Damon Savenelli looks at Liverpool’s five worst signings in the Premier League era.
So, with transfer rumours flying in thick and thin and the transfer window right around the corner, it got me thinking. What are some of the worst ever signings to appear for the Red? From Mario Balotelli to Connor Randall, we have had some very bad as well as some very good signings. Here are your top five worst Liverpool signings.
Adam Bogdan
This might be a shocker as Bogdan arrived at Anfield on a free but he is still awful nonetheless. The 29-year-old has made just two appearances for the Reds and he was pretty shocking in both of those appearances. Last December, Bogdan made his first PL start for the Reds where he went on to concede three goals against the mighty Watford. The Hungarian dropped a corner kick three minutes into the game which then allowed Nathan Ake to poke it into the back of the net.
About a month later Bogdan started in goal against Exeter City in an FA Cup match. He went on to concede directly from a corner.
So yes, Bogdan did not cost any money, but he is 29, has no perceivable potential and looks as though he will not get anywhere near the first team. I just do not see why we signed him and I could name 10 other goalkeepers that I would rather sign on a free.
Fabio Borini
Another one of Brendan Rodgers’ fantastic signings. I have always thought that Borini never really had what it took to make it at the top level. The Italian was never able to really get into the first team at Chelsea.
He did have a decent loan spell at Roma, scoring nine goals in 24 appearances so I will give him that, but that did not justify a £10.5 million (plus add-ons) price tag.
When we sold him, we didn’t even make the money back as we only sold him for about £8 million. Like I said, Borini never had what it took which is why he now plays for Sunderland.
Alberto Aquilani
I am judging these next two signings purely due to price. Aquilani was one of those transfers that kind of just happened and did not really turn into much. The Italian arrived from Roma in August of 2009 for £17 million. The midfielder then went on to make 18 appearances across three seasons, ending with a whopping total of one goal. After several loan spells, Aquilani left Liverpool once his contract expired which means that he was essentially a complete waste of money.
Stewart Downing
The only thing that you need to know about Stewart Downing is that he became the first player in seven years to miss three consecutive penalties in the Premier League. £20 million and he could not even score a penalty. Nice.
Andy Carroll
Rounding out this list of world beaters is good ole Andy Carroll. Carroll was purchased in the hopes of being able to fill the void that Fernando Torres left once he went to Chelsea. That did not happen.
Fellow signing Luis Suarez stole the show while also costing £12 million less. Carroll was good for the occasional header but other than that he spent most of his time injured. Six goals in 44 appearances means that the Englishman was the definition of a flop. The fact that he still remains our record signing is just straight up embarrassing. Hopefully, that transfer record is broken this summer.