Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers's signings in spotlight again following defeat at Hull City

Only Simon Mignolet of summer arrivals guaranteed to start as Brendan Rodgers’ role on committee back under scrutiny

Needing help: Liverpool's Luis Suarez, Lucas and Philippe Coutinho reflect on the dismal 3-1 defeat at Hull Photo: REUTERS

Despite their defeat at Hull City on Sunday, it has emerged that Liverpool have preserved what is becoming a permanent top-four spot. Not because they remain in the Champions League positions of the Premier League, but courtesy of the just-published table of agents’ fees.

The Merseyside club paid £9.4 million to agents between October 2012 and Sept 30, 2013 - the fourth highest in the country - but the stark admission from manager Brendan Rodgers about the depth of his squad in the absence of Daniel Sturridge and Philippe Coutinho at the KC Stadium raised questions again as to whether Liverpool have been getting enough bang for their buck.

There were eight new arrivals at Anfield last summer, at a combined cost of £43 million. Only goalkeeper Simon Mignolet is a certain starter for Norwich City’s visit on Wednesday, prompting a wave of cynicism as to whether other signings are worthy of the adjective ‘Comolli-esque’.

Some, such as midfielder Luis Alberto and centre-half Tiago Ilori, are considered ‘for the future’. Others such as Mamadou Sakho have international pedigree but cannot get into the side, while the likes of Iago Aspas and loanees Victor Moses and Aly Cissokho have failed to impress.

Not for the first time in his Anfield reign, Rodgers found himself in a politically vulnerable position when asked about the rationale behind a series of deals that swelled the squad at considerable expense, but failed to provide enough of the high-class, first-team players the club need to have any hope of sustaining a top-four challenge.