Rodgers quick off the mark as Ince & Sturridge get set for Liverpool

Thomas Ince and Daniel Sturridge are set to join Liverpool in January.

It has been another season of inconsistency for the Reds, who take one step forward and two steps back in their bid to reclaim their once-accustomed place in the elite of English football. Last weekend for example, just as Brendan Rodgers had spoken of a top-three challenge, they fell to a 3-1 home loss to Aston Villa.

One thing for sure is that there will be activity at Anfield when the transfer window reopens. It is no secret that they have been woefully short of attacking options since the start of the season when they allowed Andy Carroll to link up with West Ham United on loan. Rodgers will resist the chance to recall the England international, despite Fabio Borini unlikely to recover from a foot injury until mid-January.

These problems have left just Luis Suarez available as a recognised first team option, with 19-year-old Spaniard Suso thrown into action way ahead of schedule. And when the Uruguayan forward was out through suspension, Rodgers had little option but to use midfielder Jonjo Shelvey as the man to lead the line, and although he did so with some promise in the 3-2 win at West Ham, this is no long-term fix.

But with the window due to open in less than a fortnight, there now appears to be some light on the horizon. It has been widely reported that a £12million deal is in place with Chelsea for Sturridge, who has struggled to establish himself at Stamford Bridge. Frustrated back a lack of first team opportunities, the former Manchester City man has also been disillusioned with his role on the right hand side of the attack when called upon, as opposed to his favoured role through the middle.

The 23-year-old will hope to get this by making the move to Liverpool, and he could even be in place for their FA Cup third round tie at Mansfield Town on 6 January. And he could be joined in the line-up for the trip to Field Mill by Ince, who was embarrassingly let go by the club in the summer of 2011 during Kenny Dalglish’s tenure.

The 20-year-old winger, son of former Anfield and Manchester United midfield player Paul, has gone from strength-to-strength since joining Blackpool, who are set to make a handsome profit on the £250,000 they paid for his signature 18 months ago (early reports indicate the Championship club will receive a £6million fee, although some of this may bizarrely end up at Liverpool as part of a sell-on clause).

It would be a surprise if Sturridge and Ince were the only two additions to Rodgers’ squad before the 31 January deadline. Another striker could even be sought, whilst there have been suggestions that a commanding centre-half is on the agenda if they decide to cash in on Daniel Agger, the Denmark international.