Three-time European Cup winner says Sanchez “doesn’t realise what he has missed by not coming to Liverpool”.
Former Liverpool defender Phil Thompson believes that Chile wideman Alexis Sanchez should have signed for the Reds instead of joining Arsenal.
Sanchez, 25, put pen to paper on a long-term contract with the Gunners on Thursday night, as the North London club saw off competition from Liverpool and Juventus to land him from Barcelona.
Sanchez, who commanded a transfer fee in the region of £35m, was keen to move to the English capital, but Thompson reckons that Merseyside would have been perfect for the player.
Thompson told Sky Sports: “He has chosen to go to Arsenal for whatever means and that will be down to him.
“He doesn’t realise what he has missed by not coming to Liverpool; the passion and the power that comes with playing for LFC, and the worldwide recognition that he would have.
“He’s chosen to go to London and I think that will have been a big draw and I think that would have been the marquee signing.”
Sanchez, who scored 19 goals and provided 10 assists in 34 La Liga games last season, was targeted by Liverpool as a replacement for Luis Suarez, 27.
Liverpool and Barcelona confirmed on Friday afternoon that a deal had been reached that would see Suarez move to the Camp Nou on a five-year contract. The fee is reported to be around £75m.
Suarez scored 31 goals in 33 Premier League appearances last term and Thompson admits that losing him is a blow.
However, the 60-year-old, who won three European Cups as a player with Liverpool in the 70s and 80s, is confident that the club will eventually replace him with another superstar.
Thompson added: “A Luis Suarez in your side is always going to make your side far better.
“He might have been the best player in the world the way he played last year. He was absolutely superb and it was wonderful to have him playing for Liverpool and to be a star.
“We made him a superstar and we made Fernando Torres a superstar. Suarez gave everything for the cause and certainly helped Liverpool get Champions League football.
“But it was a fantastic season and it’s not just about one man. It was a tremendous season and a lot of people came to the fore with a different brand of football. With or without Luis Suarez, I’m quite sure that will take place. It’s whether we get the goals again.
“But Liverpool Football Club has been surviving over the years. I go back to watching Roger Hunt and Ian St John and then along came Kevin Keegan and along came Kenny Dalglish and along came Ian Rush.
“You were always worrying if there’ll be someone else, but sooner or later there is a superstar. Michael Owen and Robbie Fowler came along and then Fernando Torres and Luis Suarez.
“There have been great players and this football club will always move on anyway. Yes, it will be a loss without Suarez and his ability but I’m quite sure we are in good hands as long as we spend the money right.”
Thomson worked as Liverpool’s assistant manager during the 90s and noughties. He took caretaker charge of the first team for six months during the 2001-02 season when Gerard Houllier was ill.