Who’s been the best, and who’s been the worst…?
It’s not looking like we’ll spend big money this January, but since 2007, we’ve actually splashed out over £15m on 15 different players!
Here’s how we’ve rated them all out of 10, including five players who are still currently with the club.
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15) Mamadou Sakho – £15m from PSG in 2013 – 6/10 (Still a Liverpool player)
The powerhouse French centre-back has every chance of improving this rating, providing he stays fit, and keeps his spot in the side. Sakho’s virtually unbeatable in the air, and despite an ungainly style, is actually a very good passer of the football, too. (Even if his technique is a little unorthodox…) Aged 24, he’s nowhere near his defensive peak, and after he returned from injury this term, our back-line has seriously improved.
14) Joe Allen – £15m from Swansea in 2012 – 4/10
Often judged by the misguided ‘Welsh Xavi’ label given to him by Brendan Rodgers (how the coach must wish he’d never said that…), Allen has been an at best reliable performer since his arrival. Rodgers rates him more than most fans do because of his ability to tick over possession, but supporters see an easily bullied midfielder who doesn’t create opportunities for teammates. At times in 2013/14 though, Allen showed us glimpses of what he can offer, but he’s been shoddy during this more difficult campaign.
13) Mario Balotelli – £16m from AC Milan in 2014 – 3/10 (Still a Liverpool player)
The Italian’s woes have been heavily, heavily publicised this term, and while reports are often hyperbolic and unhelpful – the facts remain the same – he’s yet to score a Premier League goal. His talent is simply unquestionable however, and although his attributes don’t necessarily suit our style, for £16m, you can see why we took the gamble. Perhaps Balotelli can start proving his worth when Daniel Sturridge returns to the side, and the 24-year-old has a genuine strike partner. If he doesn’t, he could move on in the summer.
12) Jordan Henderson – £16m from Sunderland in 2011 – 8/10
The way Henderson’s turned his Liverpool career around is extremely admirable. Next term he’ll be the club captain aged 25, which considering the fact he was once the subject of ridicule from the Anfield terraces, is all the more impressive. Henderson’s will to win, his incomparable work-rate and his never-ending pressing make him a formidable opponent for any Premier League midfielder. Let’s hope his influence continues to grow as he takes the armband in the summer.
11) Alberto Aquilani – £17.1m from Roma in 2009 – 2/10
The man charged with replacing Xabi Alonso simply didn’t cut the mustard, but the club arguably didn’t give him the chances to, either. We signed him when he was crocked, and because of his price-tag, the Italian was rushed back, but failed to deal with the pace of the Premier League. One season after arriving, in probably one of the most bizarre Liverpool transfers in recent memory – we loaned him to Juventus, but spent £5m on their past-it midfielder Christian Poulsen in return. Aquilani didn’t play for us again, and moved to Fiorentina permanently after two further loan spells. A big waste of money.
10) Glen Johnson – £17.5m from Portsmouth in 2009 – 5/10
The story of Johnson’s Liverpool career is pretty black and white. Excellent going forward, a liability in defence. Even as he’s matured, defensive lapses have clouded what he can undoubtedly offer in attack. He’s currently one of our highest paid players, and he’ll be released in the summer as a result, with the club hierarchy not prepared to meet his wage demands anymore.
9) Stewart Downing – £18.5m from Aston Villa in 2011 – 3/10
Downing went his first season as a Liverpool player without a Premier League goal or an assist, despite turning out 36 times. For an £18.5m winger, that’s pretty unforgivable, and the fans turned against him as a result. He put in some tidy performances after winning a place back off Suso under Brendan Rodgers, but the Northern Irish boss was happy to sell him to West Ham in summer 2013 for a £12m loss.
8) Javier Mascherano – £18.6m from West Ham (owned by Kia Joorabchian) in 2008 – 8/10
A brilliant signing, and still one of the best defensive midfielders in world football. At one point – Mascherano formed part of the trio Liverpool fans regarded as the best midfield on the planet alongside Xabi Alonso and Steven Gerrard. The Argentine forced a move to Barcelona in 2010, and our former boss Roy Hodgson recently named him as the world’s best player in the 2014 Ballon d’Or voting! He’s not quite that good – but we’d absolutely love him back at Anfield.
7) Robbie Keane – £19m from Tottenham in 2008 – 3/10
It’s easy to forget that Keane played for Liverpool, as his Anfield spell lasted just six forgettable months, before he was sent back to Tottenham for a £6m loss. It’s hard to entirely blame the legendary Irishman for his failure though, as at the time – our set-up simply didn’t suit him. We had Steven Gerrard playing in behind Fernando Torres, and there was no room for Keane in the formation.
6) Lazar Markovic – £19.8m from Benfica in 2014 – 5/10 (Still a Liverpool player)
A month back, the Serbian would have been lucky to get a 3/10, but thankfully, he’s suddenly started to show his huge talent, and is justifying the lofty fee spent on him. Versus Sunderland last time out, the 20-year-old bamboozled the Back Cats defence consistently from an unnatural wing-back role, and showed he has dribbling and finishing to match his searing pace. Very promising, Markovic.
5) Dejan Lovren – £20m from Southampton in 2014 – 3/10 (Still a Liverpool player)
There’s no point over-analysing the Croat’s start to life at Liverpool. In short, he’s been dreadful, but it’s important to remember that he didn’t set the £20m price-tag, and he DID prove in 2013/14 with Southampton that he can it in the Premier League. He’s out of the side right now, and hopefully the break will do him good. Liverpool fans shouldn’t give up on him yet.
4) Fernando Torres – £20.2m from Atletico Madrid in 2007 – 9/10
Whatever you think of Torres following his decision to leave and join Chelsea for a then British record £50m, no fans will deny that during his time with us, Torres was jaw-droppingly good. Frightening pace, majestic finishing and a sublime relationship with Steven Gerrard saw him plunder 33 goals in his first season, and he would have bettered 17 in his second and 22 in his third had injuries not curtailed his progress. In the end, the fee we received for Torres was great business, and we should remember the good times first and foremost.
3) Luis Suarez – £22.8m from Ajax in 2011 – 9.5/10
Suarez isn’t getting the perfect 10/10, for three reasons: His racism and biting controversies seriously damaged our reputation, he openly, continually wanted to leave the club, and we didn’t win us the title last season. But he’s still getting 9.5/10, because in terms of sheer, God-given talent, Suarez is peerless in terms of Liverpool Premier League striking talent – and that includes Robbie Fowler, Michael Owen and Torres. It could be a long, long time before we ever see a player of Suarez’s calibre in a red shirt.
2) Adam Lallana – £25m from Southampton in 2014 – 6/10 (Still at the club)
The English playmaker is our second most expensive signing of all-time, and while we probably overpaid for the 26-year-old’s services, he’s done some great things in a Liverpool shirt already. Lovely goals versus West Brom and Swansea have signified his talent, and he’s thrived when deployed in his natural central role. Lallana will work his socks off for us, and provided injuries don’t continue to keep him out of action, he’s going to be a great asset.
1) Andy Carroll – £35m from Newcastle in 2011 – 1/10
Andy Carroll comes across as a very humble, genuine chap, but (as even he’ll probably admit), he’s never been a £35m striker. We spent the majority of our £50m Torres windfall on Newcastle’s powerhouse, who scored six Premier League goals in 46 Liverpool appearances in total. We did well to eventually secure £15m for his services, and he’s showed at West Ham, that they arguably wasted their money on him too.
