Top 5 : Worst summer signings in LFC’s history

There are now less than two weeks until the start of the 2014-15 Premier League season, and Liverpool’s squad is shaping up nicely.

Brendan Rodgers has been the busiest Premier League manager in the transfer market this summer, and if the Reds boss gets his way then there will be further arrivals before the start of the new season.

But what have we made of the new signings so far?

Rodgers insists the signings of Rickie Lambert, Adam Lallana, Emre Can, Lazar Markovic, Dejan Lovren and Divock Origi are all part of a strategy based on signing the right type of player for the philosophy that has been implemented over the past two years.

But there seems to be a strong desire from Reds supporters to see that ‘marquee signing’ – someone to pick up where Luis Suarez left off last season.

There is still a long way to go in this transfer window, and you can be sure there will be plenty more twists and turns.

But for anyone who may be feeling slightly underwhelmed by the new signings thus far, we have something to make you feel a bit better.

Just be safe in the knowledge that no matter who we sign this summer, it will be almost impossible for them to be any worse than the five we have identified as the Reds worst summer signings in Premier League history.

5) Charlie Adam 

Kenny Dalglish seemed to be chasing Charlie Adam from the moment he arrived at Anfield for his second stint in charge.

The Reds missed out on Adam that January – which in hindsight seems a blessing – and completed a £9million deal in the summer of 2012.

Adam looked a shadow of the player who had almost single handedly helped Blackpool avoid the drop the previous year, managing just two goals for Liverpool – of which only one came from open play.

A lack of energy in the middle of the park, and niggling injuries meant his LFC career never got going, and he was promptly sold to Stoke following the arrival of Brendan Rodgers.

Anyone with any questions as to why, should read the extract from Craig Bellamy’s autobiography on the Scottish midfielder – which is fair to say, is less than complimentary.

4) Stewart Downing 

The former England winger seemed to have all the attributes to be a top class player.

Decent pace, game intelligence, a powerful shot and the ability to pick a cross.

But the £20million price tag the Reds paid for him in the summer of 2012 seemed to be a weight on his shoulders that could simply not be lifted.

Downing famously failed to provide a single goal or assist during his debut season – although not for the want of trying if you remember the amount of times we hit the woodwork during that campaign – and despite fighting his way back into Brendan Rodgers plans for the 2012-13 season, he was sold to West Ham for a loss of £14million just 12 months ago.

3) Paul Konchesky 

The left back is seen as the symbol of Roy Hodgson’s ill-fated spell in charge at Anfield.

The former West Ham man was one of the players Hodgson brought with him from Fulham, and looked immediately out of his depth at Anfield.

Things got worse for Konchesky, when his mother decided to take to Facebook to launch a foul-mouthed attack on the clubs supporters, after Konchesky had endured another nightmare performance in the 2-0 defeat at Stoke.

Konchesky was allowed to leave for Nottingham Forest on loan when Kenny Dalglish arrived in January 2011, and never played for the club again.

2) Joe Cole 

The ‘marquee signing’ of the Roy Hodgson era proved to be the capture of Joe Cole on a free transfer from Chelsea.

Cole arrived with a reputation of being one of English football’s most exciting talents – which somehow earned him a contract worth £100k a week at Anfield.

Cole never got going at Liverpool.

He was sent off on his debut against Arsenal, and never recovered.

He was out of the side following the arrival of Dalglish, and sent on loan to Lille for the 2012-13 season.

Brendan Rodgers wasn’t won over either when he returned the following season, lasting until January before being allowed to join former club West Ham.

He has since been let go from his first club as well, and is set to start the new season at Aston Villa.

He left Liverpool with 26 Premier League appearances, and three goals – and an improved bank balance.

1) El-Hadji Diouf 

It is still a bit sickening even to this day to think the Reds paid £10million for El Hadji Diouf in the summer of 2002 – especially when you think Gerard Houllier signed the Senegal ‘forward’ as an alternative to Nicolas Anelka.

Houllier famously had the chance to sign the French forward – a proven Premier League goalscorer – following his loan spell the previous season.

Houllier opted against it, believing Diouf would be a better alternative.

In two seasons at Anfield, Diouf managed a total of three Premier League goals, and shamed the club by spitting at a supporter during a UEFA Cup clash with Celtic.

Without a doubt, the worst player in the clubs history to wear the famous number 9 shirt, and looking back his signing probably signaled the beginning of the end for Gerard Houllier.

Do you agree with the top five? Anyone you would add to the list? Let us know your comments below.