Picking the Transfer Window That Liverpool Fans Would Love to Reboot
Liverpool's summer transfer history is patchy, to say the least.
To borrow Isaac Newton's third law of motion, for every action, there has been an equal and opposite reaction. From the start of the Premier League era, the Reds made mistakes in the market.
From Paul Stewart in 1992 through to Christian Benteke in 2015, Liverpool have signed their fair share of flops. Signings that perhaps made sense on paper but, for whatever reason, didn't pan out on the pitch.
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But what about the success stories?
If the club's fans could pick one summer window to reboot, allowing them to add that year's signings to bolster manager Jurgen Klopp's current squad, which year would they choose?
Well, we asked them on Twitter:
Of course, the poll only provided four options. It didn't allow the sadomasochists out there to vote for the summer of 2002, for example, when then-manager Gerard Houllier appeared to lose his marbles by agreeing to buy the triumvirate of El Hadji Diouf, Bruno Cheyrou and Salif Diao. Ouch.
Here is Bleacher Report's own breakdown of the best windows seen since the BBC cancelled Play School.
Third place: 2004, The Spanish Armada
Benitez’s arrival at Anfield signalled a wave of Spanish recruits. Dabbling in a market he knew ridiculously well, the new Liverpool manager signed four of his fellow countrymen during his first summer at the helm.
On reflection, he had a 50 per cent strike rate. Full-back Josemi—the first in the door—and Antonio Nunez—a makeweight in the deal that sent Michael Owen to Real Madrid—failed to make an impact during their largely forgettable time in England.
Yet if that pair were poor (and poor is putting it kindly, particularly for Nunez, the winger with the turning circle of the QE II), Benitez struck gold with the other two Spaniards he signed from La Liga.
By scoring the "Ghost Goal" in the 2005 UEFA Champions League semi-final second leg against Chelsea, Luis Garcia—the winger who drank Sangria—made sure he would forever be remembered fondly by the red half of Liverpool.
Having previously worked together at Tenerife, Benitez knew all about Garcia, a hard-working wide man with an eye for goal (he scored 18 in 71 appearances during his time with the Premier League club).
But it was the fourth and final Spaniard who must have heavily swayed the voting in the Twitter poll.
Such is the love for Xabi Alonso, Liverpool fans would have him back in a heartbeat, even though he’s now officially retired. Just mention the midfielder’s name to some and they will still go weak at the knees.
Alonso works in any team. In Benitez’s structured system, he flourished next to Steven Gerrard; at Real Madrid, he was part of the engine room that kept the Galacticos going; and at Bayern Munich, he continued to sparkle even in the twilight of his career. Oh, and then there was his success with the Spanish national team, as he won Euro 2008 and 2012, with the 2010 FIFA World Cup sandwiched in between.
But would he be the most beneficial of all the old boys? Probably not, no (and typing that makes me die a little inside).
While Alonso's range of passing would undoubtedly be beneficial, Klopp is not short of options to play in the centre of the park, particularly if Philippe Coutinho continues in the deeper role he occupied at the end of the last season.
Sorry to disagree with the masses, but Liverpool have more pressing concerns than midfield. A young, fresh-faced Alonso from 2004 isn't solving a problem in the current squad, he's just creating a headache when it comes to selecting the best XI.
Second place: 2007, Striking it Rich
Benitez’s summer of 2007 was a hotchpotch in terms of his transfer dealings.
Who can forget Charles Itandje, Damien Plessis and Sebastian Leto? Everyone, that’s who. The trio made about as much of an impact as a water pistol at the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral.
Other recruits did, however, make a better impression with the Reds. A young Lucas Leiva could replace the departing Lucas in Klopp’s crop, while Ryan Babel and Yossi Benayoun would offer contrasting options off the bench, particularly as Liverpool could do with some cover for wingers Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane.
However, this window would be rebooted for just one man: Fernando Torres.
Signed for a then-club-record £20.2 million from Atletico Madrid, the Spanish striker didn’t take long to show he was worth every penny.
Handed the famous No. 9 jersey, Torres adapted quickly to the Premier League. The physicality and pace of English football suited him down to the ground as he became the focal point of Liverpool’s attack.
"El Nino" scored 33 goals in all competitions in his debut season. Injuries hampered him in the following years, but that shouldn’t detract from the initial impact he made.
"Torres is the nearest thing I have ever seen to Roger Hunt. When Roger was around, if there was a chance inside the 18-yard box then the ball was in the back of the net—there was no question about that," Tommy Smith said of the forward, per LFC History.
Of course, his move to Chelsea left a bitter taste. Liverpool profited financially, yet the loss of such a talismanic figure was like a gut punch from Mike Tyson (prime Mike Tyson, too, not the Mike Tyson who appears on Broadway).
The anger at the manner of his departure has faded with time. Torres struggled badly as a Blue in London and is now back home with Atletico, the club where he built such a burgeoning reputation in his early years.
But that player who dominated the 2007/08 campaign would start in Liverpool's current XI. While Roberto Firmino does a fine job leading the line, he’s not good enough to keep out a prime Torres, who could lead the counter-press and would feast on the chances that the creative players around him provided.
First place: 1999, Solid as a Rock
When Houllier took over, he talked about putting in place a five-year plan for success. Having started out at Anfield working alongside Roy Evans, the Frenchman was placed in sole charge in November 1998.
The following summer offered him the chance to put his stamp on the squad. The Reds were good at scoring goals—no surprise considering they had Robbie Fowler and Michael Owen up front—but had more issues with leaks than Julian Assange.
Houllier realised his grand plan didn’t have a hope of working out without solid foundations, so he signed two centre-backs to help plug the holes at the back.
Finn Sami Hyypia cost £3 million from Willem II in May 1999. Stephane Henchoz arrived the following month, with Liverpool paying relegated Blackburn £3.5 million to acquire the Swiss (thanks to a release clause in his contract).
Talk about hitting the jackpot.
The tall, technically gifted Hyypia meshed perfectly with the doggedly determined Henchoz. In their first season playing together, Liverpool conceded just 30 league goals as they finished in fourth position.
How supporters must wish they could pair these two together now. Just one of them would be nice, popped in alongside Joel Matip to give the Reds a more stable-looking centre-back partnership. Klopp’s public pursuit of Virgil van Dijk shows how Liverpool’s current boss sees the need for defensive reinforcements.
The German would also be ready with one of his now customary bear hugs to welcome the arrival of compatriot Dietmar Hamann, who signed from Newcastle United for £8 million on July 22, 1999.
Captain Jordan Henderson filled the holding midfield role until his 2016/17 season was cut short by a foot injury.
Hamann, however, might be an even better fit for the position. His ability to read the game, as well as kick-start attacks from deep with his excellent passing skills, would make him ideal for Klopp’s 4-3-3 system.
Titi Camara, Vladimir Smicer and Sander Westerveld arrived in the summer of 1999, although all three would do well to make the bench in the current squad.
Emile Heskey was also signed in the season, albeit he didn’t join until March 2000. He proved an excellent foil for Michael Owen in Houllier’s team that did the cup treble the following campaign. Yet for all his qualities (and he does have some, despite receiving plenty of criticism during his career), the striker wouldn't suit Klopp’s high-press, fast-tempo football.
Hyypia, Henchoz and Hamann, however, would fit right in. What Liverpool wouldn't give to repeat the summer of '99 all over again.
Rob Lancaster is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report. All statistics and transfer fees are from LFC History unless otherwise stated.
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