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Liverpool has been the home of some amazing players over the years, many of whom have helped the side win some of the game's top prizes in history. With a mix of quality English and foreign players, the football on offer at Anfield has always been high quality.
Over time, players decline and new stars enter the team to replace them. Some players, such as legends Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher, adapted their game and retired at the club. However, most could not keep up with the competition at Liverpool, and left for more game-time at other clubs as chances became harder to find.
Some went on to play in lower leagues or other countries, whilst others remain playing at some of Liverpool's rival clubs in the Premier League.
Jurgen Klopp has overhauled most of the players in the starting XI at the club, but many players that starred for the Reds in years gone by have not hung up their boots just yet. Today, let's look at 7 former Liverpool players who are still playing!
Pepe Reina
After eight seasons as Liverpool's number one, Reina went to Napoli on loan in the 2013-14 season, where he was reunited with former manager Rafa Benitez who signed him for Liverpool in 2005. Reina was impressive at Napoli as his world-class form continued, winning the 2014 Coppa Italia.
On 8 August 2014, Liverpool confirmed that Reina had transferred to German champions Bayern Munich. Signing a three-year deal, Reina became unsettled at the German side, returning to Napoli on a full transfer on a three-year deal in 2015.
On 15 May 2018, it was announced that Reina would move to Italian rivals AC Milan. The deal was officialized on 2 July 2018 and he signed a three-year contract with the Rossoneri.
Glen Johnson
England's first choice right-back in years gone by, Johnson's career declined rapidly after 2013 and he moved to Stoke in 2015 for more playing time. He made his debut for Stoke on 9 August 2015 in a 1–0 defeat against his former club Liverpool.
Johnson was Mark Hughes' first choice at right-back, but a season-ending knee injury dramatically decreased his playing time, a setback which Johnson never really fully recovered from. Towards the end of the campaign, Stoke suffered from a loss of form and Hughes cited Johnson's absence as one of the main reasons.
Last season, Johnson's form continued to worsen as he made a mere 10 appearances for Stoke as the Midlands side were relegated to the EFL Championship. He has yet to play in the 2018-19 season.
Martin Skrtel
After an impressive eight-and-a-half years with Liverpool, where he played 319 official games and scored 18 goals, Skrtel joined Fenerbahçe. He was a first-team player at Liverpool, regularly playing in the first XI. He has been named Slovak footballer of the year four times.
On July 14th 2016, Skrtel signed for Fenerbahçe for £5 million. He played well in his first season, starting 31 games and scoring 2 goals. In the summer of 2017, it was rumoured that Skrtel may return to the Premier League, with Swansea, Stoke and Newcastle all interested. However, he later dismissed these rumours and has since remained at the Turkish champions.
Javier Mascherano
The most capped Argentinian player of all time, Javier Mascherano played 94 times in 3 years for Liverpool. Returning from the World Cup in 2010, he reportedly told Roy Hodgson that he wanted to leave the club, much to the disappointment of many Reds fans.
On 28 August 2010, Mascherano agreed terms on a four-year contract with Barcelona for €24 million, going on to play 203 times for the Catalans as a vital member of Pep Guardiola's unbeatable Barca side. On 26 April 2017, Mascherano scored his first goal for Barcelona, a penalty kick in a La Liga match against Osasuna.
Although he originally signed a contract to stay at the Nou Camp until 2019, Mascherano joined Chinese club Hebei China Fortune on the 24th of January 2018. He scored his first goal for the club in a Chinese FA Cup match, and remains at the club.
Joe Allen
Playing 91 times at Liverpool over four years at the club, Joe Allen was a very reliable player, favoured by Brendan Rodgers. However, Allen found himself sparse of first-team opportunities by 2016 and made the move to Stoke on a five-year contract for a reported £13 million transfer fee, where he became a key player for the former Premier League outfit.
In his time at Stoke, he has played 78 games in the Premier League and EFL Championship, scoring 7 goals. Following relegation, Allen said he would be willing to stay with the club. Allen signed a new four-year contract with the Potters in June 2018.
He was also a key player in the Wales squad that made it to the Euro 2016 Championships semi-final.
Suso
One of the lesser known players on this list, Suso was a flop at Liverpool making a mere 14 appearances in 3 years, scoring no goals. For a forward, this was an appalling record and the Spaniard left to Almeria on loan, making 33 appearances in 2014 before transferring to AC Milan in 2015.
Suso made 77 appearances for the Italians but only scored 13 goals, another poor record.
Now 24, Suso has since been loaned out to Genoa to try to revive his stalling career.
Mario Balotelli
The controversial forward was hyped up for great things at Liverpool, but didn't provide the goods after a huge transfer move, disappointing many fans. In total, he only played 16 times for the Reds, when many hoped he could form a partnership with Daniel Sturridge when he signed in 2014.
Balotelli was finally sent out on loan in 2015 to AC Milan, making 20 appearances for the Serie A giants, but only scoring one goal.
Now transferred to French club Nice, Balotelli has somewhat revived his career, appearing 55 times and scoring 33 goals.
Starting for Italy against Poland in the new UEFA Nations League, Balotelli is on the way to recovering his world-class form. At 28, he is now entering the prime of his career.
