Outgoing Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard has admitted the club failed to adequately replace Luis Suarez last season, but believes it was always going to be "mission impossible".
Brendan Rodgers' side struggled to replicate their title charge from the 2013-14 campaign following the departure of Suarez to Barcelona last summer, and ended in sixth place in the Premier League table.
The club's disappointing season came despite Rodgers bringing in forwards Mario Balotelli, Rickie Lambert and Lazar Markovic last summer in a bid to replace the goals of Suarez.
However, Gerrard has admitted the club's dealings in the transfer market last year were not good enough, and also revealed his fear that Liverpool will now find it difficult to lure a world-class striker to the club without Champions League football.
When asked if the Reds had replaced Suarez well, Gerrard told Rio Ferdinand on BT Sport: "No, but it was mission impossible for me.
"I think even after [Fernando] Torres, it was difficult to go and replace straight away.
"Suarez came out of the blue. I didn’t really know much about him but he was a phenomenal player."
The 35-year-old added: "I think to myself now: who do you go and get to replace Luiz Suarez if you’re Liverpool?
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"You’re going to have endless amounts of cash. And then does that player want to come with no Champions League [football]?
"[Daniel] Sturridge is an unbelievable player. He’s got just as much ability as Torres and Suarez, but we can’t get him consistently on the pitch."
Watch ‘Rio Meets Steven Gerrard’ on BT Sport 1 from 10pm Wednesday 24th June. BT Sport is the new home of European football, with all UEFA Champions League & UEFA Europa League exclusively live. Visit btsport.com/Europe for more information.
