the calling of Yesil inspire Borini?

With all the talk about Liverpool and their so-called 'striker crisis', you could be forgiven for forgetting that they spent the best part of £11 million on a goalscorer in the transfer window.

All the deadline day desperation to sign Clint Dempsey - efforts which failed - would have been minimised had new boy Fabio Borini had a storming start and netted in his first two Premier League games prior to August 31.

But it was not to be, and two further games on, Borini remains without a goal in the Premier League. Perhaps he is waiting to open his account until Sunday, with the big clash with Manchester United on the horizon.

Whichever, he need not worry about a loss of faith from his manager; Brendan Rodgers is a firm believer in his capabilities.

He was the first signing made by the Ulsterman, and a considerable amount of cash was put up for him. Rodgers has worked with Borini twice previously; with Chelsea and with Swansea.

The Italian is still young, 21, and is highly rated across the football world. It is surely only a matter of time until further goals come, and if his commitment is anything to go by off the pitch then it could be sooner rather than later.

He scored in the Europa League qualifying round against Gomel, and his record for the club stands at one in eight appearances so far. Tonight when they face Young Boys he will be extra keen to get on the scoresheet and set himself up for Sunday.

All the talk ahead of tonight has been on another young striker, Samed Yesil, a player who was a virtual unheard of on these shores until a month ago, and still has yet to make his first appearance for the club.

It is this 'gamble' on throwing him in, that appeals to Brendan Rodgers and supporters, keen to see a new hero create a name for himself. But they would do well to remember that Borini is no busted flush himself.

Just because of an underwhelming start to the season, there is no need to worry. The player himself knows this and has accepted that he has been unlucky.

He gives an air in interviews of being relaxed about the situation, but his work in putting in extra training indicates he knows the pressure will soon build if he goes much longer without making an impact.

So you wonder if the call-up of Yesil to the first team squad will act as a further reminder, as if he needed one, that he needs to get scoring or at least creating, goals.

The big question ahead is how he will respond, and with a game which could define Brendan Rodgers' start to management at the club on Sunday, he has the perfect chance to demonstrate his ability on the big stage, and truly announce himself to the Premier League, so he will be determined to take it.

When will Borini score his first league goal for Liverpool?

image: © ekilby