5 worst January signings in Liverpool history

Liverpool seem to be one of many Premier League clubs with little to no activity in the ongoing January transfer window.

While most marquee signings take place in the summer transfer window, Liverpool have signed some big names in January. From Virgil van Dijk to Luis Suarez, many current and former superstars were purchased by Liverpool in January. However, not all their January signings have been successful.

Players signed in January are often brought in to act as backups for departed or injured players. Although players brought in January play a small role in their first season, they are usually forgotten figures come the summer transfer window.

The winter transfer window comes in the middle of the season and is shorter than the one in the summer. Clubs have very little time to find the best players suited to their needs. Hence, clubs, including Liverpool, tend to make poor decisions while finding alternatives.

On that note, here’s a look at the five worst January signings made by Liverpool over the years:

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#5 Scott Carson (Champions League winner with Liverpool)

Carling Cup: Crystal Palace vs Liverpool

The 36-year-old goalkeeper played second fiddle to Jerzy Dudek during the mid-2000s. Scott Carson never really made an impact during his time with Liverpool, playing only nine times for them.

Surprisingly, Carson is a Champions League and Premier League winner. He won the UEFA Champions League with the Reds during his first year at the club (2005). He currently earns his bread at Manchester City, where he has won a Premier League medal.

Carson won’t be remembered for his time at Liverpool or Manchester City. However, he will be glad to have been part of Champions League and Premier League-winning teams.

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#4 Ben Davies

Ben Davies didn’t play a single game for Liverpool.

Ben Davies was signed as a backup player in last season’s January window. With Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez and Joel Matip out injured, Liverpool were extremely light in central defence. Hence Jurgen Klopp signed Davies from Preston as cover.

He was a key player at Preston, and was keen to impress in the Premier League. However, the Englishman never got to showcase his talents at Anfield, as he never played a game for the club.

With the signing of Ibrahima Konate and all other centre-backs fit again, Ben Davies is essentially Liverpool’s sixth or seventh-choice centre-back currently. He has been loaned out to Sheffield United.

#3 Marko Grujic

Liverpool vs Hull City - Premier League

Former Liverpool midfielder Marko Grujic had all the ingredients to be the next big thing in the Premier League. Technically gifted and commanding in the air, Grujic was compared with Nemanja Matic in his native Serbia.

Grujic was purchased by Klopp for £6.30 million months before his 20th birthday. However, he went on several loan moves to clubs like Hertha Berlin and Cardiff City. A star at youth level, he wasn’t able to have a similar impact in senior football for club or country.

Still only 25, Grujic recently left Liverpool, and is currently playing for FC Porto in the Primeira Liga. Had he realised his potential, Liverpool would have not spent £19.8 million on Thiago Alcantara last season, and Grujic would have been partnering Fabinho and Jordan Henderson.

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#2 Fernando Morientes

UEFA Champions League: Liverpool vs Benfica

Fernando Morientes was signed by Liverpool from Real Madrid for a fee of £8.33 million. The Spanish striker netted 100 goals in 272 games for Real Madrid. However, his disappointing spell at Liverpool resulted in just 12 goals in 61 games.

Despite winning a couple of trophies with the Reds, Morientes was a flop in the Premier League. He was shipped back to Valencia after just 18 months in England. He had a decent career in Spain, but his time at Liverpool was forgettable.

Morientes was particularly disappointing in the Premier League, scoring just eight goals in 41 outings. These were pretty underwhelming numbers for someone who scored 27 international goals in 47 games.

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#1 Andy Carroll

Liverpool vs Everton FA Cup Semi-Final

Andy Carroll is arguably Liverpool’s worst signing of all time, and ranks high among the most atrocious January signings in Premier League history. Brought in as a replacement for the departing Fernando Torres, Carroll flattered to deceive big time.

Liverpool were set back £36.9 million in their pursuit of a number 9. However, Carroll scored just 11 goals in 58 games for the Merseyside club. Just like Morientes, Carroll’s Premier League record (six goals in 44 games) left a lot to be desired.

Carroll’s strike partner Luis Suarez was signed in the same transfer window for a considerably lower transfer fee. While Suarez turned out to be a splendid piece of business, Carroll was at the other end of the spectrum.