Five big players Liverpool survived leaving.
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With Luis Suarez set to depart for Barcelona shortly, many are wondering just how the Reds will survive without him. Arguably the most in form striker in the World last season, losing him will undoubtedly be a huge blow, however, this wouldn’t be the first time that the club have lost an influential player, and yet, the club has always moved on without them. Here are just five of the biggest examples…
Steve McManaman
One of the original ‘Spice Boys’ of the mid-90s, MaManaman often provided the key creative service for the lethal strikers in front if him with his flying runs down the wing and innate dribbling ability. He left Anfield at the peak of his powers for a dream move to Real Madrid in 1999, where he went on to eventually lift two La Liga titles and two Champions League gongs. McManaman left the club having made 364 appearances, chalking up 66 goals in the process. The hangover wasn’t felt for long, though, as the club won the FA and League Cup double in 2001, which they capped off with a Uefa Cup victory at the end of the season.
Michael Owen
When Owen burst on to the scene as a 17-year-old it was clear to see that the club were in possession of the best young striker in the country. Over the following years he showed that the prophecy would not go unfulfilled as he notched up an amazing 158 goals in 297 appearances for the club in a seven year spell that was just starting to succumb to the injuries that would eventually rob him of his career. Just two years after Owen moved on Liverpool recorded their first ever Champions League victory when they overturned AC Milan that night in Istanbul. Silver linings.
Robbie Fowler
During the 90s it was impossible to imagine that the man referred to as ‘God’ would ever leave Anfield, but in 2001 he moved to Premier League rivals Leeds United at just 26 years old. What seemed unfathomable at time actually had very little impact on the Reds as club recorded the aforementioned treble. Meanwhile, Fowler lost his goalscoring touch. After bagging 171 goals in 330 games for the Reds, he could only muster another 69 in 185 appearances for every other club he went on to, including a second spell at Liverpool.
Fernando Torres
When Rafa Benitez brought Torres on board in 2007, the club looked as though they finally had a striker that would be able to finally help them win the Premier League title. Sadly, that didn’t happen, but upon departing he earned the club a handsome £50m, which is the record fee for a transfer between two Premier League teams. The Reds had the last laugh, too, as they soon signed Luis Suarez to soften the blow and went on to win the League Cup before claiming a second placed finish last season. Torres’ problems in front of goal have left the club laughing all the way to the bank, and his absence is no longer felt.
Jamie Carragher
The veteran defender stood down at the end of the 2013 season after a long and illustrious career in the Reds back line. After winning (nearly) every club gong there is to win in the game, Carra will go down not only as a club legend, but as one of it’s most decorated alumni too. Many believed the club would struggle to replace him when he left, and though they did struggle, they still managed to record a second placed finish in the Premier League after looking as though they were finally going to win it without him. Brendan Rodgers will likely find a suitable replacement for him this summer.