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Over the last few seasons, Liverpool has made some quality signings to bolster their squad in the hope of bringing back the glory days at Anfield. Liverpool has spent big (like all the major clubs) and the upcoming season will feature 8 of the 10 most expensive players in Liverpool's history.
Through all these years of ups and downs, from finishing 2nd to falling down to 8th, Liverpool made some record signings. Some have lived up to the hype, while some failed miserably. Nevertheless, here are the top 10 most expensive players to don the famous Red uniform.
10) Roberto Firmino - £29 million
Bought from:- Hoffenheim
Year:- 2015
Manager In Charge:- Brendan
Firmino joined Liverpool after scoring 41 goals in 150 games for Hoffenheim. Though his goal scoring wasn't as impressive, he was the type of player that could play anywhere in the front 3. Liverpool was in desperate need of a creative attacking player and Brendan Rodgers put his faith in Firmino.
He hasn't disappointed the Kop as he is a member of a deadly trio in world football alongside Sadio Mane and Mohammed Salah. He scored 27 goals last season for Liverpool (best season of his career) making him one of the best marksmen in Europe.
But what separates Firmino from the pack is his insane work-rate. The Liverpool no. 9 is always there to support the (weak) Liverpool defensive line.
9) Sadio Mane - £30 million
Bought from - Southampton
Year - 2016
Manager in Charge - Jurgen Klopp
Sadio Mane made his move to Anfield after scoring 21 goals in 67 Premier League appearances for the Saints. Mane had a "bad" 2017-18 season according to some fans, but he's been scoring at the same rate as his debut season for the Reds.
Some say he's sloppy with the ball but he's actually doing it as often as he did previously. In fact, he's become more efficient as he does not lose the ball as often as he used to. The 25-year-old has faced some criticism after his dip in form, but he's actually had a great season statistically per se. He scored 20 goals for Liverpool last season and racked up 8 assists.
After the departure of Phillipe Coutinho, Mane has made the left flank his own. He has done his job of cutting inside and scoring goals or setting up his teammates. His control over the ball is impressive. For £30 million, he's as good a player you'll find in today's market.
8) Christian Benteke - £32.5 million
Bought from - Aston Villa
Year- 2015
Manager In Charge - Brendan Rodgers
Big Ben was the 7th signing of 2015. The Belgian was one of the better strikers of the Premier League and he had scored 42 Premier League goals for Villa in three seasons. Liverpool wanted to make sure they had a strong forward in the line up after selling Raheem Sterling to Manchester City.
Benteke got off to a good start after scoring 4 goals in his first 9 matches and the Liverpool faithful hoped for the same throughout the year. But Benteke couldn't adjust his game with Liverpool's style of play and struggled for the rest of his days in a Liverpool jersey.
He will be remembered for scoring a world-class overhead kick against Manchester United at Old Trafford, but that's about it. Liverpool recovered the investment as Crystal Palace were in dire need of a goal scorer and paid a similar amount for his services.
7) Andy Carroll - £35 million
Bought from - Newcastle United
Year - 2011
Manager In Charge - Kenny Dalgish
Liverpool was sure that Fernando Torres would end up wearing the Chelsea blue. As a replacement, Liverpool turned to Andy Carroll from Newcastle United. Carroll had scored 11 goals in 19 matches for Newcastle. The deal was finalized just minutes before the deadline and Andy Caroll became the most expensive British player in history after Liverpool agreed to pay a staggering sum of £35 million.
Liverpool had signed Luis Suarez on the same day and both players were soon unveiled. Fans and experts were divided about the potential impact they would have on the team. Carroll scored 2 goals against Manchester City in his 6th game as a Liverpool player. He also scored against Chelsea in the FA Cup Final.
However, Brendan Rodgers was named manager in 2012 and it was clear that Carroll did not suit his coaching style. Carroll was loaned for the whole of the 2012/13 season to Sam Allardyce's West Ham and at the end of the term, West Ham and Liverpool agreed for a permanent transfer.
5) Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain - £35 million
Bought From - Arsenal
Year- 2017
Manager In Charge - Jurgen Klopp
Klopp faced heavy criticism for signing the Arsenal man for £35 million as his Arsenal career was fairly ordinary. Ox had scored only 20 goals for Arsenal in 198 appearances for Arsenal. After spending 6 years at Arsenal, he expressed his interest to move away from the club.
He had offers lined up from Chelsea and Liverpool and the England International thought that a move to Anfield would be the best move for his career moving forward.
The #21 for Liverpool showed his class after some really impressive performances coming off the bench. He also proved his worth whenever he was given a chance to start. He blossomed under Klopp's coaching style and he looked like a completely different player than his slow and sluggish Arsenal version.
In an unfortunate turn of events, the midfielder sustained what the club is describing as a ‘multiple ligament injury’ in last season's Champions League semi-final first leg against AS Roma. Klopp said it would be "a bonus" if Ox plays next season. Things look uncertain at the moment but one thing is clear - Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has silenced his doubters and revived his football career under Klopp.
5) Mohamed Salah - £36.9 million
Bought From - Roma
Year- 2017
Manager In Charge - Jurgen Klopp
It's hard to put into words how crucial and exceptional Salah has been for Liverpool. To put it simply, many thought he was a Ballon Do'r candidate for his heroics last season.
Mo Salah has played only 1 season for the Liverpool and is already the 13th highest goal scorer in the 125 glorious history of the club. He had a 40+ goals season last year for Liverpool as a Winger. Something we've never seen in the Premier League.
Salah is easily the best Liverpool signing of the modern era and the fact that he was bought for only £37 million makes him one of the best steals of the transfer market. He has shattered multiple records at the club with his sensational debut season. He is fast, strong and always playing with a smile on his face. How can you not like Mo Salah?
4) Fabinho - £44 million
Bought from - Monaco
Year - 20018
Manager In Charge - Jurgen Klopp
Liverpool signed Fabinho as an immediate replacement for Emre Can, who has joined Juventus. Fabinho is perfect for the job and is expected to fill in the deepest position in midfield. He's a classic box-to-box player who is also considered to be a penalty shot specialist.
In the Liverpool scheme of things, he will be given the holding role. Liverpool is known for their pacy counter-attacking football. A high risk - high reward style of football. With too many people committed forward, it always helps to have a player like Fabinho as a specialized holding midfielder. We will see more of the Brazilian in the upcoming preseason games.
3) Naby Keita - £52.75 million
Bought from - RB Leipzig
Year- 2018
Manager In Charge - Jurgen Klopp
Naby Keita will be wearing the legendary #8 jersey for Liverpool. In Keita, they think they have found a worthy successor of club icon and legend Steven Gerrard. It's been quite a saga, as Liverpool wanted him last season, but Leipzig would not let go of Keita so easily.
Keita is a flashy, exciting and an immensely talented midfielder. He is the "can do it all" type of a player who can score from 30 yards, pass a beautiful through ball to set up a goal or even play the role of a holding midfielder.
The Guinea international likes to boss things when he's on the ball and is very creative. With Fabinho in the team to fill in the spot of the holding midfielder, Keita has 1 job - to wreak havoc in the attacking 3rd of the field with Salah, Firmino, and Mane.
2) Allison Becker - £65 million
Bought from - Roma
Year - 2018
Manager In Charge - Jurgen Klopp
Allisson became the most expensive goalkeeper in the world after joining Liverpool for a record sum of £65 million. There was growing tension between the fans and the club as the fans desperately wanted to see a new man between the posts.
Signing a new goalkeeper was more of a necessity for Liverpool after a sorry performance by Loris Karius in the Champions League Final against Real Madrid. Allison is one of the best goalkeepers in the world and nothing short of a savior for the Liverpool faithful.
He is widely regarded as a "sweeper-keeper" and is comfortable with the ball at his feet. Allison has enough experience to help this Liverpool win some silverware.
1) Virgil Van Dijk - £75 million
Bought from - Southampton
Year - 2018
Manager In Charge - Jurgen Klopp
Liverpool, by signing Virgil Van Dijk from Southampton, made him the most expensive defender in the world. Is the £75 million price tag too high for the captain of the Netherlands Nationals Team? We'll let you decide.
He was an instant hit at Liverpool after scoring a late winner against Everton in the FA Cup. Since then, he has become the main man for Liverpool's back 4. You will hardly come across a defender who is as polished and determined as VVD when he gets the ball.
He is a "no-nonsense defending" type at the back, who can also hurt the opposition with towering headers during set pieces. Virgil Van Dijk is as important a player as anybody in the Liverpool squad at the moment.
