Rating Every Jurgen Klopp Signing- Part 1
Marko Grujic- January 6, 2016
Price – £5,100,000
5/10
Signed from Red Star Belgrade, Marko Grujic arrived in hopes of being one for the future. With promise shown in the youth team and sporadic pre-season appearances, Marko Grujic has yet to make a real impact on the Liverpool team. His time riddled with injuries and loan spells, some may say he hasn’t been given his fair share of opportunities to really prove himself. Now 24 years of age, his time seems to be running out at Anfield if he can’t become a part of Jurgen Klopp’s plan soon.
Kamil Grabara- January 15, 2016
Price – £250,000
6/10
Still young (21), Kamil Grabara is a goalkeeper for the future. Throughout his time with the reds he’s impressed in the U 23’s, known for his strong mentality and great ability to retrieve balls from the air. With Liverpool having struggled with goalkeepers over the years, with continued hard work Grabara seems a worthy candidate to become a future first team player.
Sadio Mané- June 28, 2016
Price – £30,000,000
10/10
Sadio Mané was klopp’s first big name signing at Liverpool, and he started with a bang. Scoring a wonderful goal in his debut against Arsenal, Mané had set a precedent for what his future at Liverpool would look like. He’s scored a number of crucial goals, like the last minute winner at Goodison Park and a marvellous back-heel at the Allianz. Fast forward to today and he’s helped to guide Liverpool to Champions league, Super Cup, and Club World Cup trophies. He’s also played an integral role in putting the Reds in position to win their first Premier League title in 30 years.
Loris Karius- July 1, 2016
Price – £4,700,000
5/10
In need of a commanding goalkeeper, Liverpool decided to buy German goalkeeper Loris Karius from Mainz. His first season consisted of coming in and out of the starting 11 due to repeated mistakes and injuries. It wasn’t until the second half of the 17/18 season that Karius had cemented his place in the Liverpool team. He had some solid performances, guiding Liverpool to the Champions League Final. In the final he made fatal errors that ultimately cost the Reds the match, and that’s ultimately what he will be remembered for. His disastrous performance in the Champions League Final seems to overshadow many positive games he played for Liverpool. Many feel that Karius has been hard done by with the criticism faced after the match, but many also see the mistakes as unforgivable. Since the final, Karius has been dropped and sent out on loan to Turkish side Besiktas.
Joel Matip- July 1, 2016
Price – Free
7.5/10
When Jurgen Klopp arrived at Liverpool, defending was not one of the Reds’ strong points. Matip was brought in to solidify the defence and command the back four. His sporadic performances over the past four years have been great, and he lives up to the high expectations Klopp holds for him whenever called upon. What prevents Matip from receiving a higher rating is the high competition for places in the defence, limiting his runs in the team.
Ragnar Klavan- July 20, 2016
Price – £4,200,000
7.5/10
Brought in as a back-up center back, Ragnar Klavan did his job and did it well. Making sporadic appearances and coming on late to protect late leads, he was always a solid option. Although he wasn’t world class, he put maximum effort into every game and was proud to wear the Liverpool shirt.
Georginio Wijnaldum- July 22, 2016
Price – £25,000,000
9/10
Coming from a relegated Newcastle side and with a 25 million pound price tag, Wijnaldum arrived with no shortage of critics. He has however cemented himself as a regular in the Liverpool midfield. Wijnaldum’s ability on the ball is second to none and his high intensity style is perfect for Jurgen Klopp’s style. Wijnaldum was also a key player in Liverpool’s emphatic 4-0 win against Barcelona, scoring 2 back to back goals sending the Reds to the Champions League Final.