Liverpool Football Club’s 10 underdogs
Liverpool are a popular football club with a rich history. It has many top-level players. Until 1990, it was the most decorated club in England. After that, the trophy drought began and Manchester United surpassed the team. You may recall, stars like Kevin Keegan, Emlyn Hughes, Ray Clemens and a host of others played for the Reds. However, there were some players who were not successful. Liverpool paid a lot of money for most of them. Let’s take a look at the top 10 players who embarrassed themselves with their performances for Liverpool.
10. Andriy Voronin
Rafael Benitez spotted this Ukrainian in the German Bundesliga. The happy thing is that the player cost Liverpool free of charge. Voronin was given number ten. In the Liverpool squad did not show even close to the game which he had at Bayer. He scored a beautiful goal against Toulouse in the Champions League and that was it. Ended two seasons at the club and left in January 2010.
9. Fernando Morientes
The move of the Spanish forward from Real Madrid for 6.48 million was a sensation for a large number of Liverpool fans in 2005. With Real Madrid, he won the Champions League 3 times. However, he played 41 games for Liverpool, scoring 8 goals and moving back to La Liga.
8. Fabio Borini
Fabio Borini was acquired from Roma for £10.31m. However, the forward’s career in the English Premier League did not go well. He was on the bench for almost the entire time at Liverpool. He left Anfield after a short spell.
7. Josemi
Josemi was Liverpool’s first acquisition since the arrival of Rafael Benitez as head coach. The club signed this player from Malaga in 2004. The player failed to produce a decent performance and played only 22 matches in the red shirt. Returned back to Spain to Villarreal. One of Liverpool’s most unsuccessful transfers.
6. Alberto Aquilani
The Italian midfielder was bought for £14m in 2009 from Roma to replace Xabi Alonso. He was immediately injured at Liverpool and his career as a midfielder was put to rest. Having missed Boxing Day, the Italian left Anfield. Moved to Juventus, then Milan and Fiorentina.
5. Robbie Keane
Irishman Robbie Keane joined Liverpool in 2008. He was bought from Tottenham for £20.3m. Rafael Benitez envisaged Keane as an attacking powerhouse but it was not to be. The Irishman showed a poor game and had a conflict with the coach. Returned back to Tottenham for £11.69 million a season later. It was one of the worst transfers Liverpool have ever made.
4. Jimi Traore
Jimi Traore is remembered by a large number of Liverpool fans. As we like to say “all temporary”. In the 2005 FA Cup against Burnley, Jimi Traore made a silly mistake and with a Zidane feint sent the ball into his own net. The Malian was with coach Gerard Houllier’s favourite at Liverpool. But the defender produced no outstanding performance and eventually left the club with his head hanging low. He played 88 games in seven seasons.
3. El Hadji Diouf
El Hadji Diouf was invited to Liverpool along with Salif Diaw after a successful campaign at the 2002 World Cup in Japan and South Korea. He was paid 10.5 million for the player. He showed an unsightly game at Liverpool and got the image of a bad guy. His game was different from the one he showed in France and his performance dropped significantly. At Lance in France he was a very technical footballer. At Liverpool on the other hand, he scored 3 goals in 55 games. Was very harsh towards Jamie Carragher and Steven Gerrard.
2. Mario Balotelli
Mario Balotelli was bought by Brandon Rodgers from Milan to replace Luis Suarez, who went to Barcelona. The Italian forward showed, quite frankly, a terrible game on the pitch and after a few games became of no interest to Liverpool. Moved to Nice as a free agent.
This is one of Liverpool’s most unsuccessful transfers of all time. They spent £14m on Mario Balotelli. But the forward proved to be an unfortunate player and did not fit in with Reds coach Brandon Rodgers’ philosophy. He only scored one goal in 16 games.
1. Andy Carroll
Andy Carroll took a liking to Kenny Dalglish and was acquired for £28.7m in 2011. Became Liverpool’s most unsuccessful transfer in its history. It can be compared to Fernando Torres’ move to Chelsea, who also got lost there. After transferring to Liverpool, Carroll did not make his debut until March due to health problems. He scored two goals against Man City. But it ended up being 9 goals in 47 games. Brandon Rodgers sold this player to West Ham for £12.25 million. Andy Carroll himself received a million euros from Liverpool for the transfer. This transfer will long be remembered by Liverpool fans as the most disastrous one in the club’s history.
