Liverpool have become one of the best teams in the world under Jurgen Klopp, meaning very few players want to leave Anfield.
But there have been a few occasions in the Premier League era where Liverpool have agreed to sell a player in a big-money deal.
We’ve looked at Liverpool’s 10 most expensive outgoings according to Transfermarkt to see how they fared after leaving Anfield.
10. Dominic Solanke
Despite only scoring once in 27 games for Liverpool, Solanke still did enough to convince Bournemouth that he was worth £19million in January 2019.
The striker continued to struggle in front of goal and his three Premier League goals in 2019-20 weren’t enough to prevent their relegation to the Championship.
But he found his feet in the second tier, registering 45 goals as the Dorset club achieved promotion at the second attempt – & he’s already off the mark in the Premier League this season.
9. Danny Ings
Ings joined Liverpool as a highly-rated striker in the summer of 2015 but was plagued by injury problems during his time at Anfield, making just 25 appearances for the Reds.
After a successful loan spell at Southampton in 2018-19, the England international then joined the club on a permanent deal for a fee of £20million.
He scored 38 goals in 75 appearances in all competitions over the following two seasons before completing a £25million move to Aston Villa in 2021.
It’s not quite happened for Ings, or any other Villa attacker, under Steven Gerrard’s management but he’s undoubtedly a solid Premier League operator.
8. Mamadou Sakho
Sakho spent four seasons at Liverpool before a string of disciplinary issues culminated in his £26million move to Crystal Palace in 2017.
The centre-back was a popular figure at Selhurst Park but struggled with injury problems, starting just 59 Premier League games during his four full seasons at the club.
After being released at the end of the 2020-21 season, he returned to his native France and signed a contract with Ligue 1 side Montpellier.
7. Christian Benteke
Signed for £32.5 million in 2015, Benteke spent just one solitary season at Liverpool before being sold to Crystal Palace at a £5.5million loss.
The Belgium international made an immediate impact with 17 goals in all competitions in his debut season, including a brace in a 2-1 win at Anfield.
He was never prolific at Selhurst Park, although Palace fans appreciated his work ethic, and Benteke moved to MLS side DC United over the summer.
6. Sadio Mane
Liverpool fans are still coming to terms with the loss of Mane so let’s not poke at an open wound.
5. Xabi Alonso
After falling out with Rafa Benitez, Alonso ended his five-year stay on Merseyside and completed a £30million move to Real Madrid in 2009.
The former Spain international continued to exclude class during his five years at the Bernabeu, helping Los Blancos pick up a La Liga title, the Champions League and two Copas del Rey.
He then added to his already well-stocked trophy cabinet when he joined Bayern Munich in 2014, winning three consecutive Bundesliga titles before hanging up his boots in 2017.
4. Raheem Sterling
Sterling, who joined Liverpool for an initial £450,000 from QPR as a 15-year-old, worked his way through the academy and formed part of a deadly attacking trio alongside Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge in 2013-14.
But he angered Liverpool fans by refusing to sign a new contract in 2015 and then made an acrimonious £49million move to Manchester City.
The 27-year-old has since developed into one of the best wingers in the world under Pep Guardiola, winning three Premier League titles, four League Cups and an FA Cup at City before moving to Chelsea this summer.
Sterling also starred for England at Euro 2020 and will be hoping to replicate that form at this year’s World Cup.
3. Fernando Torres
Torres was at the peak of his powers during his time at Anfield, scoring 81 goals in 142 appearances before joining Chelsea in a £50million deal in January 2011.
The striker was unable to replicate that form at Stamford Bridge, but he helped Chelsea lift the Champions League trophy for the first time in their history, scoring that memorable goal against Barcelona in the semi-final of the competition.
He later spent three seasons back at his boyhood club Atletico Madrid before finishing his career in Japan with Sagan Tosu in 2019.
2. Luis Suarez
Suarez was the subject of a £40million bid from Arsenal in 2013 but ultimately remained at Liverpool and nearly fired them to the title, scoring 31 goals in 33 Premier League games in 2013-14.
The Uruguay international then agitated for a move to Barcelona and Liverpool reluctantly accepted a £75million bid, although they didn’t reinvest that money very well.
Despite missing the start of the 2014-15 campaign due to a suspension carried over from a biting incident at the World Cup, he helped propel Barcelona to the La Liga, Copa del Rey and Champions League treble as part of the famed MSN attacking trio.
The striker continued to impress and became the club’s third-highest goalscorer of all time by scoring 198 goals in 283 appearances in all competitions.
After being discarded by Ronald Koeman in 2020, Suarez moved to Atletico Madrid and won a fifth La Liga title in his debut season. He’s now back in Uruguay with Nacional.
1. Philippe Coutinho
After their success with Mascherano and Suarez, Barcelona returned to the Liverpool shop in January 2018 as they searched for Andres Iniesta’s long-term replacement.
The Spanish giants agreed to pay a club-record £142million for Coutinho, who had developed into one of the best midfielders in the world under Klopp.
But the Brazil international has failed to justify that huge price tag and was even jeered by Barcelona fans at Camp Nou in 2019.
He does still have two La Liga winners’ medals to his name and also won the treble during his season on loan at Bayern Munich in 2019-20.
Coutinho returned to the Premier League in January 2022, joining Aston Villa on an initial loan deal before making the move permanent this summer. But, unfortunately, he’s looked a shadow of his former self in the West Midlands.
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