Bob Moncur: "Newcastle United's defeat at Anfield was painful to watch - but it certainly wasn't a surprise.
"A combination of defensive mistakes, coupled with a lack of goal threat, was a recipe for defeat by a Liverpool team that were far from one of the best teams we’ve seen at Anfield over the years.
"Yet they were better than us.
"It was a bad day at the office for the Magpies, but they lacked any type of bite in attack and this is clearly a problem.
"Alan Pardew knows that he will need to freshen up his frontline this summer – and I am sure he will already have identified some of his targets.
"What’s needed is an out-and-out goalscorer, a striker who will get an important goal even when he is playing badly.
"The choices are to bring somebody in from the Continent who hasn’t got a reputation, or go with the proven scorers from the Premier League, with Peter Crouch and Robbie Keane already mentioned.
"Peter Lovenkrands and Shola Ameobi are working hard in attack, but I am sure that Alan will be looking for a regular and consistent goalscorer to come in.
"Ranger has not really caught the eye when he’s come off the bench this season, but he could very easily be given a new lease of life if he gets the nod from the start.
"Next season is even bigger for him, and even though it has been scraps of action this year, unfortunately in the absence of Carroll he has not stepped up to the plate.
"However, I am convinced that a quality striker must be found in time for next season or we will have the same problems we have now."