Brendan Rodgers, alongside the much maligned transfer committee he was a part of, signed 31 players during his stint in charge of Liverpool at a cost of £291m.
He recouped £200m through player sales as well, but that’s irrelevant in terms of the direct on-field contributions of the players signed under his stewardship.
We’ve listed the players chronologically, in terms of when Rodgers brought them to the club, and rated them HIT, MISS, or TOO SOON TO JUDGE based on their contributions in comparison to their transfer fee.
2012/13:
Fabio Borini – £10.4m – MISS
Two Premier League goals in three seasons. We did brilliantly to get some money back for him.
Joe Allen – £15m – MISS
Not good enough for the money spent on him. Will be interesting to see if he’ll have a role under a new manager.
Oussama Assaidi – £3m – MISS
Not Liverpool quality.
Nuri Sahin – Loan – MISS
Very good player, poorly used under Rodgers – who tried to play him at no.10 when he’s always been a no.6.
Samed Yesil – £1m – MISS
Never going to make it at Liverpool.
Daniel Sturridge – £12m – HIT
A brilliant, swashbuckling striker, who bar injuries, would be recognised as world-class.
Coutinho – £8.5m – HIT
Our best player, who has the potential to be anything he wants. In terms of skill and talent he has absolutely everything, and when he fulfils it more consistently, Barcelona and Real Madrid will come knocking.
2013/14:
Luis Alberto – £6.8m – MISS
Currently shipped out on loan after failing to make the Anfield grade.
Iago Aspas – £7m – MISS
Tearing up tress back in La Liga, Aspas was comically bad in England.
Simon Mignolet – £9m – MISS
Despite a good clean-sheet record and the ability to make superb shaves, Mignolet is just too inconsistent and doesn’t instil confidence in his defence.
Kolo Toure – FREE – HIT
A solid backup option, which was all he was ever supposed to be.
Aly Cissokho – LOAN – MISS
Arguably the worst left-back we’ve had in the Premier League era.
Mamadou Sakho – £15m – HIT
Loved by the fans, Sakho’s a powerhouse centre-back who many think should be vice-captain. Our best defender.
Tiago Ilori – £7m – MISS
Has never played one minute of first-team football for Liverpool. Currently on loan at Aston Villa – not playing there either.
Victor Moses – LOAN – MISS
A miss, but not a costly one as he was only borrowed.
2014/15:
Rickie Lambert – £4.5m – MISS
A ridiculously unambitious signing after selling Luis Suarez. Not good enough.
Adam Lallana – £25m – MISS
Lallana’s a good player, one of our most talented in fact, but he’s not going to prove worth of his mad price-tag.
Emre Can – £9.75m – HIT
Despite a relatively poor start to this season, Can starts for Germany and has at least doubled his market value.
Lazar Markovic – £19.8m –TOO SOON TO JUDGE
Shipped out on loan after one poor season, Markovic could come good under a new boss.
Dejan Lovren – £20m – MISS
It’s unfathomable to think the blunder happy stopper is one of the most expensive centre-backs of all time.
Divock Origi – £9.8m – TOO SOON TO JUDGE
Talented but incredibly raw. Needs huge work on his finishing if he’s ever going to make it as a striker.
Javier Manquillo – LOAN – MISS
Loan deal cut short. Not up top scratch.
Alberto Moreno – £12m – HIT
Defensively suspect, but has enough ability and is young enough to be a genuine asset on the left flank, be it in defence or midfield, for the foreseeable.
Mario Balotelli – £16m – MISS
Not the most expensive, but the most famous transfer blunder in recent seasons. He did so badly last term that we’re paying half his wages despite the fact he’s playing for AC Milan on loan.
2015/16:
Joe Gomez – £6m – HIT
Has already done enough to suggest his fee’s going to be a serious bargain. A truly exciting young prospect.
Adam Bogdan – FREE – HIT
A hit in that he’s better than Brad Jones and was free.
Danny Ings – TRIBUNAL – HIT
Won’t cost much and looks like the new Dirk Kuyt. Leaves nothing out on the field, but isn’t necessarily of elite level, or ever will be.
James Milner – FREE – TOO SOON TO JUDGE
Great experience and work-rate in midfield, but no Steven Gerrard. The fact he was free means he’ll likely end up a success overall.
Nathaniel Clyne – £12m – HIT
For the money Clyne will prove a success at right-back. England’s first-choice and unlike Glen Johnson, defensively sound.
Roberto Firmino – £29m – TOO SOON TO JUDGE
A worryingly poor start for the Brazilian who’s also been badly affected by an injury. But Jurgen Klopp knows just how good he is from the Bundesliga.
Christian Benteke – £32.5m – TOO SOON TO JUDGE
Has scored a few goals and looked unstoppable in the air. Let’s hope he works well under the new manager.
