Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers has spoken with Daniel Sturridge about the imminent arrival of AC Milan striker Mario Balotelli. If this campaign is to unfold as Rodgers hopes, the leading strikers of England and Italy will need to deliver for him.
"I have spoken to Daniel and just said how important he is to the team," said Rodgers. "The confidence I have in him has been shown in his performances and goals - 36 in 50. You are not doing that if you are not happy; happy with your life, happy with your football.
"I have said repeatedly that Daniel is a top talent, but we need to have more than one top talent in here. He is a big player for us and that will remain. Dynamics are important, but I don't worry because if you are a top player with a top mind then you want other top players.
"If you are a top player and you are looking at another top player coming in then you will be thinking: "He can help us". If you are a top player with a top mentality then you respond to the competition.
"We can play a diamond (with two strikers). We played that eight times last year and won seven and we flipped to that last weekend (against Southampton). We can change systems and I need that flexibility.
"Also, if you look at Daniel's injury record then he has missed a number of weeks through being injured. I need to ensure I have got the replacements if they are not on the pitch at the same time."
