The worst Liverpool signings in 35 years

By Roy Skillen | Nov 28, 2014

There has been a lot of talk lately about the money that Brendan Rodgers has spent on trying to build a Liverpool squad capable of challenging for top honours once again. This summers 100 million GBP spending spree was meant to give the reds the strength in depth to kick on form their 2nd place league finish last season, but unfortunately it simply hasn’t happened.

The new players have struggled to gel and the attacking fluidity that made us such a threat last term seems to be gone. Brendan Rodgers has gone for potential rather than the superstars that many fans demanded, but in the 35 years of supporting the club not one of the new boys has made it in to my team of Liverpool’s worst signings and there is club a legend who has been more culpable than Brendan Rodgers for faux pars in the transfer market.

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GK : Chris Kirkland

In 2001 Gerard Houllier spent six million GBP on Coventry City goal keeper Chris Kirkland. The transfer made the England youth international Britain’s most expensive ever shot stopper, but the 20 year old failed to live up to the hype and made just 25 league appearances in five years at the club.

RB : Josemi

Spanish full back Josemi was one of the first signings of Liverpool boss and fellow countryman Rafael Benitez in 2004. The 2 million GBP signing started his career at Anfield with some gutsy performances but it quickly became evident that he was out of his depth in the EPL when he lost his starting spot to Steven Finnan before being sent back to Spain.

LB : Djimi Traore

Gerard Houllier called Mali international Djimi Traore the new Marcel Desailly when he first brought him over from Laval in France. But Traore became known as Bambi on ice by the press and was better known for erratic defending and giving away penalties than his composure on the ball.

CB : Glenn Hysen

In 1989 Kenny Dalglish’s Liverpool actually battled it out with Alex Ferguson and Manchester Utd for the signature of the Swedish Captain with Fergie being forced to sign Gary Pallister instead. Hysen was meant to be a direct replacement for the ageing Alan Hansen. He struggled to adapt to the pace of English football but still managed 82 league appearances over a four year period.

CB : Torben Piechnik

The Danish Centre Back was one of many dodgy signings made by Graeme Souness during his disastrous reign as Liverpool boss. Piechnik came to Anfield in 1992 from FC Copenhagen and made just 17 league appearances in two years before being allowed to leave by new boss Roy Evans.

RM : Antonio Nunez

Spaniard Antonio Nunez was brought to Anfield by Rafael Benitez as part of the deal that saw Michael Owen head to Real Madrid. The winger did have a bad knee injury not long after arriving at the club but failed to come anywhere near filling the boots of England international and Kop hero Owen. He lasted just a year in England before being signed by Celta Vigo.

CM : Bruno Cheyrou

Another Gerard Houllier signing. Bruno Cheyrou arrived at Anfield for 4.5 million GBP in 2002 and was given the unbelievable label of the new Zinadine Zidane by the reds French manager. The ridiculous tag weighed down any chance the midfielder had of succeeding in England and he was sent out on loan a number of times before leaving permanently for Rennes in 2006.

CM : Paul Stewart

Paul Stewart was signed by Graeme Souness for 2.3 million GBP from Tottenham in 1992 as a replacement for Peter Beardsley, and the less said about that the better.

LM : Jimmy Carter

In 1991 Liverpool legend Kenny Dalglish was trying his best to inject some new blood in to an ageing squad. The king decided to sign Jimmy Carter as part of his rebuilding process for 800,000 GBP from Millwall where the old school winger had made 110 appearances. But the step up was too much for Carter who made just five league at Anfield before being sold to Arsenal just a short time later.

CF : David Speedie

David Speedie was the last signing of Kenny Dalglish’s first spell in charge of the club. He arrived from Coventry in January 1991 and was sold the following summer by new reds boss Graeme Souness.

CF : Sean Dundee

The German striker was brought to the club by the joint manager reign of Roy Evans and Gerard Houllier for two million GBP in 1998. Houllier said the former Stuttgarter Kickers forward had similar qualities to Michael Owen but just 12 months and three league appearances later he was sold back to Germany for just one million GBP

Special Mention

Istvan Kozma

Hungarian Istvan Kozma was signed by Graeme Souness for 300,000 GBP in 1992 from Scottish minnows Dunfermline Athletic. The midfielder never looked like he belonged in the newly formed EPL but still managed six league appearances during his one year stint in England.