27 Mar 2026 19:14:38
Question for everyone: it has often happened that players have blossomed at Liverpool even though they tanked in other clubs before coming to us (Salah at Chelsea is the obvious example). But what are the examples of players who tanked at Liverpool but then turned into superstars after they left us?
27 Mar 2026 20:54:41
Steve Ogrizovic.
27 Mar 2026 21:06:37
It's a short list, to be honest. Most players who succeeded after playing for us were good players for us first.
Steve Staunton might be a shout? Was always a decent player, but cemented his legacy at Villa.
27 Mar 2026 21:11:41
Our next manager was very good when he played for us, but got better when he left us.
27 Mar 2026 21:27:16
Sterling made his name more at City than us?
Suso and Riera are 2 players that we, on the boards, have discussed bringing back.
Galusci was also discussed.
There have been others who have had long careers in the top 5 leagues, but the ones above are the main ones I can think of recently.
27 Mar 2026 21:28:56
Luis Alberto apparently done well when he left.
Harry Wilson springs to mind. Whatever happened to Benteke, or am I dreaming that he played for us???
Arbeloa done well at Madrid too.
27 Mar 2026 21:34:06
Iago Aspas and Luis Alberto are the most recent that spring to mind. Both went on to have good careers after failing to really make an impact for us. To be fair, though, Aspas had done pretty well in Spain before we signed him. Peter Gulacsi has also had a really good career.
27 Mar 2026 21:35:12
Aspas is still doing alright at Celta Vigo.
Also Luis Suarez didn't have a bad career after us. Not too sure whether to put Kelleher on the list yet as he needs to prove consistency first.
27 Mar 2026 21:38:07
Showing my age here, but Kevin Sheedy.
27 Mar 2026 21:40:07
Suso.
27 Mar 2026 21:53:31
Neco Williams ain't doing bad at Athletic Club. ;)
27 Mar 2026 21:57:17
Not superstars tho!
27 Mar 2026 22:11:45
Brad Friedel. Not a superstar, but super keeper imo. Looked v poor for us in his short stint and then went on to be an excellent keeper for years, much better than what we had in nets after he left.
27 Mar 2026 22:18:13
Alou Diarra. Didn't get a game at Liverpool. Went on to win the French league with two different clubs, French Cup with another, and 44 caps for France and a World Cup runners-up medal.
27 Mar 2026 22:20:49
Alou Diarra.
27 Mar 2026 23:53:00
Friedel is a great shout, Digger.
Anelka also went through a few decent spells later in his career after he left us.
28 Mar 2026 04:13:12
Iago Aspas, Steve Staunton, Luis Suarez, McManaman did good at Real. More recently, Harry Wilson is doing well.
The list is fairly small, though tbh.
28 Mar 2026 07:14:39
Khelleher is doing well and would take him back as Ali's successor.
28 Mar 2026 07:15:44
Mis read that question, thought it was who we would take back.
28 Mar 2026 07:26:13
Surely Xabi is the foremost example? He was a super player for us, but he became one of the greatest midfielders in footballing history at Real and continued being great at an advanced age at Bayern.
He went up one or two levels after leaving us, though that didn't have to do with leaving us, since he was already beginning to exhibit that kind of form when he left.
Mascherano would be another example, I guess.
28 Mar 2026 07:39:37
The post says tanked. Suarez/Alonso/Mascherano/Anelka didn't play bad for us, so I wouldn't include them.
Diarra
Suso
Alberto
Wilson (didn't get the chance)
Neco (same as above)
Aspas
Gulasci
Coates
Solanke? Was very young
Ryan Kent - carved a decent career in SPL
Coady? Never broken through but had a decent career.
28 Mar 2026 08:15:12
Ah right, Kloppers, silly me, I missed that part.
Um.....Danny Ings maybe?
28 Mar 2026 08:54:50
Kim Cattrall
28 Mar 2026 09:40:01
Mikel San Jose. Had a decent career after being in our 21's. Ended up with a few caps for Spain too.