As I wrote on September 2nd, it was about as interesting a summer transfer window as possible for Liverpool FC. They sold the best player in the entire Premier League to Barca, for a huge sum. And it all happened in the wake of an international controversy and extreme disgrace. The Reds then went on a buying spree with all that new cash. And one of their buys is another headcase/problem child in Mario Balotelli.
However, that comparison isn’t all that fair, because Suarez always gets it done on the field. His teammates like him, as he works hard and maintains focus. And then he bites people and hurls racial slurs. But that’s just one aspect of the Liverpool FC activity in the summer transfer period. They ended up net spending the fourth most of anyone in Europe, at £77 million net.
The good people at the website Four Four Two seem to agree with me, they ranked the transfer window results for all 20 Premier League teams, and Liverpool FC deservedly placed near the top 6th out of 20. Here’s what they had to say:
Brendan Rodgers has had a busy summer at Liverpool. The Reds have essentially sold their Ferrari and used the money to refurbish the whole house. Rodgers lost Luis Suarez but has brought in numbers to ensure last season’s small squad is beefed up both in quality and quantity to deal with the added challenge of Champions League football. Rodgers’ eye for talent doesn’t look to have failed him this summer. Though Rickie Lambert may struggle for game time and Dejan Lovren must prove he’s ready to lead a defence chasing trophies, the signings of Adam Lallana, Alberto Moreno, Emre Can and Lazar Markovic look like superb business. Mario Balotelli meanwhile is the ultimate wild card, with potential to make the £16m paid to Milan look a steal. £117m has been spent at Anfield and, all things considered, it looks to have been spent well.
Paul M. Banks owns and operates The Sports Bank.net, in partnership with Fox Sports and Yahoo. Read his feature stories in the Chicago Tribune RedEye edition. Listen to him Tuesdays on KOZN 1620 The Zone. Follow him on Twitter (@paulmbanks)