Brendan Rodgers signed 32 players whilst in charge of Liverpool.
Find out where they rank amongst each other.
A substantial reason as to why Brendan Rodgers lost his role as manager of Liverpool Football Club, contributing to the poor results that ultimately got him canned, was his poor transfer dealings.
It’s not all his fault that
most
some of these players haven’t worked out. Incessant debates about transfer committee vs. manager have emerged as if there were five evil masterminds sitting around a table doing their best to undermine Rodgers.
That’s desultory, it’s neither here nor there. These are the players ranked 32-1 who arrived in the time frame of Rodgers’ managerial career at Liverpool.
This list serves as a reminder for the bad memories that’ve been repressed, some positive players who walked through the door at Melwood as well some optimistic thoughts to look forward to for the future. Of the 32 incomings, regardless of where they rank with each other, how many could be considered a success?
There’ll be pictures of the different kits since 2012, modeled by the players that’ve come and (thankfully for most) gone.
You’ll disagree with me. That’s how these things work. I’d disagree with me too.
At any rate, this is how Rush The Kop ranks the 32 players bought under Rodgers’ watch, counted down from worst to best.
All info is courtesy of the tremendously comprehensive wealth of knowledge found at LFChistory.net.
Next: 32
32. Mario Balotelli/£16m/AC Milan/Aug 2013
It had to be him, didn’t it? Why always Mario?
It’s unconfirmed whether that horrid attempt at facial hair had anything to do with his failures.
This list of mostly duds begins with the biggest disappointment of them all, Mario Balotelli.
To be completely honest, I was elated the day Liverpool signed him. Having yet to come off the high of Liverpool finishing second in the league with a roster that should have been 6th, I convinced myself the team would be alright without Luis Suarez and I was certain Brendan Rodgers was the best young manager in the world.
At that point in time my opinion was that of it being more likely to imagine Liverpool would lose their manager to Barcelona than a scenario in which they’d fire him.
Balotelli had all the tools to be a world class striker. He hadn’t unlocked his brain just yet, but it felt like his last big chance and he knew it. He said all the right things in interviews. It was then or never.
So it was never.
He made 16 appearances in the league, scoring one goal. That solitary goal came against Tottenham in the 83rd minute to give the Reds a 3-2 win. This winning goal gave Liverpool fans some hope that he wasn’t going to be an utter flop. False, false hope.
A £16million price tag (£1million per league appearance) and an albatross that Liverpool will struggle to offload after surgery rules him out of action at AC Milan until February toboggans him to the bottom of this list.
I root for the fella, I really do. I hope he figures it out one day.
Next: 31
31. Iago Aspas/£7m/Celta Vigo/June 2013
The mentioning of Aspas to Liverpool fans is anathema.
Aspas was brought on in 2013 as an attempt to add depth to Rodgers’ options in the attack. He (obviously) took a backseat to Suarez and Daniel Sturridge as Liverpool flirted with a euphoric and incredibly unlikely attempt to win the Premier League.
Like the man he follows in this list, he scored one solitary goal. His was in the FA Cup, unlike Balotelli’s Premier League winner. Aspas made a total of 15 appearances. His most infamous contribution was his abhorrent attempt at a corner kick late on against Chelsea, directly springing a blue counter attack that pushed the game out of reach.
Would Liverpool have scored on that corner kick if someone, ANYONE else delivered it? Probably not, no. But it won’t keep fans from thinking what if? Martin Skrtel was a man possessed on set pieces, and with the right delivery I mean–
Ugh. This is what happens when Aspas’ name is mentioned. Why do you continue to haunt Liverpool, Iago Aspas?
That alone nearly pulled him into the absolute basement of this list but Balotelli took that crown based on transfer fee paid, wages spent as well as the looming possibility of Liverpool struggling to permanently sell the Italian.
Next: 30
30. Luis Alberto/£6.5m/Sevilla/June 2013
Luis “one for the future” Alberto.
Alberto started two games for Liverpool Football Club. TWO GAMES! What was the point? I don’t understand. Signed for £6.5million surely he deserved more of a chance than two games. Those pair of matches were against Notts County and Oldham Athletic.
In one of the ten matches he entered as a substitute he set up Luis Suarez with an assist against Spurs. That’s the only memory I’ve clung to that reminds me he really did play for Liverpool. Other than that, I genuinely cannot conceive one other play in my head.
The Spaniard was pried away from Sevilla after impressing for Barcelona B and, at the time of his signing to Liverpool, he was really thought as Luis “one for the future” Alberto. £6.5million isn’t a huge fee, but still. TWO GAMES STARTED!!!!!
Next: 29
29. Oussama Assaidi/£3m/Heerenveen/Aug 2012
Assaidi looked a good player…
… in his skills YouTube video that we all watched once he signed. You’re lying if you said you heard about him prior to Rodgers signing him.
In the realm of attempting to spin news into a positive light, Assaidi was signed with few links or prior news reports. In the day of age in which Liverpool are literally linked with 75% of professional players across Europe, it was thought that this was the old Liverpool. They could sign players and do business behind closed doors.
Its surreptitious nature is the only positive about his acquisition.
Assaidi started just half a dozen games for Liverpool and failed to score. He was loaned to Stoke City the following season, scored five times. He returned to Stoke on loan for the next season, was recalled halfway through to be sold to Dubai.
An odd one, this.
Next: 28
28. Nuri Sahin/loan/Real Madrid/Aug 2012
Before indulging on how so incredibly disappointing the whole Nuri Sahin at Liverpool ordeal was, this photo serves two main purposes:
- Photo proof that Sahin did, in fact, smile once in a while at Liverpool.
- Those Warrior kits!!!
Anyway. Rodgers brings on a player who showed world class form at Borussia Dortmund but couldn’t find his feet at Real Madrid only to play him out of position and disgruntle him to the point in which his loan would be terminated!
Sahin is a deep lying playmaker. Rodgers insisted on playing him as a number 10. It’s just mind boggling.
The Turkish international returned to Madrid briefly before going back home to Klopp at Dortmund.
Liverpool taking Sahin on a loan should’ve been a great addition that they could’ve hoped to make permanent but it went array in a hurry.
Sahin was only used in 12 matches but scored a respectable three goals. To be fair, his Liverpool career exceeded that of his Madrid career in which he only made four appearances in the league.
At any rate, this could have been so much more. So much more. Huge disappointment and an acrimonious exit plops Sahin at 28 on this ranking.
Next: 27
27. Javi Manquillo/loan/Atletico Madrid/Aug 2014
Manquillo arrived in Liverpool the same week that Alberto Moreno did and for a (brief) time Liverpool thought they had the Spanish fullback tandem of the future. Both players represented Spain at the youth and U21 levels, it was thought they’d continue their development and represent Spain together one day.
Both Liverpool careers started well: Moreno scored against Tottenham and Manquillo was actually playing.
Then it went downhill, Manquillo’s for the worse. He started playing poorly and questions arose about why he was even brought in. He wasn’t anywhere near good enough for the Atleti team at that stage of his career and they were all too friendly in allowing him leave on a two year loan deal with the idea of a permanent deal to follow.
Manquillo stopped even making the bench let alone starting towards the end of his season on Merseyside. He wasn’t suited for a wing back role as his attacking ability is insipid which acts as another reason his acquisition was a head scratcher with Rodgers amorous affection of fullbacks who get forward. The picture correctly delineates his fear of going forward.
He was an unused substitute more times in his Liverpool career than appearances made. He only featured 19 times. His loan was slashed after a season and he currently plays for Marseille on loan.
Next: 26
26. Tiago Ilori/£7m/Sporting Lisbon/Sep 2013
Ilori arrived at Melwood the same day Mamadou Sakho and Victor Moses did, the least known of the three.
Currently, no one other than his parents and the coaching staff actually know about him. He’s never made an appearance for Liverpool Football Club.
Ilori was allowed to stick around Melwood and the U21’s in his first few months before spending the second half of that season on loan at Granada where he was, by accounts, impressive. His role in his loan club’s beating and shutting out Barcelona is the highlight of his career. He made nine appearances at Granada.
In 2014-15, he was loaned to Bordeaux where he made just 15 total appearances. Currently, he’s on loan at Aston Villa. He’s yet to appear for the club. His career has screeched to stasis and his development has been blocked.
It’s simple: the 22-year-old just hasn’t played enough over the past few years. On deadline day as he stood near Sakho holding the Liverpool shirt and posing for pictures, most fans would’ve assumed the young defender would slowly grow into the team due to Rodgers’ expertise with young players.
It hasn’t happened yet. His Liverpool career has nearly drowned (if it hasn’t already), can Klopp lend an arm and pull him up? Don’t hold your breath.
Next: 25
25. Fabio Borini/£10.4m/Roma/July 2012
There are a lot of things to be admired about Fabio Borini. Unfortunately top-class footballing ability is not one of them.
Borini absolutely works his stones off irrespective of which side has possession. He tirelessly works to retrieve the ball for his side doesn’t have it and when in control he’s an enthusiastic runner.
The Italian worked with Rodgers during his time in the Chelsea youth setup as well as a loan spell at Swansea when Rodgers was the manager. In 2013-14, Rodgers sanctioned the loaning of Borini to Sunderland where he won Fans Player of the Year award for the Black Cats.
Borini seems a decent, honest man. When given the chance to make that move to Sunderland permanent, as well as making permanent his regular first team football, he told Rodgers he wanted to stay and fight for his place. You know who else did that? Jordan Henderson, when he was nearly swapped to Fulham for Clint Dempsey, and the now Liverpool captain was commended for his courage when he did it.
Fans slammed Borini for the same act, trying to say he just wanted to keep his wages. I believe he truly wanted to stay and fight his way back into the team.
Fans just wanted the huge £13million bounty Sunderland offered for him.
Regrettably, Borini wasn’t good enough for Liverpool Football Club. He stayed throughout the horrific 2014-15 campaign making 12 appearances in the league and scoring one lonesome goal.
He ended up making his return to Sunderland for a fee of around £8million, a few million less than what was offered a year prior.
Next: 24
24. Samed Yesil/£1m/Leverkusen/Aug 2012
Yesil is a young striker bought from Leverkusen who was labelled a great finisher. That he is.
Another thing he is: unlucky. The 21-year-old has already had separate times in which he tore his ACL. When fit, he’s looked promising.
The German has made just two appearances for the Liverpool first team and is currently on loan at FC Luzern where he’s scored one goal in the league over eight appearances.
Coming up through the German youth national team ranks, Yesil scored wherever he was. For the U17 team he netted 20 goals in 21 appearances, part of what sparked Rodgers to spur into action and buy the youngster.
Yesil comes in above the likes of Borini, Ilori and Assaidi as his price tag wasn’t significant at all as well as not being a disappointment like the ones before him. Yesil wasn’t expected to be a first team contributor; he was bought on the promise of potential. That potential never had a chance to be reached due to injuries.
Yesil has said he hopes for a chance under Klopp. Whether or not he’ll get it remains to be seen, though unlikely.
Next: 23
23. Rickie Lambert/£4.5m/Southampton/June 2014
Rickie Lambert to Liverpool was romantic.
The man who was released by the Liverpool academy, the boyhood Liverpool fan, his career nearly ceased around the time he was let go from Liverpool. He went to Blackpool on a youth contract where he was released there too and he embarked on a career working in a factory putting lids on jars.
Then Lambert sensationally rose through the four professional divisions in England, performing admirably well with Southampton once his journey finally dropped him off in the Premier League, and Liverpool came calling.
Rodgers’ 2013-14 side was criticized for not having a plan B, a striker they could lump the ball to when things weren’t coming off on the floor. Lambert was meant to remedy this.
He did not remedy this. Maybe things would’ve been easier for him if Sturridge wasn’t hurt all season and Mario Balotelli was anybody else, but it just didn’t work for him. There wasn’t enough service into him nor was there enough quality attacking around him.
Lambert was able to score three goals for his boyhood club including one in the Champions League. Unfortunately, three goals across 36 appearances, 12 starts, for a center forward was just not enough.
The romantic story came to an end the following summer when the fan favorite was sold to West Brom. Maybe if he was never turned away as a teenager, who knows what might’ve happened.
Next: 22
22. Victor Moses/loan/Chelsea/Aug 2013
Victor “I want to score 20 goals for Liverpool this season” Moses was largely atrocious for Liverpool. He scored his first (and only) goal of the 20 he aimed for in his debut against Swansea City and it was only downhill from there.
When he signed it seemed a decent addition. Bringing a winger with goal scoring potential in on loan who wouldn’t be asked to start every game seemed a reasonable and smart deal. After that goal against Swansea, it seemed great.
But Moses was just bad. There’s no two ways around it.
His playing time evaporated as his quality was increasingly nonexistent. Moses started just six games in the league that season. He returned to Chelsea that summer and has since been continually loaned away. He’s currently at West Ham.
It’s incredible to imagine a scenario in which Moses, Alberto and Aspas would have earned Premier League winner’s medals had Liverpool beaten Chelsea and finished the season atop the league as they seemed destined to be.
Like Moses, the next man up was a loanee during the nearly magical 2013-14.
Next: 21
21. Aly Cissokho/loan/Valencia/Aug 2013
Aly Cissokho is a poor man’s Kolo Toure.
He’s serviceable, but not all that good. He’s passionate, but mistake prone. His highest rating comes under involuntary humor. My long standing Cissokho memories are a short list, just two items.
It was Cissokho’s hopeful cross that Suarez emphatically headed in from the 18-yard-box. I can’t think of a less deserved assist, but such is life when Suarez is on the other end of passes.
Cissokho gathered up the confidence to try a shot from about 25 yards out. (Never a good idea for him.) Hilariously, it was destined for the corner flag. However it hit an off standing defender and ricocheted into the net. His celebration was priceless: utter euphoria. I hope to be as happy about anything in the world as he was at that (own) goal.
That’s it, really. He loved the club, I loved him for that. It was unfortunate it didn’t work out. His loan was not made permanent by the end of the season. He made a total of 19 appearances for Liverpool.
Seriously, Liverpool almost won the title with Aly Cissokho contributing heavy minutes. HOW INSANE IS THAT???
Next: 20
20. Dejan Lovren/£20m/Southampton/July 2014
There’s a case to be made for why Lovren should be rivaling Balotelli and Aspas. That case would be fair considering his price tag and horrific output.
The only remonstrance for that argument is Lovren is still on the team and his Liverpool career, whilst on life support, still has a pulse.
Lovren was brought in to cure the leaky defense that hemorrhaged goals. Everyone knew Rodgers’ side couldn’t replace Suarez’ goals, but the idea was to counter act that by conceding less and Lovren was the poster boy for that revolution.
He was awful.
The Croatian slowly degenerated into a defender who suffered from a Men in Black type of memory depletion for any positional training he’d ever received.
Unfortunately, I cannot kick this inner thought (hope?) that every time I see his name on the team sheet I think “maybe today is the day he shows his worth.” To be fair, he was playing very well in the beginning of the season.
But all of his goodwill with the Anfield faithful was dumped after an opprobrious performance against West Ham. He soon joined the list of injured and, in the time of writing, is just returning to action.
Next: 19
19. Lazar Markovic/£20m/Benfica/July 2014
Where to begin on Markovic? The 21-year-old spent just one year at Benfica after leaving Partizan in his native Serbia to join the Reds with a hefty price tag, relatively unknown and big expectations.
It didn’t pan out for Markovic in his first season on Merseyside. Excuses for him are there, specifically that he spent the majority of his playing time at left wing back, which shackled the attacking dexterity that ballooned his price tag up to £20million in the first place.
Markovic was bereft of confidence: all the reasons he was sought after had disappeared. His pace, directness and dribbling ability vanished as he rarely took anyone on while seemingly only sprinting in covering his defensive duties.
Then, to make matters worse, he was surprisingly loaned out to Fenerbache this season. Right about now Klopp would relish a natural wide player. Like with Jordon Ibe, Klopp could’ve done well in rectifying his confidence. Maybe it will happen next year.
He slots ahead of the others irrespective of his bloated price tag as he, like Lovren, still has a chance to remedy his poor season in the future.
Next: 18
18. Adam Bogdan/free/Bolton/July 2015
A 28-year-old keeper from the Championship signed on a free transfer to become the undoubted second choice keeper at Liverpool. Nothing remotely sexy about this signing. The closest thing to “sexy” about the Bogdan signing is that he generally looks like Ed Sheeran and even that’s a stretch.
If he doesn’t work out, no one will remember,
If he does work out, no one will remember.
He’s ahead of Lovren and Markovic because, for right now, they’re in the negatives. Bogdan is at zero and will stay around there: not too positive of a signing, not too negative. Falling at 18th of 32 feels fair, it feels right.
Bogdan is behind the next fellow on this last despite the general lack of knowledge of the kid’s existence as he has a chance to be more than zero on the scale of positivity or negativity.
Next: 17
17. Allan/£500k/Internacional/Sep 2015
Who? How’s he number 17? Typo? Is this an incredibly wayward attempt at humor?
All fair questions.
Allan Rodrigues de Souza is an 18-year-old Brazilian attacking midfielder snapped from Internacional and sent on loan a couple months for the business end of Finnish season and he’s returned to Melwood following the culmination of the Veikkausliiga. (I’ll wait as you try and pronounce that.)
The loanee scored directly off a corner kick. Just saying.
Allan’s position towards the middle of the pack is explained by the fact that we don’t know what he might be, or even what he is. Will he be akin to Ilori and never make an appearance for the Reds? Possible, absolutely possible.
It’s also possible that he goes on to feature for Klopp at some point over the next however many years and render the £500k a bargain.
His ceiling is higher than Bogdan’s that’s how he edges the backup keeper and is similarly risk free. He beats the likes of Lovren, Markovic and others who contributed for the club as his deal wasn’t an albatross. As previously mentioned, he’s neither positive nor negative at this stage.
For those who haven’t seen, here’s some of his highlights.
Reminder: Assaidi looked good in a YouTube video.
Next: 16
16. Kolo Toure/free/Manchester City/July 2013
Kolo Toure smacks directly in the middle of this list as he’s exactly what Liverpool picked him up for.
Look at that face. His happiness is infectious. There’s a reason why such widespread love has followed him wherever he goes.
Toure was never going to revitalize the defense and he was never going to play every game. He was always going to be what he is: a great veteran presence in the dressing room and a rotation/emergency option in the heart of defense. He enjoyed his best moments as part of a trio of center halves when Rodgers switched to a 3-4-2-1.
Toure’s involuntary humor rating is absolutely off the charts. Even when he commits an error, even when it leads to a goal, I don’t get mad. It’s weird.
Meanwhile, Lovren can make a goal saving challenge and in the process have the ball roll out for a corner and fans will greet it with “oh for f–k’s sake, giving away another cheap corner.” Relativity, I suppose.
Toure is a walking GIF. That’s just not a quality manager’s can pull off on a free transfer. Got to give kudos for that.
Forza Kolo Toure.
Next: 15
15. Joe Allen/£15m/Swansea City/Aug 2012
Mid table + “meh” + “he’s alright” + “we didn’t pay that much for him” = Joe Allen. 100%.
Average personifies Allen. He’s been a servant to the club and does dirty work that typically goes unnoticed, but for £15million and “Welsh Xavi” tags, more must be expected.
Then window in which Allen arrived, Rodgers’ first crack at transfers in charge of Liverpool, this is who accompanied him: Assaidi, Borini, Sahin and Yesil. All players that are behind him on this list. He was meant to headline the bunch (as Sahin was just a loan). He didn’t do much to move the needle for his new club.
Allen is good enough for Liverpool but in a squad rotation capacity. He’s a great player for Swansea City or a club like that, not for Liverpool. It’s tough to justify his regular inclusion in lineups and he’s been unlucky with injuries.
The Welshman has passed the century mark of appearances for Liverpool in all competitions, 103 to be exact, and that’s an impressive feat.
Allen is what he is: a worker who carries out the mundane tasks on match day that makes it easier for players like Coutinho and Firmino to be successful. His ceiling isn’t so high and his floor isn’t so low. He’s a known commodity, and that’s not a bad thing.
Next: 14
14. Divock Origi/£10m/Lille/July 2014
I’m a believer in Divock Origi. As an 18-year-old he bullied his way to the forefront of minds and television screens with his performance in the 2014 World Cup. Then Liverpool bought him and, as a stipulation, loaned him right back to Lille for a year.
Origi was named in L’Equipe’s “worst XI of Ligue 1” and had a goal drought that overextended the winter.
The player has yet to score a competitive goal for Liverpool, though he is not in the team every single week.
Fans seem to forget he’s just 20. He’s got time to figure things out. Origi can play as striker or out wide on the wing which will hopefully lead to more appearances and chances to impress Klopp going forward.
Next: 13
13. James Milner/free/Manchester City/July 2015
Another player who signed on the free from Manchester City, Milner had the lofty heights of Kolo Toure to live up to.
All right, maybe not. Maybe I’m the only one who felt that.
Milner was made two promises before choosing Liverpool over a host of other suitors.
Brendan Rodgers would still be the manager
Milner would get to play centrally rather than on the wing
In October, Rodgers was relieved of his duties. Since, Milner has only played at right midfield for Klopp. To his credit, he hasn’t spoken out to the media about any frustrations. That’s admirable. No one would blame him for complaining as the only two things he was assured were reneged after three months.
Unfortunately for Milner, and why he’s 13th on this list and not higher, his quality has lacked this season. He always brings industry, work rate and character into the side but another player who did that was Fabio Borini. At Liverpool’s level, skill must coalesce with that engine to keep a slot in the first XI.
Milner could return to form and render this objective list meaningless (if it wasn’t already…). Sadly, it doesn’t appear that way for the Englishman right now.
At 29 going on 30, he doesn’t have that many years left at the top especially as his game relies heavily on physicality right now. That’s not to say he won’t be nor isn’t a good signing for Liverpool, there’s just a lot working against him right now.
Signing him on a free, there wasn’t too much risk in the move and Milner isn’t the kind of player that “risk” is typically associated with. You know who else was signed for a free and wasn’t a “risk”? Joe Cole.
Alright, Fabio Borini and Joe Cole are the two comparisons that’ve been made to James Milner in this slide and that’s just not fair. He’s better than both of those players and there’s hope that he’ll figure it out sooner rather than later.
Next: 12
12. Danny Ings/tribunal/Burnley/July 2015
Is it fair to say Danny Ings is the updated version of Fabio Borini?
Both are diminutive forwards whose work rates pervade the entire pitch, have a bit of pace to them but can lack in the high level quality expected at Liverpool Football Club.
When Ings signed, I feared for another Borini. Initially in his play it seemed his end product was superior to that of Borini’s but it’s unclear if it’s enough. When Klopp arrived, he tore his ACL. That’s very frustrating because Klopp never got to train him and Ings never got to really leave a good impression on his new manager.
Klopp doesn’t truly know what he has with Ings yet by way of ability but he knows he has a tenacious, tireless attacker.
Ings says he’ll be back stronger than ever and is strenuously pushing himself through rehab with the idea of returning towards the end of this season rather than next, as normal recovery for this injury goes. A loud FOH to the doctors.
His Liverpool career has seen him score three times in eight appearances which is impressive for a player who was asked, at times, to play as a wide midfielder as well as playing in an uninspired team that wasn’t creating many chances.
At Burnley, he scored a goal every other game in the year they got promoted to the Premier League, and then last year he scored a goal every third game in the league. Another respectable rate for a minnow in the league.
Next: 11
11. Joe Gomez/£6m/Charlton/July 2015
When Gomez was signed, the initial question most fans asked: who is Joe Gomez?
An 18-year-old center half from Charlton Athletic, that’s who. Gomez played in about half the games for Charlton in the Championship, so most thought he was destined to be loaned out. Rodgers thought so, too.
Then Brodg saw Gomez in training. And within two weeks when asked of his plans for Gomez for the season, Rodgers simply said “he’s staying here with the first team.”
And then the right footed 18-year-old center back made his Liverpool debut at Stoke City at left back. He was damn good, too. Gomez retained his place against Bournemouth in Liverpool’s 1-0 win with a trip to The Emirates looming.
The right footed 18-year-old center back started at left back at The Emirates against mighty Arsenal and played a big role in the 0-0 draw. Those three games solidified that Liverpool might’ve picked a gem from the Championship.
Rodgers was fired and just as Klopp was taking over, Gomez’ season ended with an ACL tear. Hugely disappointing for the player, putting his growth on hold for a year. Klopp never got to work with the youngster and Gomez never got to learn from the manager.
It’ll be interesting to see where he fits in next preseason when he returns to the team. Klopp may well buy a few defenders and Gomez may well get loaned out or pushed down the depth chart for no fault of his own.
He vows to return stronger and I certainly am not going to question him.
Next: 10
10. Adam Lallana/£25m/Southampton/July 2014
In his rise with Southampton from League One to his final season for the south coast club in the Premier League, Adam Lallana seemed a player primed for Liverpool and perfect for Brendan Rodgers. He is a creative attacking midfielder who had the elasticity to play across a multiple positions who was a confident dribbler on the ball.
Unfortunately, through injury and never really hitting consistent form, his first season at Anfield was a disappointment considering his price tag. This season, he’s looked much more consistent. Now he just needs to consistently raise his level to a place that’d better reflect his ability and sum spent on him.
King of the turn, Lallana is a tricky man on the ball. Like some others that’ve already featured on this list, his end product has lacked a bit. This year he’s scored a pair of goals in the Europa League but none in the Premier League. He plateaued at 13 goals in England’s top division in his final season at Southampton and he’s absolutely capable of repeating that number for Liverpool.
Lallana’s confidence seemed to dissipate last year and he still has yet to fully recover. The Englishman hasn’t really taken over a game in his time playing for Liverpool, something he’s more than capable of.
Next: 9
9. Roberto Firmino/£29m/Hoffenheim/July 2015
Roberto Firmino creeps past Lallana because it seems he has more room to grow and has a higher ceiling than Lallana does at the moment.
The Brazilian was pried away from Hoffenheim in the summer and was an arcane figure to most Liverpool fans. They quickly figured out he was starring alongside Coutinho in the Copa America for Brazil. That’s always a good sign.
They learned he was an attacking midfielder/false nine with the type of foot skills typically associated with Brazilians (who aren’t Lucas Leiva) as well as this knack for “hunting the ball” whilst out of possession.
Firmino’s hair is extravagant and questionable, a dichotomy of meticulous work yet a sense of lassitude with the idea of “yeah just let it go, whatever.”
The Brazilian endured a similar genesis to his Liverpool career as Lallana did: injury hampered inconsistency. However, after a sterling display at The Etihad in Liverpool’s belligerent, ruthless demolition of Manchester City 4-1, it’s evident why the money was spent on him.
He forced an own goal to open scoring, gift wrapped Coutinho with a tap in for the second goal as well as receiving a tap in of his own for the third. A footballing masterpiece.
Klopp will hope that match jumpstarts his form. If it does and that sort of display is semi-regular, Firmino will climb this list even with the huge amount of Money spent to bring him in.
Next: 8
8. Alberto Moreno/£12m/Sevilla/Aug 2014
Moreno was linked with Liverpool for a number of weeks and when he was dropped from the Super Cup squad in Wales against Real Madrid in August of 2014, Liverpool fans knew they got their man.
The young Spaniard is a player whose physical tools outweigh his footballing brain as his concentration in defense can let him down at times. He’s struggled against both Manchester clubs mightily.
But, the potential is there and in his second season at Liverpool his quality and consistency has risen. Moreno is lightning quick and a willing participant in the attack, something he does very well. Unlike Nathaniel Clyne, he can be exposed defensively without much resistance. Thankfully, his pace cleans up a lot of his errors or lapses.
His individual defending ability will come with his experience and development. For now, he’s the type of fullback Klopp will love. So long he keeps his form and improvements, Klopp won’t be required to find a new left back in the future.
Moreno is a fan favorite. His pace, smile and enthusiasm endear him to supporters that root hard for him to be a success at the club.
Next: 7
7. Emre Can/£10m/Leverkusen/July 2014
Can’s precarious position in the top 10 on this list is similar to Moreno. Both are young players who have had periods of form as well as falling upon hard times in their first season on Merseyside. Both arrived for modest fees in the low double digit of millions and each showed an improvement in the early goings of their second seasons.
The German earned plaudits across the league last year for his savvy play at central defender in a back three as well as stick for his opprobrious impersonation of a Premier League right fullback. To be fair, 2014 Glen Johnson as well as Javi Manquillo were the two men who he saw that season for the position, so it’s got to be understandable.
Oh, another reason it’s understandable? HE’S CLEARLY NOT A RIGHT FULLBACK. How would Joe Allen do at left back? Probably similar to Can at right back. The 20-year-old simply wasn’t well prepared to succeed in that role.
Can returned to the back three this season after Rodgers returned to that system until the Ulsterman exasperated the suits above him and was let go. Since Klopp came in, Can returned to the heart of midfield and has looked at home.
Klopp sees a future in Can, and the young German will learn from his compatriot.
Friendly reminder: he’s all of 21 years old.
Next: 6
6. Christian Benteke/£32.5m/Aston Villa/July 2015
Christian Benteke’s transfer fee is slightly bloated to be on the top six of this list, but, in this day in age, it’s a fair fee for a striker of his quality.
Before Benteke signed, I feared for Andy Carroll 2.0 but he’s proved to be so much more than that. His aerial mastery overshadows his complete ability, especially because Aston Villa’s game plan largely was “lump it to Benteke.”
The Belgian hasn’t slowed down the quick combination of Philippe Coutinho, Roberto Firmino and Adam Lallana, which was unfathomable to me when he signed. At 24-years-old, his best days are ahead of him.
His ranking at six is based on my expectations going forward rather than his current output after three months of being a red. It could go array, maybe his play doesn’t coalesce with Klopp well. Maybe Sturridge figures out his injury problems, Klopp sticks to his one striker system and Benteke plays second fiddle to Sturridge. Then he really does turn into Andy Carroll 2.0.
However, it’s more likely that if (IF) Sturridge figures out his injury crisis, Benteke and he could form a potent bond. Klopp seems the manager to adapt his formation to his players.
Benteke has the tools to be a prolific striker. He’s already proved his abilities in the league at Villa and his quality should only be accentuated by the move to Liverpool.
Next: 5
5. Simon Mignolet/£9m/Sunderland/June 2013
Signing a solid goalkeeper for £9million who has gone on to make 110 appearances for the team? Very good deal, that.
This would look a lot better had he not endured that run of games where he forgot how to kick a ball (Dejan Lovren sympathizes and understands.) The only bonus to that was the involuntary humor aspect of things. The season was already in dubious disappointment so when a goalkeeper allows a ball to roll to him as he backs up and loads for a clearance for 12 seconds as the ball rolls over the goal line, there’s nothing to do but laugh.
To his credit he’s steadied the ship and looked much, much better this season. Unfortunately, with the limitations in his games, is he a keeper for a title challenging side? It remains to be seen and that’s what Klopp will consider.
For a side like Sunderland, Mignolet is a great keeper. For a team with the expected quality as Liverpool is, he’s slightly overmatched at times.
He has rescued Liverpool on separate occasions. Mignolet certainly is a top tier shot stopper, it’s just the rest of his games that has a few holes.
All in all, this deal has to be looked at as a success. His tag was low and he has already passed the century mark of appearances. If he were to be moved on in the summer, the club would likely turn a slight profit.
Next: 4
4. Nathaniel Clyne/£12.5m/Southampton/Aug 2015
Clyne was the one player Liverpool needed to sign from Southampton in the summer that Lambert, Lovren and Lallana came in. But they didn’t. And the ghost of Glen Johnson had to play most games at right back until he was so abominable that Rodgers literally eliminated the role of right back and switched to a 3-4-2-1.
Liverpool returned to the Southampton well this season and got their man for relatively cheap. The 24-year-old appears as if he’ll be something between an above average and world class right fullback for Liverpool across the next seven or eight years.
I can’t wait.
His influence on the side cannot be understated. He’s consistent and is fully adept in attacking as well as defending. Clyne is a player who excels going forward, but if he was asked to defend 100% and never attack, he’d still be a very good fullback.
Liverpool are one Nathaniel Clyne injury away from catastrophe, I don’t think that’s brought up enough.
Firstly, losing Clyne would be losing one of their best and most consistent players. Over the course of his first few months on Merseyside, he’s been the most reliable.
Secondly, look who’s behind him? Keep looking. No one. Connor Randall and Can are the two backup right fullbacks. If Can’s name is genuinely listed there after his Glen Johnson circa 2014 displays at right back, that’s an awful scenario.
Klopp will Jon Flanagan to return and stay fit or find a backup fullback in the transfer market. Until then, Clyne must preserve his health.
Next: 3
3. Mamadou Sakho/£15m/PSG/Sep 2013
Sakho’s ability places him here. His Liverpool resume doesn’t, though that’s down to how Rodgers continued to ferhoodle Sakho and Lovren. For some reason when writing the team sheet, he continually misspelled “Sakho” as “Lovren”. Weird mistake that.
Due to injuries and the aforementioned identity crisis, Sakho hasn’t amassed a season in which he’s appeared in half of Liverpool’s league games. In his first season he had 18 league appearances and last year he had just 16. This season, thanks to Klopp’s arrival, he had already piled 7 before his injury.
Sakho’s general combative appearance, appearing to be manufactured from a brick warehouse blueprint, leaves the impression that he’s a liability when Liverpool are on the ball. His clunky pass delivery causes him to fail the eye test. But, he has the temerity to attempt back heels and other deceptive tactics typically associated with the attacking third as well as the ability to complete them, he is certainly anything but a liability when Liverpool are in possession.
The man has played possessed by the ghost of Paulo Maldini’s playing career since Klopp took over. Literally the only foot he put wrong was the one that caused his awkward landing and knee injury.
Klopp certainly has one position nailed down going forward as he decides which of the incumbent players make the cut: a left sided center back.
Next: 2
2. Daniel Sturridge/£12m/Chelsea/January 2013
There’s a story of Sturridge’s transfer that follows the lines of Liverpool had a deal to sign him the summer prior to his arrival but Rodgers didn’t want him. Then, over the winter in an attempt to mollify his bosses, he agreed to take on the striker.
Remonstrators for Rodgers’ transfer ability typically point to Sturridge and the man atop this list as the reasons why he can be trusted with a lump sum of cash. If that story about him being worn down into reluctantly accepting Sturridge is true, that’s hugely unfortunate for his transfer portfolio.
The 26-year-old has scored 42 goals in his 70 appearances for Liverpool (as of November 23) a truly prolific rate stunted by injuries.
Sturridge himself could’ve found himself at the summit of this list but he is much too oft-injured. When fit he’s one of the league’s best strikers; he genuinely could have a place near Sergio Aguero.
Unfortunately that ability is regularly shackled to the treatment table and VIP Box in the stands rather than dancing the night away on the pitch due to his frangible muscles.
There are many reasons to love Daniel Sturridge: the dancing, his genial smile, his silk finishing ability and his mesmerizing pace but he genuinely loves Liverpool Football Club. He genuinely loves his teammates and the bromance between he and Jordon Ibe is beautiful. He’s taken Ibe under his wing an he did the same with Raheem Sterling. That absolutely contributed to Sterling’s success and (slight) maturity.
Sturridge is the kind of player management wants at a football club. For fans of the beautiful game and Liverpool supporters alike, the hope is his injury history may finally subside. Unlikely, but hopeful.
Next: 1
1. Philippe Coutinho/£8.5m/Inter Milan/January 2013
Number one was always going to be the magician.
January 2013, what a transfer window: Coutinho and Sturridge in for around £20million. It almost makes up for the other egregious errors. Almost.
Coutinho’s brilliance cannot be summed up in statistical matters, but for all the criticism he got for not scoring enough, a rate of 18 goals in the league from 93 appearances is a decent return for a so-called weakness. That number seems primed to jump: he’s already equaled his goal total in 2014-15 as he amounted in each of 2012-13 and 2013-14 and it’s only November.
His pure class is what landed him here as well as his incredible bargain of a transfer deal. The value Liverpool have gotten from the Brazilian is unmatched. He’s got to be worth AT LEAST £40million nowadays and that’s a conservative estimate for the 23-year-old.
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When Coutinho is on the ball, it’s must watch television. The artistry and complete obedience the ball display whilst under his spell is magnificent to watch.
The only knock on Coutinho is that Liverpool fans are conditioned to watching their best players leave over the past few years. Klopp must stop that trend, starting with Coutinho.