LUIS SUAREZ broke Liverpool hearts when he signed for Barcelona in 2014.
The Uruguayan was coming off an electrifying 2013-14 season, during which he scored 31 goals and notched 17 assists in just 33 appearances.
Luis Suarez left Liverpool for Barcelona in 2014
Losing Suarez was devastating for boss Brendan Rodgers, but the Northern Irishman was able to splurge on eight new players that transfer window.
Unfortunately, he was hardly selling Elvis to sign The Beatles…
In fact, the success rate of those eight signings was mixed at best.
After GMS went back through the archives, let’s take our own look at what became of the Reds’ 2014 summer signings.
ADAM LALLANA
Adam Lallana would go on to taste success with Liverpool
By the standards of the players Liverpool bought in 2014, picking up Adam Lallana for £25million from Southampton turned out to be solid business.
The midfielder initially struggled a little at Anfield, but went on to become an important player in the early Jurgen Klopp years.
He would leave Anfield in 2020 with Champions League and Premier League medals in addition to 178 appearances. Now 33, he currently plays for Brighton & Hove Albion.
DEJAN LOVREN
Dejan Lovren won the Champions League in 2019
If there’s one person that never lost faith in Dejan Lovren during his six years at Anfield, it was Dejan Lovren.
The Croatian started Champions League and World Cup finals during his Reds stint, but had too many clangers in him to be considered a reliable presence at the back.
After 185 Liverpool outings Lovren moved to Zenit last year, and at 32 now captains the Russian giants.
LAZAR MARKOVIC
Lazar Markovic flopped at Liverpool
Having seen him tear Tottenham to shreds in the Europa League for Benfica, Liverpool felt that recruiting young winger Lazar Markovic for £20m was shrewd business.
Unfortunately for the Reds, the Serbian just never got going at Anfield, and would be sent on loans to Fenerbahce, Sporting, Hull City, and Anderlecht – leaving for Fulham five years and just 34 appearances later.
After just ONE appearance for the Cottagers he was on the move again, signing for Partizan Belgrade now, where he still plays now aged 27.
MARIO BALOTELLI
Mario Balotelli struggled to deliver his best form for Liverpool
After losing Suarez, Liverpool tried to replace some of his goals by bringing Mario Balotelli back to England for £16m.
Super Mario, who had just bagged 18 goals in a season for AC Milan, would score just ONCE in the Premier League for the Reds.
He was loaned back to Milan after one season at Anfield, before embarking on a successful three-year stint at Nice, followed by less fruitful times at Marseille, Brescia, Monza and now Adana Demirspor in Turkey.
ALBERTO MORENO
Alberto Moreno was often a liability at the back
Reds fans thought they had a cracking player on their hands when Alberto Moreno scored a terrific goal against Spurs on just his second appearance for the club.
But unfortunately for the Spaniard, his mistake-prone ways saw him later fall behind Andrew Robertson and even James Milner in the pecking order at left-back.
He moved to Villarreal in 2019, and picked up silverware with them last season as they beat Manchester United to win the Europa League.
DIVOCK ORIGI
Divock Origi scores in the 2019 Champions League final
Divock Origi has had a baffling Liverpool career.
So often in the background, the Belgian has even twice been shunted out on loan.
But a few months of prominence in 2019 led to him scoring the clincher in the Champions League final – cementing his status in Reds folklore and earning him the contract extension that keeps him at Anfield to this day.
EMRE CAN
Emre Can had a forgettable stint at Liverpool
Midfielder Emre Can always flattered to deceive at Liverpool, never proving himself to be good enough to command a place in the first XI.
He left for Juventus on a free transfer in 2018, but was again found to not be good enough there.
Can, 27, signed for Borussia Dortmund in 2020, initially on loan, before completing a permanent deal.
RICKIE LAMBERT
Rickie Lambert lived out a childhood dream with the RedsCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Having just been to the World Cup with England, veteran striker Rickie Lambert’s 2014 got even better that summer when he secured his dream move to Liverpool.
Unfortunately for the big striker his best days were behind him – and he managed just three goals in 36 appearances for his hometown team.
He left Anfield after just a year, playing a season each at West Brom and Cardiff before hanging up his boots aged 35 in 2017.
