The past decade has seen a massive surge in spending by European clubs. In the Premier League, every club breaks their transfer record often these days with the latest TV deal a major reason for this change. The need for quicker results means managers look for quick fixes over developing youth players. This has led to a new player taking the crown of club’s most expensive signing almost every summer.
Also Read: Ranking Manchester United's 10 most expensive signings
Liverpool spent a lot of money to sign players who can win them their maiden Premier League title and are yet to be crowned champions. In fact, they are the only English team to spend more than a billion pounds on transfers in the league and yet to win the title. However, the trend still goes on with links to Southampton’s Virgil van Dijk and Red Bull Leipzig’s Naby Keita. Each of them is said to cost around twice the amount of Liverpool’s most expensive signing till date.
Just like every other signing, splashing big money on a player does not always reward the club. At the same time, getting a top player in his prime demands the high fee and therefore, needs to be spent. Thus, every club has success stories as well as bust-ups when it comes to their most expensive players.
Here are Liverpool’s 10 most expensive signings ranked, based on their performances and impact on the team’s fortunes.
#10 Christian Benteke (£32.5 million), Rating – 3.5/10
In recent times, Liverpool have developed a tendency to sign players who have done well against them and some of them make an appearance on this list. Christian Benteke scored four goals in the Premier League against the Reds during his time with Aston Villa. The directness, strength and physicality of the Belgian forward were a rare trait at Anfield.
So, Brendan Rodgers did not waste time in splurging a good amount in acquiring his services at the start of 2015/16 season. However, the current Celtic boss did not have enough time to see Benteke deliver on his ability. Once Jurgen Klopp took over, Benteke was not mobile enough for the former Dortmund gaffer. Along with Benteke’s struggles to adapt, he scored a measly 10 goals in 42 games and was shipped out to Crystal Palace after only one season.
Overall, Benteke’s time at the club is definitely one to forget and signing the rumoured alternative at the time, Alexandre Lacazette from Lyon, would have suited the club better. The fact that Liverpool were able to recoup almost all of that outlay helps improve the final grade though.
#9 Andy Carroll (£35 million), Rating – 5/10
The signing of Andy Carroll had all the signs of a panic buy. Current Liverpool owners Fenway Sports Group (FSG) were novices in the football arena then. And when fan favourite Fernando Torres was sold on deadline day in January 2011 for a whopping £50 million to Chelsea., the need to buy a top player in such a short time pushed the club to sign a young Andy Carroll from Newcastle for a then club record £35 million.
Carroll was another tall, strong centre-forward with stunning aerial prowess but in the days to come, he struggled with constant injuries and the criticism because of the heavy price-tag on his shoulders. Further, a certain Uruguayan forward lit up Anfield and the league making it even more difficult for the Englishman to establish himself.
He had, though, started off well as his aerial supremacy led to starring performances against Manchester City at Anfield. He would also score a memorable winner against local rivals Everton at Wembley in the FA Cup semi-final before scoring in the final against Chelsea in the final which Liverpool lost 1-2.
Finally, it looked a bad piece of business right from the beginning as Liverpool’s style under Brendan Rodgers did not suit him and the England international was promptly loaned out to West Ham the following season before the move was made permanent in the summer of 2013 for £15 million.
His performances in the second half of the 2011/12 season put him above Benteke. The Geordie scored a total of 11 goals in 58 matches for the Reds.
#8 Mohamed Salah (£36.9 million), Rating – 6/10
A case can be made on how a player who is yet to kick a ball for the club be placed above two others. However, a case can also be made on how the signing makes sense on many levels unlike the previous two. Mohamed Salah became the most expensive Liverpool signing in June of this year.
The Merseyside club tried to sign him a few years back but for Chelsea to prise him away. After a bad spell at Chelsea, the Egyptian superstar rejuvenated his career first at Italian club Fiorentina and then found consistency at another Italian club AS Roma. Salah has pace to burn, a terrific left-foot and is one of the eight players last season to record double figures in both goals and assists in Europe’s top five leagues.
The transfer fee can be considered to be on the bargain side in the present market. The 25-year old solves a major problem for Klopp’s side by adding much-needed movement to support Sadio Mane as the club struggled in the latter’s absence last season. His work-rate has gone up under Luciano Spalletti at Roma and the winger should fit in well with Klopp’s philosophy. Hence, he gets in ahead of the previous two players on the list.
#7 Dejan Lovren (£20 million), Rating – 6/10
Dejan Lovren has been a divisive character ever since he signed for the club in 2014 from Southampton. In the process, he became the most expensive defender in club’s history.
It is fair to say he has never fully established himself at the club despite being first-choice for the majority of the past three seasons. The club’s defensive woes further strengthen the argument although one player cannot be completely blamed for a collective failure.
The biggest problem with Lovren is neither the lack of ability nor a failure to adapt. Instead, it is the lack of consistency that continues to confound everyone. Under Klopp, there have been times when the Croat has been colossal only to follow up with games where he is made to look like a Sunday League defender. Nevertheless, the manager continues to trust him with a new contract signed this year.
His biggest moment for the club has so far come at the other end of the pitch. He was the man to score the winner when Liverpool recreated a comeback similar to Istanbul in 2005 as the Reds fought back from 3-1 down in the second-half against Borussia Dortmund in the Europa League quarterfinal of 2015/16 season.
#6 Georginio Wijnaldum (£25 million), Rating – 6.5/10
One of the two players on this list to join last summer, Wijnaldum arrived with a few question marks. He had a good goalscoring season in an attacking role with Newcastle but all of his goals came at home as there was a tendency to go missing in away games.
Nobody knew where he would fit in at Liverpool with several options up front. However, Klopp had other ideas and was interested in the Dutchman during the latter’s time with PSV Eindhoven. The 26-year old reinvented himself as a box-to-box midfielder and barring a few growing pains, had a fine debut season.
The new role reduced his goals tally despite constantly getting into a number of good goalscoring positions. The goals finally came in as the season progressed including the vital opening goal on the stroke of half-time against Middlesbrough in May. The highlight of the fledgeling Liverpool career has so far been his big performances in big games and a work-rate that was unexpected for many.
A constantly cheerful figure in the dressing room, Wijnaldum answered all his naysayers in style and he will be looking to build on it in the coming season.
#5 Adam Lallana (£25 million), Rating – 7/10
Adam Lallana is a success story not only for the club but also for the player. When the Englishman moved from Southampton to Merseyside in 2014 for £25 million, there were a lot of doubts over his end-product and lack of pace despite playing out wide. While his dribbling skills and turns enthralled everyone, he struggled to nail down a starting spot.
Klopp’s arrival spelt good news for Lallana as the German shifted him to a central midfield role at the start of this season and the 29-year old finally unlocked his potential. This shift made better use of his work-rate and allowed him to dictate play better. He scored eight goals and had himself seven assists over the season as he became one of the first names on the team-sheet every gameday.
The former Saint is one of the senior members of the squad and has finally made a name for himself at Anfield. Despite nearing 30, his performances have justified his price tag and there is more to come from him.
#4 Roberto Firmino (£29 million), Rating – 7.5/10
Firmino was a high-profile signing by the Liverpool transfer committee in the summer of 2015 from German team Hoffenheim. He impressed during his time in Germany but struggled to create any sort of impact under Brendan Rodgers. However, when Klopp took over in October, the Brazilian seemingly burst into life.
The Brazilian’s work-rate, defensive contribution and ability to play as a false nine endeared him to Klopp. He excelled in the second-half of last season and continues to lead the line ahead of recognised strikers Daniel Sturridge and Divock Origi. His partnership with Sadio Mane and fellow Brazilian Philippe Coutinho was electric in the first-half of the season as Liverpool looked set to embark on a title hunt.
He scored 11 goals and assisted seven more in the league last season. While those are good statistics, the lead striker of a top four PL club needs to score more. The arrival of Salah will see him wear the number nine shirt next season and hopefully, he can increase his goal tally.
#3 Sadio Mane (£30 million), Rating – 8/10
There is a similarity between Sadio Mane and the top two players on the list. All three have made an instant impact at the club and were loved by the fans right away. Sadio Mane’s blistering pace was known beforehand along with his ability to take on defenders and defensive work-rate. However, he lacked consistency at Southampton.
When he was signed, there was a general feeling he was a secondary target in the wide-man shortlist for Klopp as Mario Gotze was considered the primary target. However, his debut goal against Arsenal convinced everyone in one go and he was the best player for Liverpool in most games. No wonder, he was named as the Player of the Year at the club.
13 goals and 5 assists from the right wing are a great return in his first season and at 25 years of age, he has all the tools to become a club legend. It can be considered premature to rank a signing this high on the list. However, if the way these top 2 won everyone over quite early is any indication, Mane is set to challenge them on this list.
#2 Fernando Torres (£20.2 million), Rating – 9/10
A bold move at the time, it is fair to say Fernando Torres was loved at Anfield in a way generally reserved for local players. He was signed for a club record fee then from Atletico Madrid and went on to become one of the best strikers in the league and the world at Liverpool.
Blessed with pace, technique and a world-class finishing ability, Torres was the last true owner of Liverpool’s number nine jersey with 81 goals from 142 appearances. He formed a telepathic understanding with Steven Gerrard as then Reds manager Rafa Benitez helped them become one of the best-attacking pairs in the world.
However, the club flirting with the administration before FSG took over, Benitez leaving the club and selling of key players eventually led to the Spaniard transferring to Chelsea for £50 million on transfer deadline day in January 2011. This soured the relationship between him and the fans but he continues to be regarded as one of the best signings in Liverpool history.
#1 Luis Suarez (£22.8 million) – 10/10
At every club, there is always an argument on who is the greatest player and who is the best player to play for the club. At Liverpool, Luis Suarez is considered by many, young and old, to be the latter. His signing in January 2011 was initially overshadowed by Torres’ departure. He scored on debut at Anfield and even took Kenny Dalglish’s famous number seven jersey. By the time he left for Barcelona in 2014, he had scored 82 goals for the club.
Suarez was not a conventional striker but had a hunger similar to Cristiano Ronaldo to score goals. The Uruguayan became one of the world’s best at Liverpool with his skill, vision, finishing and “never give up” attitude almost leading to a title win in the 2013-14 season. He had his share of bad moments at Anfield but his winning attitude was infectious. The imagery of him crying on the pitch when Liverpool were out of the title race after the draw at Crystal Palace is a symbol of his passion.
He remains a Red at heart even after his £75 million move to Spanish powerhouse Barcelona. The £22.8 million spent on him is undoubtedly one of the best pieces of business the club has ever done.
