Johnson: Progress has been made

Liverpool right back Glen Johnson has insisted that this season has been a better campaign than the last, despite the club seeming unlikely to qualify for Europe.

The Reds, whose hopes of finishing in the top six were dented after they managed to pick up just a point in Sunday afternoon’s clash with West Ham United, also came no way near the finals of the FA or League Cup, despite reaching both last year, winning the latter.

However, Johnson believes that the club are better than their league position suggests.

With forty-nine points after thirty-two games, Brendan Rodgers side are set to surpass the tally of fifty-two achieved last season, though they will need sides above them to slip up if they are to better a seventh place finish.

Elsewhere, Ajax defender Toby Alderweireld has declared that he would be interested in a move to Liverpool, should the club make an offer for him.

The 24 year old, who has 24 caps for Belgium, said that he favoured a move to Anfield over Newcastle United, who have also expressed an interest.

The Reds are on the lookout for defensive reinforcements, ahead of the imminent retirement of Jamie Carragher, as well as the likely departures of Martin Skrtel and Sebastian Coates.