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Like many of their counterparts in the Premier League big-six, Liverpool have often blown hot and cold in the transfer market over the past decade. While the Reds have made more than a few missteps over the years, the upward trajectory of their fortunes has largely been a direct result of their impressive exploits in the transfer market.
Liverpool have come a long way from their difficult campaigns and transfer mishaps ten years ago and while there still are a few mountains to climb, the Merseyside giants' sound sporting project has made them a force to reckon with. The Reds have won a UEFA Champions League title and an unprecedented Premier League title over the past three years and have restored their status as a bonafide English behemoth.
Under Jurgen Klopp, Liverpool have assembled one of the most dangerous attacking forces in Europe. The Reds have also made shrewd additions to their defence and have built a formidable squad.
Liverpool have undergone a renaissance under Jurgen Klopp and many of their high-profile transfers have worked wonders for them in the recent past. Here is a list of the ten most expensive transfer acquisitions in Liverpool's illustrious history.
#10 Andy Carroll (£36.8 million)
Liverpool have had their fair share of misfortune in the transfer market and the arrival of Andy Carroll is arguably an ideal testament to the fact. To his credit, Andy Carroll did have a sensational campaign with Newcastle United the previous year, scoring 11 goals in only 20 appearances in what was his breakthrough year.
Liverpool broke the bank to secure the English hitman's services and Carroll was tasked with filling the massive boots of Anfield favourite Fernando Torres. Andy Carroll did have his moments with the Merseyside club but was unable to build on a reputation that he had so easily manufactured with the Magpies.
After a series of goal droughts and high-profile misses that saw the English striker draw the wrath of a furious fanbase, Liverpool decided to part ways with Andy Carroll in 2012. Carroll played a pivotal role in Liverpool's near-successful FA Cup campaign in the 2011-12 season and played a role in the club's transition.
#9 Roberto Firmino (£36.8 million)
Roberto Firmino has been one of Liverpool's most important players over the past few years. While the Brazilian forward's numbers have attracted several skeptics, Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp swears by Firmino's importance to the team and continues to place his faith in the former Hoffenheim star.
Firmino has formed an excellent relationship with both Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane and has played a key role in their prolific exploits in the past few years. The Brazilian has been employed in a false-nine role by Jurgen Klopp and his vision and trickery make him the perfect foil for Liverpool's more explosive strikers.
The Selecao forward has not been at his best this season with his numbers dwindling further in the Premier League. The addition of Diogo Jota to Liverpool's roster has also limited Firmino's playing time. With Jurgen Klopp's backing and a well-defined role, however, Roberto Firmino is set to remain an important asset to the Liverpool squad.
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#8 Sadio Mane (£37.08 million)
Liverpool's decision to bring Sadio Mane to the club has been, in hindsight, a masterstroke. The Senegalese forward was one of the first high-profile arrivals to the club under Jurgen Klopp and has become an integral part of one of the most lethal trios in world football.
Sadio Mane can be devastating at his best and has proved his mettle against some of the best teams in the Premier League. The former Southampton man did cost Liverpool a considerable fee in 2016 but has justified his price tag with a number of excellent performances.
Mane has become one of Jurgen Klopp's most reliable players over the years and is a fan favourite at Anfield. The pacy winger is going through a lean patch at the moment but his abundance of talent and skills is sure to see him through a difficult period.
#7 Mohamed Salah (£37.8 million)
Mohamed Salah was a fringe player at Chelsea a few years ago and his extraordinary rise in the Premier League has been nothing short of remarkable. The Egyptian winger has written himself into Liverpool folklore with his goalscoring exploits in recent seasons and has become a bonafide Anfield legend.
Liverpool shelled out nearly £38 million to sign Mohamed Salah from AS Roma and the talented winger has been worth every penny. The Egyptian star came into his own in the 2017/18 season and scored an astonishing 32 goals in the Premier League.
Salah became the third-fastest player to surpass 100 goals for Liverpool in the club's history and has played an integral role in the club's success under Jurgen Klopp. The Liverpool speedster can singlehandedly win matches on his day and his performances will be crucial to Jurgen Klopp's future at the club.
#6 Diogo Jota (£40.23 million)
Liverpool's embarrassment of riches in the final third gave skeptics reason to question Jurgen Klopp's decision to sign Diogo Jota in the summer transfer window last year. The Portuguese starlet was an exciting prospect at Wolverhampton Wanderers but was far from the finished article before he joined Liverpool.
Diogo Jota's stunning form this season, however, has vindicated Liverpool's decision to invest in the youngster. The former Wolves forward has scored 12 goals in only 16 starts for Liverpool this season and has added a discernible spark to his side's struggling forward line.
Jota has missed much of the season through injury and his absence has been felt on the pitch. The Portuguese prodigy has had a massive influence on Liverpool's game and will need to be at his best to salvage the remainder of his team's Premier League campaign.
#5 Fabinho (£40.5 million)
Fabinho made a name for himself in Europe with one of the best AS Monaco sides in history and secured a transfer to Liverpool for a fee of £40.5 million. The Brazilian midfielder took his time to adapt to Jurgen Klopp's methods and is now a pivotal part of the Liverpool squad.
Fabinho possesses a unique blend of tenacity and creativity and his work-rate makes him the ideal fit for Liverpool's midfield. Alongside the likes of Jordan Henderson and Georginio Wijnaldum, Fabinho has become one of Jurgen Klopp's trusted midfield generals over the past two years.
Like many of his teammates, Fabinho has suffered his fair share of injuries and has not been able to play much of a part in Liverpool's title defence. The former Monaco midfielder has an impressive array of skills and will be an important player for Liverpool in the coming years.
Also Read: Top 10 attacking trios in football history
#4 Christian Benteke (£41.85 million)
Liverpool have made their fair share of errors in the transfer market since the turn of the century and Christian Benteke's signing is likely to remain an unfortunate decision. The Belgian striker cost Liverpool a fortune and was unable to hit his peak at the club.
Benteke joined Liverpool from Aston Villa in 2015 and was an important part of the Merseyside giants' forward line under Brendan Rodgers. The striker did not inspire confidence in the Anfield faithful, however, and failed to make a long-term impact on Liverpool's fortunes.
After a difficult year at Liverpool, Benteke moved to Crystal Palace for a fee of £27 million. The striker did give the Kop a glorious overhead kick against arch-rivals Manchester United but his stint at Liverpool remains a misguided decision for both the player and the club.
#3 Naby Keita (£54 million)
Naby Keita was an excellent player for RB Leipzig and his impeccable performances in the Bundesliga attracted the attention of Jurgen Klopp and Liverpool. The Reds spent a whopping £54 million to bring Naby Keita to the Premier League.
Keita took nearly a year to adjust to Jurgen Klopp's high-octane playing style but his performances have started paying dividends over the past year. The Guinean midfielder has excellent box-to-box abilities and his turn of pace makes him a formidable opponent.
Naby Keita has won both the Premier League and the UEFA Champions League with Liverpool and has been an important player in the squad. With Keita in their ranks, Liverpool can potentially dominate midfield battles in England for years to come.
#2 Alisson Becker (£56.25 million)
Liverpool have had their fair share of issues with goalkeepers over the years and have often lost matches and trophies because of a few individual errors. The Reds were in desperate need of a world-class shot-stopper and decided to invest heavily in AS Roma's Alisson Becker in 2018.
Alisson is arguably one of the best goalkeepers in the world at the moment and his presence on the pitch has solidified Liverpool's defence. The Brazilian star oozes confidence between the sticks and his saves have bailed his team out of trouble on several occasions.
Alisson played a pivotal role in Liverpool's UFEA Champions League triumph in 2019 and pulled off impressive displays against both Barcelona and Tottenham Hotspur. The shot-stopper is one of the most well-rounded players in his position and has been integral to Liverpool's achievements under Jurgen Klopp.
#1 Virgil van Dijk (£76.19 million)
Virgil van Dijk has been nothing short of a messiah for Liverpool. The former Southampton man has revolutionised the Reds' fortunes and transformed a much-maligned Liverpool defence into one of the most impressive back-lines in Europe over the course of a single season.
Van Dijk's massive price tag earned Jurgen Klopp his fair share of detractors in 2017 but the Dutchman has managed to prove his worth to an extraordinary extent. With Van Dijk marshalling their defence, Liverpool stormed their way to the UEFA Champions League and the Premier League in successive seasons under Jurgen Klopp.
Virgil van Dijk's importance to Liverpool has been further emphasised by his absence through injury this season. Liverpool have suffered several calamities without their inspirational defensive leader and have succumbed to an injury crisis that would have otherwise been a blip on their radar with Van Dijk available for selection. The Dutch centre-back is one of the best defenders in the world in his prime and his return will be crucial to Liverpool's future.
Also Read: 10 most expensive transfers in Arsenal history
