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Anfield Flops

Andy Carroll, Iago Aspas, Antonio Nunez… Liverpool’s nine worst Premier League transfers

Whether under Gerard Houllier, Rafa Benitez or Roy Hodgson, the Reds have been on the receiving end of some horror deals

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JURGEN KLOPP had a successful first summer as Liverpool boss in the transfer market, with Joel Matip, Sadio Mane and Georginio Wijnaldum all thriving at Anfield.

 Jurgen Klopp's summer signings have all borne fruit so far in 2016-17
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Jurgen Klopp's summer signings have all borne fruit so far in 2016-17Credit: Getty Images

The Reds are flying at second in the Premier League and the new signings have all played a huge role.

But that hasn't always been the case... Here, we take a look at the nine worst Liverpool signings in Premier League history.


Keep up to date with ALL the Liverpool news, gossip, transfers and goals on our club page plus fixtures, results and live match commentary.


ANDY CARROLL

 Andy Carroll endured an horrendous spell at Liverpool before his West Ham move
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Andy Carroll endured an horrendous spell at Liverpool before his West Ham moveCredit: Getty Images

£35MILLION. Carroll cost Liverpool £35m as they essentially burned all of the cash they received for selling Fernando Torres to Chelsea in January 2011.

Granted, the young Toon man was one of the hottest prospects in England during his Newcastle days, but his spell at Anfield was horrid.

Persistently sidelined by injuries, even when Carroll made it onto the pitch he struggled; in 2011-12 he netted just four times in 35 Prem appearances.

Finally, thanks to the arrival of Brendan Rodgers, Carroll was sold to West Ham after 44 league appearances and just six goals in two-and-a-half years.

IAGO ASPAS

 Iago Aspas did nothing positive of note during his time at Liverpool
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Iago Aspas did nothing positive of note during his time at LiverpoolCredit: Action Images

REMEMBERED mostly for that corner against Chelsea, Aspas was a total dud at Liverpool.

The Spaniard has enjoyed a mini-resurgence - even earning a Spain cap and scoring... against England - at Sevilla and Celta Vigo.

But at Liverpool, he netted zero goals in 14 Premier League appearances before he was sold after one year.

ANTONIO NUNEZ

 Antonio Nunez was part of the Michael Owen to Real Madrid transfer
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Antonio Nunez was part of the Michael Owen to Real Madrid transferCredit: PA:Press Association

SIGNED from Real Madrid as part of the Michael Owen transfer, Nunez goes down as one of the worst players to ever turn out an Anfield.

Somehow the Spaniard made 27 appearances in all competitions - scoring once - for Liverpool before he was sold to Celta Vigo.

The, ahem, ex-Galactico, finished off his career in the second tier of Spanish football and the Cypriot First Division.

JAN KROMKAMP

 Jan Kromkamp was an instantly forgettable Liverpool player
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Jan Kromkamp was an instantly forgettable Liverpool playerCredit: PA:Press Association

ALWAYS second in line for the right-back spot behind Steve Finnan, there were more reasons than just that for Kromkamp's failure at Liverpool.

The Dutch full-back spent just six months at the Reds, making only 14 Premier League appearances.

Kromkamp was consistently held back by his lack of pace on the wing going forward and in defence as he was the leakiest member of an otherwise solid back four in 2006.

ROBBIE KEANE

 Robbie Keane lasted just six months at Liverpool before leaving
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Robbie Keane lasted just six months at Liverpool before leavingCredit: PA:Press Association

A SUPERB striker with heaps of Premier League experience and a knack for scoring goals in bunches, Keane should have been the final cog to finally help Liverpool win the Premier League.

But after taking a whopping 688 minutes to score his first Reds goal - against PSV Eindoven in the Champions League - he was sold after just six months.

Keane will be remembered for a terrific strike against Arsenal, but with Torres and Steven Gerrard running the show, the Republic of Ireland star was nothing other than a Reds flop.

ANDRIY VORONIN

 Andriy Voronin was a complete Anfield flop during his brief time at Liverpool
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Andriy Voronin was a complete Anfield flop during his brief time at LiverpoolCredit: EMPICS Sport

THE Ukrainian striker may have signed on a Bosman free transfer, but that still doesn't make it any better.

Voronin was utterly dreadful at Anfield as he failed to add anything to Rafa Benitez's front-line.

He did manage to net six goals in his first season, but following a loan move to Hertha Berlin, he never scored again for Liverpool and was promptly shipped off.

BRUNO CHEYROU

 Bruno Cheyrou was once tipped as the 'new Zinedine Zidane'
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Bruno Cheyrou was once tipped as the 'new Zinedine Zidane'Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd

THE moment Cheyrou was dubbed the 'new Zinedine Zidane' it was curtains for the French attacking midfielder.

There's nowhere to hide in the Premier League and he was forced to learn that the hard way.

Having scored 15 times for Lille prior to his 2002 move to Anfield, hopes were high.

But other than netting the winner against Chelsea, there were no highlights as his abject performances were epitomised by a lack of work-rate and physicality required in the top flight.

CHRISTIAN POULSEN

 Christian Poulsen joined Liverpool with a wealth of European pedigree
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Christian Poulsen joined Liverpool with a wealth of European pedigreeCredit: EMPICS Sport

FOLLOWING spells at Schalke, Sevilla and Juventus, defensive midfielder Poulsen was supposed to be a first-team regular at Liverpool.

However, he played just 12 times in his sole season at Anfield as he struggled to nail down a first-team spot.

Eventually, new boss Kenny Dalglish preferred Jay Spearing in the holding midfield spot and Poulsen joined French side Evian.

ALBERTO AQUILANI

 Alberto Aquilani never adjusted to life in England at Liverpool
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Alberto Aquilani never adjusted to life in England at LiverpoolCredit: PA:Press Association

IT'S hard to believe Aquilani was brought in touted as the natural successor to Xabi Alonso.

It's fair to say that never quite happened as the £17m man never got close to replacing the Spanish Kop idol.

Italian midfielder Aquilani at times showed signs of natural talent but was often out-muscled in the Premier League.

At just 28 games played in three seasons, he represents another expensive Anfield flop, before he was sold to Fiorentina in 2012.

HONOURABLE MENTION

 El-Hadji Diouf goes down as one of the most despised Liverpool players ever
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El-Hadji Diouf goes down as one of the most despised Liverpool players everCredit: EMPICS Sport

OF course, there have been many other somewhat dodgy signings not to make the top nine.

Here, we list a handful of other Reds flops from years gone by...

Josemi, Paul Konchesky, Anthony Le Tallec, Stewart Downing, Andrea Dossena, Philipp Degen, El-Hadji Diouf.

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