Players Liverpool Should Have Kept

Liverpool has done a fantastic job in the transfer market in recent years. The club has brought in many top players, held onto promising homegrown talents, and shipped out those who were past their prime or proved unfit for the team. However, the Reds haven’t always made the right decisions. Like every other club, Liverpool has had its fair share of transfer mistakes in the past, especially when it comes to selling players. They have parted ways with many gems without much hesitation from the board or the manager. Some of these players went on to find great success at their new clubs, leaving fans to wonder, “What could have been?” if they had stayed at Anfield. From young academy graduates who blossomed late to established stars who were prematurely discarded, here’s our list of seven players Liverpool should not have sold.

John Riise

Signed from Monaco for £4 million, the Norwegian was a formidable force in the Liverpool defense back in his days. He was renowned for his excellent work rate, stamina, and shooting ability. Riise was part of Liverpool’s Champions League-winning team in 2005 and even assisted the team’s first goal in the 3-3 comeback triumph over AC Milan. However, he fell out of favor two years later with the then-manager, Rafa Benitez, losing his place in the squad to Fabio Aurelio. In 2008, Riise was sold to AS Roma, where he spent three years before returning to the Premier League with Fulham. Even at the age of 30, he was still putting in decent performances for the Cottagers while his Liverpool replacements were either out injured or unconvincing.

Xabi Alonso

Many Liverpool supporters would never forgive Benitez for Xabi Alonso’s exit. The Spaniard is undoubtedly one of the best midfielders to have ever worn the Red shirt. Brought in from Real Sociedad in 2004, Alonso quickly endeared himself to the fans with his excellent technique, passing ability, and free-kick prowess. He formed a strong partnership with Steven Gerrard, and together they bossed the center of the field for Liverpool. In 2009, Alonso left the club for Real Madrid, upset by the manager’s move to replace him with Aston Villa’s Gareth Barry. He won many trophies with the Spanish capital, including a UEFA Champions League, La Liga, two Copa del Rey titles, a FIFA Club World Cup, and three Bundesliga titles with Bayern Munich. Benitez made many mistakes as Liverpool’s coach, and Alonso’s sale is up there on the list.

Javier Mascherano

The Argentine arrived at Anfield in 2007 on loan from West Ham before making a permanent switch in February 2008. At Liverpool, he quickly became a fan favorite due to his tireless work rate and great defensive skills. Mascherano played primarily as a defensive midfielder alongside Steven Gerrard and Xabi Alonso, breaking up opposition attacks and covering for the defense. In 2010, he left to join Barcelona, where he had a successful, trophy-laden career. While there was little Liverpool could have done to keep Mascherano at the club, he was a player who fans would have loved to enjoy for many more years.

Luis Suárez

If there’s a player on the list the fans would have given anything to keep, it’s Luis Suárez. He was signed in 2011 from Ajax for a fee of £22.8 million – and boy, he was worth every penny. The Uruguayan was one of the deadliest strikers to have ever played for Liverpool, banging in a total of 82 goals in 133 appearances. He wasn’t just a goal machine but also a technically gifted player who never failed to get supporters off their seats with his nutmegs, sharp turns, and ball control. However, Suárez left for Barcelona in 2014 to win titles. In Spain, he formed a formidable partnership with Lionel Messi and Neymar (the MSN trio that conquered Europe between 2014 and 2017), while Liverpool was still undergoing a rebuilding process.

Raheem Sterling

Raheem Sterling rose through the ranks at Liverpool’s Kirkby Academy alongside Jon Flanagan and Jordon Ibe. Although the English youngster was raw when he was brought into the first team, he showed a lot of promise with his electrifying pace and trickery. He was part of the Liverpool attacking trio that led Brendan Rodgers’s side to a second-place finish during the 2013–14 season. However, Sterling was allowed to join direct rival Manchester City in 2015 in a deal worth £49 million. While the winger insisted he left for footballing reasons, reports claimed Liverpool’s refusal to offer him a raise prompted the move. At City, Sterling matured into one of Europe’s finest forwards, scoring 131 goals and registering 74 assists for the Blues. He won four Premier League titles, five League Cups, and one FA Cup at the club before departing for Chelsea in 2022.

Iago Aspas

The sale of Iago Aspas did not anger many Liverpool supporters. After all, the Spaniard only managed to score once in 15 appearances for the club and did not seem like the right player to lead the Reds’ attacks. However, Aspas has proved his doubters wrong since his return to Spain, scoring 155 times in 371 games for Celta Vigo. Perhaps the striker would have turned out well for Liverpool if he had not been sold so soon.

Suso

Full name Jesús Joaquín Fernández Sáez de la Torre, Suso is another player Liverpool should have kept. The Spanish international joined the Reds at the age of 16 and made only 21 appearances for the first team. Although Suso showed a glimpse of his potential when he played, he failed to convince the Anfield bosses and was eventually sold to AC Milan for €500,000. He quickly cemented a place for himself in Milan’s team and was a regular fixture during his six years at the club. Initially on loan, Suso made a permanent move to Sevilla in 2021, where he won two UEFA Europa League titles.

Conclusion

Liverpool have let go of many top players in the past, from John Arne Riise to Xabi Alonso and Raheem Sterling. While some sales were unavoidable, others could have been prevented if the club had offered better deals or been a little more patient with the players. The sales of these stars had a negative impact on Liverpool, as their replacements struggled to fill their shoes. Their departures also angered fans who had grown to love these players, particularly those who placed wagers on matches on online betting platforms like casinos.com.

Written by Alan Spencer