1.) 08 Jan 2018
08 Jan 2018 09:12:54
I think a lack of silverware recently is a big factor, plus a lot our our stars are Spanish/ South American and so the lure of Barca/ Madrid is big for them. Also, although the team might have had limited success we have actually had some of the most outstanding individuals in the league in our team, sadly they never all seem to be there at the same time.


2.) 08 Jan 2018
08 Jan 2018 09:29:06
Not winning anything is the main reason. Its fair enough saying the south american players will always want to leave for Barcelona or Real Madrid but Sterling left us for City to win trophies, Torres left us for Chelsea to win trophies, and the list goes on.

We currently have a a very talented group of players at the club and we need to win some trophies soon or they will want go try elsewhere to do so. With that we can attract even better players instead of ones just looking at us as a stepping stone to Barcelona or Madrid.


3.) 08 Jan 2018
08 Jan 2018 09:33:02
The only clubs that haven't been subject to this are the Sugar Daddy clubs of Man City and Chelsea. For Spurs see Bale and Modric (next maybe Kane) for Arsenal see Van Persie, Fabregas Henry and the exodus to City and even this coming summer despite previously being strong I expect to see Chelsea lose both Hazard and Courtois to Real. Unless we paid unsustainable wages in our current position to a latin player we will always be at least a rung below Barcelona and Real. Potentially to non latin players that gap may be smaller. but the bottom line is until we win regular trophies this is where we are. I do however believe Klopp can get us a lot closer.


4.) 08 Jan 2018
08 Jan 2018 09:34:58
Arsenal have had a string of players refuse to sign new contracts thereby forcing Arsenal to either sell them or let them leave for free. RvP, Ozil, Sanchez the three names that spring to mind, might not be actively forcing moves there and then but makeing sure the club sell or loose out on hundreds of millions. Then Spurs have had Bale and Modric go to Real as soon as they came calling, did they force the move, maybe not but only because they were told they could leave when they asked, who knows what would have happend if they had been told no. Ronaldo went to Madrid after he was promised by United if they got one more season he could go the next year. Would he have forced a move if he was told no, who knows. Chelsea have had Costa refuse to return to the club, that was a mutal thing in the end but he was never going to play for them again as he did not want to. It happens to all clubs at some point. LFC have lost Sterling to City and Torres to Chelsea who granted there wage demands, And Suarez and Coutinho to Barça. A dream club for South Americans. If a club comes in and says we will give you what ever number you want as a wage or it's Madrid or Barça unfortunately players will have their heads turned regardless Of The club they are at.


5.) 08 Jan 2018
08 Jan 2018 09:35:20
Really Istanbul. Suarez left to Barca, same with PipCo, and Sterling to Citeh and a pay jump of around 100k a week. arguably we were happy to get shot of Sterling at the time and to pocket 50m was big. it's a dream of many South American's to play for the big two in Spain so when they come knocking heads are very likely to be turned.

I'd be more concerned if we were struggling to attract the players we want rather than losing a few for a combined 270+m. its a sad reality but football is a business.


6.) 08 Jan 2018
08 Jan 2018 09:44:01
Vultures are circling round Spurs team this year and Arsenal have the obvious want aways. Bearing in mind their limited ECL success would question if trophies is the only reason why players go to and stay at Chelsea and City. Potentially they may have a more flexible or giving pay structure - which certainly Arsenal don’t. United have the Spanish problem with De Gea as well. I think it looks worse cos you support Liverpool and not those other clubs. Look at Leicester, won the league and next day all the discussion was around who would buy all their players.


7.) 08 Jan 2018
08 Jan 2018 09:58:15
Just to name a few.

Cristiano Ronaldo - Utd to Madrid
Gareth Bale - Spurs to Madrid
Luka Modric - Spurs to Madrid
Van Persie - Arsenal to Utd
Di Maria - Utd to PSG
Cesc Fabregas - Arsenal to Barca
David Beckham - Utd to Madrid
Nicholas Anelka - Arsenal to Madrid
Thierry Henry - Arsenal to Barca
Alex Song - Arsenal to Barca
Arjen Robben - Chelsea - Madrid
Eidur Gudjohnsen - Chelsea to Barca
Van Nistelrooy - Utd to Real

But Liverpool's list is significantly bigger.

Coutinho - Liverpool to Barca
McManaman - Liverpool to Madrid
Dudek - Liverpool to Madrid
Alonso - Liverpool to Madrid
Arbeloa - Liverpool to Madrid
Macherano - Liverpool to Barca
Suarez - Liverpool to Barca
Owen - Liverpool to Madrid
Sterling - Liverpool to City
Torres - Liverpool to Chelsea.


8.) 08 Jan 2018
08 Jan 2018 10:00:34
Unfortunately most players will always see Liverpool and other clubs as a stepping stone to the elite clubs, whether we like it or not. There will be the exception to the rule of course, but most actors dream of working in Hollywood, as most Liverpool fans dream of playing for LFC, and most footballers dream of being good enough to be approached by Barcelona and Real.


9.) 08 Jan 2018
08 Jan 2018 10:54:35
Alonso - left because of Benitez, who wanted to replace him with Gareth Barry, not because he doesn't value or want to play for the club.

Arbeloa - not really a "special player", he was sold for little money.
Sterling - was never 50 million pounds and not world class or anything.
Dudek - Really? Has maybe two games for Real Madrid.

If you consider only truly world-class footballers at their prime, I'd say that the club "LOST" as in "sold without having the intention to sell": Torres, Owen, Suarez, Mascherano, Coutinho, and I got no clue what was the case with MacManaman. The rest in that list were more or less intentionally sold by the club, not "lost".


10.) 08 Jan 2018
08 Jan 2018 11:07:47
@ Whz

Ok fair enough, Dudek and Arbeloa are hardly big losses but you have mentioned every other player on that list.

Sterling was definitely a big loss, he was replaced by Ibe who didn't quite cut it and the club suffered on the wings because of it. It is only now with the addition of Mane and Salah that we have decent wide options and we are doing much better.


11.) 08 Jan 2018
08 Jan 2018 11:19:23
been going on for years Keegan to Hamberg, Rush to Juve.


12.) 08 Jan 2018
08 Jan 2018 11:28:46
Do you guys think it has anything to do with family pressure? Weather in Spain and south America. Language too.


13.) 08 Jan 2018
08 Jan 2018 12:06:27
Bit harsh on Arbeloa, he was a superb defender.


14.) 08 Jan 2018
08 Jan 2018 13:04:10
McManaman - Liverpool to Madrid McManaman left because someone in the club tried to sell him to Barcelona without his consent

Dudek - Liverpool to Madrid Dudek left because he was getting no game time

Alonso - Liverpool to Madrid Alonso left because Rafa tried to sell him to spurs for 15M spurs would only pay 12m

Owen - Liverpool to Madrid Owen left to win champions league LOL

Sterling - Liverpool to City Sterling left because he was offered 180k a wee a city 100k more than we were offering.


15.) 08 Jan 2018
08 Jan 2018 15:00:37
But of course players would move clubs, that's part of the "business" - get good employers for the right kind of money, etc, just like in real life.

I was never disrespectful to Arbeloa, I know I didn't rate him high then, but then again, I do manage construction and design company, I am not a football manager.

I was just trying to say that we have basically "LOST" big players because of "Bigger club" issues in their prime in: Suarez, Coutinho, Owen, and that is for the last 18 years. The rest just left because MORE MONEYZ or because our staff WANTED to sell them.

Also, kind of obvious, if Real or Barcelona "want" you and offer you more money than you make at Liverpool, also win trophies every year, including champions league, they would get ANYONE, apart from Gerrard/ Totti type of people, but quoting just two names on that stereotype basically shows how many of those are around the world, lol.


16.) 08 Jan 2018
08 Jan 2018 20:15:08
I think you guys also need to think about all the smaller clubs we have done the same thing to over the years, most recently and notably, Southampton.

Its the way of the modern game, big clubs run roughshod over smaller clubs with the promise of higher wages, greater prestige leading to bigger personal sponsorship etc.

In terms of size we are a very big club, but we are smaller than the Spanish giants and we are treated accordingly.

So I say suck it up buttercups and don't pretend we are any different in our dealings than anyone else. The simple answer, win more trophies, get more sponsorship, be more successful.


17.) 08 Jan 2018
08 Jan 2018 22:05:35
Sterling wasn't replaced by Ibe, Ibe was already at the club and not being played. Sterling was replaced by Coutinho or at least let go because he was toxic and we had a better player anyway. How many of those players left when we really, really wanted to keep them. Wouldn't say Sterling or Suarez by that stage. As others have pointed out players left because the club was trying to get rid anyway, not always for the right reason but that was the case. And again look at the nationalities. LFC is doing no worse than others on that front really.


18.) 08 Jan 2018
08 Jan 2018 22:12:38
Plus the constant factor is moving to Real Madrid and Barcelona, who are pretty much guaranteed ECL every season, which means they can attract the best, plus they have the money, which means they succeed in the competition, which means they have the money and the profile, which means they can attract the best etc. I've always believed that the toughness of getting ECL in England makes it harder to attract top players.