It was a summer transfer window that brought plenty of change as Jürgen Klopp continued to revamp a Liverpool side that had brought him so much success. The likes of Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister have impressed in their first months at Anfield, with Klopp’s men still fighting for four trophies this season.
Liverpool remains top of the Premier League at the halfway point and, once again, the German boss appears to have got his transfer dealings spot on. But what of the players who made way for Klopp to launch his Liverpool 2.0 team?
Captain Jordan Henderson was the big-name exit as he moved to Saudi Arabia, alongside teammates Fabinho and Roberto Firmino, but it is fair to say not all of those deals have gone to plan. Henderson, who had long been an ally of the LGBTQ+ community, saw his reputation take a huge hit when he opted to leave Anfield and join ex-teammate Steven Gerrard at Al-Ettifaq in July.
But just six months later, the England midfielder’s contract is being mutually terminated (as per Sky Sports). Despite signing a deal worth $880,000 (£700k/€815k) per week, he has struggled to settle and played just 19 games, often in front of paltry attendances.
Now, Henderson looks set to return to Europe with Ajax, who could finalize a deal by the end of the week. The Dutch giant has had some issues of its own but will hope Henderson’s arrival can secure a place in next season’s Champions League after a disappointing start.
Ex-teammate Firmino has also been linked with another move recently, with Chelsea reportedly considering a surprise swoop for the Anfield icon. The Brazilian scored a hat-trick on his debut for Al-Ahli after his free transfer in the summer, but he has not found the net since then in 18 appearances. He is said to be one of a number of strikers on Mauricio Pochettino’s radar as he tries to add some much-needed firepower.
Firmino was back at Anfield alongside Fabinho to watch the win over Newcastle on January 1 and his countryman has also found the going tough in Saudi Arabia. While the midfielder has been a regular with Al-Ittihad, the defending champions sit seventh in the Pro League table, despite some star-studded arrivals.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, meanwhile, left Liverpool on a free transfer and was looking to rejuvenate his career with Turkish side Besiktas. He initially caught the eye with some impressive performances and was in good goalscoring form before a serious hamstring setback at the end of 2023. It remains to be seen when he will return but unfortunately his injury woes do not appear to be completely behind him.
The same can be said for Naby Keïta, whose Liverpool career was also blighted with injuries after his arrival in 2018. Keita completed a free transfer to Werder Bremen but has played just three times and not at all since October after tearing a thigh muscle.
In contrast, James Milner has enjoyed some success at Brighton, featuring regularly in the Europa League at 38. He has again shown his versatility and is now closing in on Gareth Barry’s all-time Premier League appearance record.
