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The January transfer window is now open, which means clubs will be looking for mid-season reinforcements to boost their chances of success this season. It could prove to be crucial, as it has been in many cases. A winter signing could completely transform the fortunes of a club's campaign. It has done so for Liverpool on many occassions. Difficult first halves of a season are wiped out following the capture of a much sought after transfer target.
These players have made an immediate impact at Anfield, scoring in their first couple of appearances for the club. Liverpool is a team that has had varying degrees of success over the years, but some of their winter recruitments have made for more good times than bad. January is a crucial month in the season. Nothing can be won in this month, but everything can be lost. However, a season can also be salvaged.
Each one of these players was brought in after a difficult start to the season, expected to steady the ship and steer Liverpool to a much better end to the season, before embarking on further success. The Reds have progressed massively over the last few years, thanks in no small part to these four players. Here are the four greatest January signings made by Liverpool.
#4 Daniel Sturridge
Come 2013, Liverpool had been in desperate need for a striker for quite some time. They were struggling in mid-table after a difficult 2012, before Brendan Rodgers entered the market early to swoop in for out-of-favour Chelsea striker, Daniel Sturridge.
The Englishman joined Liverpool for £12 million and looked to be a bargain, as he scored eleven goals for the Reds in that season including goals in his first three games. Sturridge continued his hot streak with a phenomenal start to the 2013-14 season in the absence of the main striker Luis Suarez. He would end up carving a hugely successful partnership with Suarez for the rest of the season, as the Reds came agonisingly close to lifting the Premier League title.
Since then, Sturridge has been troubled by injuries. He could not get a run going in the team and missed a lot of action due to his fitness troubles. The former Manchester City academy graduate did play a big part in Liverpool's run to the Europa League final under Jurgen Klopp, including a sensational goal in the final, but continued to struggle with injuries.
Sturridge was sent out on loan to West Brom last season, where he endured a nightmare spell. He did manage to grab hold of a second chance at Liverpool under Klopp when it looked like it was all over. Sturridge is still a really important player for the Reds, scoring some key goals at important times this season.
His run could have been better had he stayed fit at key times, but Daniel Sturridge has enjoyed a relatively positive time at Anfield.
#3 Philippe Coutinho
Also signed in January 2013, Philippe Coutinho joined Liverpool for only £8 million, towards the end of the transfer window as a young stalwart from Inter Milan. The Brazilian would score on his full debut for the Reds, as he became an instant hit on Merseyside.
His excellent vision came in handy as Liverpool came close to winning the Premier League in the following season. Coutinho scored the all-important goal in a thrilling 3-2 victory over Manchester City, seemingly sending the trophy to Anfield before the eventual heartbreak.
He would continue to be a key figure at Anfield, consistently scoring belters for the Reds, including another stunner against Man City.
However, Coutinho would take his game to the next level under Jurgen Klopp, scoring goals and running games as Liverpool rose up the Premier League table. The Brazilian was literally at the club for their entire period of transition, building up from mid-table mediocrity to Champions League contenders.
Unfortunately, Coutinho decided to leave Liverpool for Barcelona in January 2018, after five impressive years at Anfield. However, he did not leave without making an impact and helping to get the Reds back into the big time where they belong.
Liverpool's past year may suggest that they don't miss the little magician, but Philippe Coutinho was the Anfield’s shining star for quite a while.
#2 Virgil van Dijk
Until the past year, Liverpool has had a pretty fragile defence. Conceding fifty goals in a league season is nowhere near good enough for a top team. It has cost the Reds a couple of trophies, including the Premier League title.
However, in the past year, Liverpool's defence has been transformed in a major way. This is because Jurgen Klopp splashed the cash to get his man, Virgil van Dijk. Initially a target for Liverpool in the summer of 2017, the Reds were unable to sign the Dutch defender from Southampton until the winter.
At the start of 2018, Liverpool finally signed van Dijk for a world record fee of £75 million. It seemed like a risk at first, but Liverpool's progress since then has proved otherwise.
Since van Dijk joined, Liverpool have been the most consistent club in the Premier League. After a difficult first half to the 2017-18 season, the Reds comfortably finished in the top four and reached the Champions League final thanks to van Dijk's stellar performances at the back.
He has been a colossus at the back for Liverpool and is the reason why they have performed so well in the league this season. They have only conceded eight goals in twenty games so far and are comfortably top of the table. van Dijk has that ability to make all of his centre-back partners seem world class, like Joe Gomez and Dejan Lovren. He is certainly captain material and is very much the Reds' key player above everyone else.
At £75 million, Virgil van Dijk is looking more and more like a bargain.
#1 Luis Suarez
After Roy Hodgson's disastrous reign as Liverpool manager, it was up to Kenny Dalglish to steer the ship until the end of the season. On deadline day of the January transfer window, Fernando Torres moved to Chelsea, but the Reds had it covered.
Dalglish would sign Andy Carroll and Luis Suarez to lead the Liverpool line for the foreseeable future. Carroll might have bombed, but Suarez was an absolute diamond for Liverpool. The Uruguayan dazzled straight away and continued his great form into the 2011-12 season.
Unfortunately, Suarez would be the centrepiece of his fair share of controversies. He was the butt of a racism allegation from Manchester United's Patrice Evra that took over his campaign before a bite on Chelsea's Branislav Ivanovic ended his following campaign early.
But for all of the controversies, Suarez was a phenomenal player. He would carry Brendan Rodgers’ side through their transition period as the Reds came so close to winning the Premier League in 2014. The current Barcelona hotshot had a late start to his season but ended up as the top scorer with a record-equalling 31 goals.
Suarez was Liverpool's talisman throughout 2013-14 and was the sole reason why they came so close to the title. He left for the Catalans after that season, leaving a gaping hole in the Reds attack. It took a couple of years for them to recover and start challenging again. Anfield has not seen a player as talented and brilliant as Suarez in the Premier League era and probably never will.
Liverpool has not made a better January signing than Luis Suarez.
