Liverpool’s 6-1 defeat to Stoke City: Where are they now

Emre Can

Emre Can was the worst player on the pitch that day and had to be substituted off at half-time. He was forced to play out-of-position at full-back, which was clearly not his best position.

Luckily, Klopp’s arrival turned out to be a blessing for the midfielder. He had a brilliant 2015-16 campaign and was instrumental in the Reds’ Europa League run. His performances earned him the honor of Liverpool’s Young Player of the Year.

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Although his next season wouldn’t be as spectacular, he ended up scoring a stunner against Watford that contributed greatly to Liverpool’s Champions League ambitions.

Can would continue to be a regular in the first team for the remainder of his Liverpool career. However, there was always speculation of a transfer. His inevitable exit came in the summer of 2018 where he left for Juventus after running down his contract. T

he German midfielder would fail to make his mark in Turin and was a regular on the bench by his second season. He was then loaned off to Borussia Dortmund where has impressed enough to earn him a permanent deal with Die Borussen for €25 million.

Martin Skrtel

The Slovakian was a part of the poor backline against Stoke City and probably should have probably gotten sent off that day. However, he was still rewarded with a long-term in the following summer.

Unfortunately for Skrtel, he never got it going under Klopp the following season and his situation worsened after suffering a torn muscle fiber. When he returned, the Slovakian center-back was out of favor for Dejan Lovren and Mamadou Sakho. So, he was sold to Fenerbahce for £5.5 million in the summer.

In Turkey, Skrtel was successful and earned himself transfer rumors back to England and even an offer from Barcelona that he reportedly turned down. Eventually, he got a move to Atalanta, but only lasted a mere three weeks. He had trouble adapting to the fast-paced style of the Italian side and had his contract terminated by mutual agreement. Now, he has returned to Turkey playing for Istanbul Basaksehir.

Mamadou Sakho

The Frenchman was a favorite among the Kopites at that time. His cult status with the club would be cemented after the arrival of Jurgen Klopp. Sakho went on to become a regular starter and was even the first-ever Player of the Month in the Klopp era. He also played a sizeable role in Liverpool’s miraculous Europa League run.

However, everything started going downhill shortly after as it was discovered that Sakho tested positive for using a banned fat burner. This resulted in the Frenchman being suspended for the rest of the season, missing out on the crucial Europa League final. Though, he was cleared of all charges the following summer.

When the center-back returned, he quickly fell out of favor with Klopp. Their relationship was strained due to the Frenchman’s disciplinary issues, leading to a demotion to the u23s. He would then be loaned out to Crystal Palace that following winter, where he ended up signing a permanent deal for £26 million. Sakho’s career in London has been constantly interrupted by injuries, but he has been solid when he is able to play.

Alberto Moreno

The defeat to Stoke capped off a disappointing debut season for the Spaniard. Unfortunately, Moreno’s time with Liverpool wouldn’t get much better.

He started the following season playing backup to 18-year-old Joe Gomez, but eventually, he got his chance when the Englishman went down with an injury. Moreno showed promise going forward, but always lacked ability when it came to the defensive end—which was clear in the Europa League final.

The Spaniard lost his starting job to James Milner the following season, though he managed to earn it back the season after. Even though he was solid during this run, it was evident that Andrew Robertson was the better option, so Moreno returned to his spot on the bench. The Spanish fullback rode out of the rest of his contract as a substitute and signed with Villareal in the summer of 2019. There, Moreno has been riddled with injuries but shows signs of promise whenever he is fit.