As Liverpool’s season ends in a whimper following the damaging FA Cup semi-final defeat to Aston Villa on Sunday, it seems like a suitable time to reflect on what has been a disappointing season.
Pressure is mounting on Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers which is mainly due to his massive transfer outlay last summer where, according to Sky Sport News, the Northern Irishman sanctioned £117m worth of signings.
Players such as Rickie Lambert, Mario Balotelli and Lazar Markovic were brought in to soften the blow caused by the departure of Luis Suarez to Barcelona. It is difficult to determine which signing has been an outstanding success but due to the sheer volume of players brought in, it’s only fair to analyse each case individually.
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Here is how Liverpool’s summer signings rank out of 10.
1. Rickie Lambert – 4/10
A fairy-tale move, but Lambert’s return to Anfield hasn’t gone to plan with the former Saints man scoring only two league goals all season. His move was a clear ploy from Rodgers to possess a ‘plan B’, but given that he dismissed Andy Carroll’s qualities when he took over at Anfield, Lambert under Rodgers was never going to work. Almost joining Aston Villa in January (via Liverpool Echo), Lambert could be one of the casualties this summer.
2. Adam Lallana – 6/10
Lallana endured a tough start to his Liverpool career, picking up an injury in pre-season which ruled him out of the first month of the campaign. Stints in and out of the team didn’t help matters, but during a purple patch for Liverpool from January – March, Lallana was crucial. The Southampton academy graduate has shown flashes of his undoubted quality, but needs to have a consistent presence on the pitch.
3. Emre Can – 7/10
One of this season’s success stories, Can has been consistent without producing show-stopping performances. His versatility has gone against him this season, with Rodgers using him at right-back, centre back and in midfield. At just 20 years old, Can’s future is bright.
4. Lazar Markovic – 5/10
It is difficult to see what the Serbian offers a team, despite showing some positive signs in a wing-back role. His pace was previously seen as an asset upon his arrival, but Markovic has failed to make it count. At £20m, Rodgers may have been investing in the future, but Liverpool desperately need instant results.
5. Dejan Lovren – 3/10
Arguably one of the worst signings of the season, Liverpool thought they’d purchased a ready made Premier League defender, what they actually acquired was a calamity. Given how Southampton have defended in his absence, did the Reds sign the wrong defender?
6. Divock Origi – N/A
Without kicking a ball for Liverpool, you get the feeling that Origi will not be able to handle the pressure he’s about to be confronted with when he returns from his loan spell at Lille. Rodgers claimed that Liverpool had signed a “world class” (via the Daily Express) striker, praise which may come back to haunt the former Swansea City boss.
7. Javi Manquillo – 3/10
The only positive regarding Manquillo’s arrival is that he hasn’t cost Liverpool much money given that he’s on a two-season loan from Atletico Madrid. Just how Liverpool thought training a young full-back for two years before sending him back was good idea is rather baffling.
8. Alberto Moreno – 6/10
A typical Spanish full-back, Moreno is better going forward than he is defending and has displayed those qualities this season. However, in the Premier League, defenders that are not up to the standard are brutally exposed as Moreno was against Arsenal. However, he’s shown enough to suggest that gradual improvement is a possibility.
9. Mario Balotelli – 2/10
As much as many were skeptical of Balotelli’s move to Liverpool, few could have predicted the situation currently facing Rodgers. After remaining adamant that Liverpool would not move for the Italian (via The Independent), to find Balotelli rocking up at Melwood in late August seemed rather desperate. One league goal all season is all Balotelli could muster up and his future at Anfield remains extremely uncertain.