On this day in 2012, Brendan Rodgers made his first signing as Liverpool manager, bringing Fabio Borini from Roma for £10.4 million. The Italian forward was familiar to Rodgers, having coached him at Chelsea's youth ranks and during a loan spell at Swansea City. Over the course of Rodgers' Anfield reign, 32 more arrivals followed, with the Northern Irishman coming agonizingly close to winning the Premier League in 2014 before a disappointing final full season. Here is how the ECHO rated those 33 signings.
Fabio Borini
Borini scored just twice in an injury-hit spell before joining Sunderland on loan in September 2013. His first goal for the Mackems was a spectacular late winner against Newcastle. After being named Sunderland's young player of the year, a permanent £14m deal was reportedly agreed, but Borini chose to stay at Anfield. He scored one more goal for Liverpool, against Aston Villa in January 2015, before returning to Sunderland for £8m in August 2015. Rating: 4/10 – his unique goal celebration promised more than it delivered; his most significant Liverpool moment was arguably his late winner for Sunderland against Chelsea in the 2014 title run-in.
Joe Allen
The 'Welsh Xavi' followed Rodgers from Swansea to Liverpool for £15m in summer 2012. He played a role under Jurgen Klopp as well before moving to Stoke City. Rating: 6/10 – his metronomic passing served a purpose, but the dynamism of Klopp's sides proved beyond him.
Oussama Assaidi
The Moroccan winger joined from Heerenveen for £2.4m, making only 12 appearances before being loaned to Stoke, where he scored a winner against Chelsea. He was sold to Al-Ahli Dubai for £4.7m. Rating: 3/10 – minimal impact, remembered mainly for that winner against Chelsea.
Nuri Sahin
Sahin, once the Bundesliga's youngest player and goalscorer, joined Liverpool on loan from Real Madrid in summer 2012. He scored three goals in three days in September 2012 but was loaned back to Dortmund in January after only 12 games. Rating: 5/10 – his purple patch raised hopes that were never fulfilled.
Samed Yesil
The highly rated German youth international arrived for £1m but made only two first-team starts in the League Cup. After cruciate ligament injuries, he left for FC Luzern on loan in 2015 and was released. Rating: 2/10 – virtually zero impact.
Daniel Sturridge
Sturridge arrived from Chelsea for £12m in January 2013, becoming the first Liverpool player to score in his first three matches since Ray Kennedy in 1974. He formed a prolific partnership with Luis Suarez, scoring 67 goals in 160 games before leaving in 2019. Rating: 8/10 – not just a great goalscorer but a scorer of great goals, though injuries limited his potential.
Philippe Coutinho
Coutinho signed from Inter Milan for £8m in January 2013 and was key to Liverpool's 2014 title challenge. He left for Barcelona for over £100m in January 2018. Rating: 8/10 – provided fantastic moments, but the manner of his departure left a sour taste.
Luis Alberto
The Spaniard made only 12 appearances in 2013/14 and was loaned back to Spain before being sold to Lazio for £4.3m in 2016, where he became one of Serie A's most creative midfielders. Rating: 4/10 – looked smooth on the ball but made little impact at Liverpool.
Iago Aspas
Aspas started the first three matches of his one season, all 1-0 wins, but is largely remembered for a poor corner in the defeat to Chelsea that cost Liverpool the title in 2014. He later enjoyed a brilliant career at Celta Vigo. Rating: 5/10 – played a cameo in the flying starts to one of Liverpool's most memorable trophyless seasons.
Simon Mignolet
Mignolet saved a penalty on his debut in August 2013 and played a part in the near-title win and two cup finals under Klopp. He left in 2019 after being an unused substitute in the Champions League final. Rating: 6/10 – had his moments but never truly convinced, especially compared to his successor Alisson.
Kolo Toure
Toure joined on a free from Manchester City in 2013, becoming a cult hero. He departed in 2016 to reunite with Rodgers at Celtic. Rating: 6/10 – a hugely popular figure in the dressing room and stands.
Aly Cissokho
The loanee made 16 starts in the 2013/14 season. Rating: 5/10 – contributed four clean sheets and a deflected goal at Stoke during the title tilt.
Mamadou Sakho
Sakho arrived for £15m from PSG in 2013. He scored memorable goals against Dortmund and Everton in 2016 but fell out with Klopp and moved to Crystal Palace for £27m. Rating: 6/10 – had his moments, but never truly convincing; extra point for his post-match interview after the Dortmund fightback.
Tiago Ilori
The centre-back arrived in 2013 but waited three years for his first-team debut, eventually making three appearances before joining Reading for £3.75m. Rating: 3/10 – the long wait for a debut says it all.
Victor Moses
Moses joined on a season-long loan from Chelsea in 2013, scoring on his debut at Swansea but only one league goal overall. Rating: 3/10 – got everyone excited with that debut goal but it never happened.
Rickie Lambert
The boyhood Liverpool fan scored three goals in his one season, all away from home. Rating: 5/10 – never gave less than his best; extra point for his crowd-surfing celebration at Villa.
Adam Lallana
Lallana struggled under Rodgers but became a key figure under Klopp, scoring a crucial goal in the Europa League semi-final. Rating: 8/10 – written off multiple times but bounced back to prove critics wrong.
Emre Can
Can played mostly as a centre-back under Rodgers and was important under Klopp, leaving on a free to Juventus in 2018. Rating: 6/10 – scored great goals, notably the overhead kick at Watford, but Liverpool's progress after his departure showed he wasn't sorely missed.
Kevin Stewart
Stewart signed from Tottenham on a free and served as back-up before moving to Hull City in 2017. Rating: 4/10 – destined to be known as the player who went to Hull when Liverpool brought in Andy Robertson.
Lazar Markovic
A £20m signing from Benfica who never lived up to his price tag. He left for Fulham in 2020 after several loans. Rating: 3/10 – never looked close to delivering his potential; unlucky to be sent off against Basel when finding form.
Dejan Lovren
Lovren arrived for £20m from Southampton and, under Klopp, scored the late winner against Dortmund and played a key role in Liverpool's rise. Rating: 7/10 – not as bad as critics claimed, despite his self-proclaimed 'world's best' moniker.
Divock Origi
Origi made only two starts under Rodgers but became a Champions League hero under Klopp, scoring iconic goals against Barcelona and Tottenham. Rating: 8/10 – a true Liverpool cult hero.
Javier Manquillo
The Spanish full-back played 19 matches on loan in 2014/15. Rating: 4/10 – won a late penalty against Ludogorets; that's about it.
Alberto Moreno
Moreno scored a great goal at Tottenham early on but lacked defensive nous. He left for Villarreal on a free in 2020 after 141 games. Rating: 4/10 – well-liked but caused palpitations defensively.
Mario Balotelli
Balotelli joined from AC Milan in 2014 after Rodgers said he wouldn't sign him. He scored four goals in 28 matches, only one in the league. Rating: 3/10 – didn't deliver goals or off-the-pitch amusement.
Joe Gomez
Gomez initially played left-back under Rodgers and has gone on to win everything at Liverpool, remaining at the club. Rating: 9/10 – could be as important to future managers as he was to previous ones.
Adam Bogdan
The goalkeeper made a costly error on his only Premier League start at Watford in 2015 and left in 2020. Rating: 2/10 – not the man for Liverpool.
Danny Ings
Ings flourished under Rodgers but suffered serious injuries under Klopp and moved to Southampton. Rating: 6/10 – always looked like he had a goal in him; unlucky with injuries.
James Milner
Milner arrived on a free from Manchester City and became a key figure under Klopp. Rating: 9/10 – Liverpool's best ever free signing alongside Gary McAllister.
Nathaniel Clyne
Clyne was a crucial part of Klopp's side for two seasons but suffered injury in 2017 and lost his place to Trent Alexander-Arnold. Rating: 6/10 – safe pair of hands but last years decimated by injury.
Roberto Firmino
Firmino evolved into one of Europe's most respected forwards, his movement and intelligence providing the perfect foil for Salah and Mane. He scored the extra-time winner in the 2019 Club World Cup final. Rating: 10/10 – Liverpool's cleverest footballer since Kenny Dalglish.
Christian Benteke
Benteke struggled despite a £32.5m price tag and moved to Crystal Palace. Rating: 5/10 – wrong man at the wrong time but still managed 10 goals in 42 games.
Allan Rodrigues de Souza
Allan never played for Liverpool, being continually loaned out in search of a work permit. Rating: 0/10 – harsh but impossible to score otherwise.
