When Jurgen Klopp first took charge of Liverpool in 2015, the squad was lacking in quality and belief. The Reds had lost their top 2 goalscorers from the previous season in Steven Gerrard and Raheem Sterling. In addition, new signings Danny Ings and Christian Benteke were struggling to adapt to life at Anfield.
The board at Liverpool helped the German propel the team back to glory by making smart moves. Klopp’s net spend in Merseyside was £254 million compared to Pep Guardiola’s net spend of £692.3 million while at Manchester City. This shows how well they were able to rebuild their squad and demonstrates their departing manager’s superb ability to develop players.
Last Word on Football looks at Klopp’s best signing during his legendary Liverpool reign.
Top 5 Liverpool Signings of the Jurgen Klopp Reign
5. Andy Robertson
Former Hull City player Andy Robertson joined Liverpool on July 21, 2017, for just £8 million. The Scotsman started the season as the backup to Alberto Moreno but took advantage of an injury to the Spaniard in December to make the left-back position his own.
Read More: Liverpool Announce Arne Slot As New Manager
The best performance of his first term at Anfield came in a 4-3 victory over the centurion Manchester City side. Robertson didn’t let in-form winger Sterling get going against his former club and went viral for a sequence of play where he chased the ball back into City’s penalty area.
The 30-year-old has shone ever since, he has registered over ten league assists in three seasons. Robertson has become one of the most creative full-backs in Premier League history, the fact Liverpool paid so little to sign him is a testament to the Reds’ recruitment at the time.
4. Sadio Mane
On June 28, 2016, Sadio Mane joined Liverpool from Southampton and was the first Klopp signing to have a positive impact at Anfield. The £34 million the Reds paid for his services soon became a bargain.
The Senegalese winger quickly became a star player, scoring 13 goals and registering five assists in his first season in Merseyside. The addition of Mo Salah for Mane’s second campaign helped Liverpool reach the Champions League final. The 32-year-old equalized for Liverpool before Real Madrid went on to win 3-1.
Read More: Liverpool Star Makes Euro 2024 Squad Despite Injury Concerns
In the 2018/19 term, Mane was the joint winner of the Premier League Golden Boot alongside Salah and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. He helped Liverpool take Manchester City to the final day in the Premier League title race and win the Champions League.
The Senegalese winger has never been replaced since he left for Bayern Munich two years ago. His 90 goals, many of which won them games, will see him go down as an Anfield legend.
3. Alisson
Alisson was Liverpool’s final big signing before they started winning major honours. After Loris Karius’ nightmare in the 2018 Champions League final, the manager knew he needed more quality and composure from his goalkeeper. The Brazilian shot-stopper was signed from Roma for a fee of £71.6 million, making him the most expensive goalkeeper at the time.
Read More: Five Things We Learnt About Liverpool From Beating Wolves: Including A Perfect Player For Arne Slot
Liverpool won the Champions League in Alisson’s first season, the Brazilian was awarded the Champions League Goalkeeper of the Season award. The 31-year-old also won the Premier League Golden Glove as he kept 21 league clean sheets in his debut year.
The goalkeeper proved to be the missing piece in the rebuild and when he was signed they instantly became one of Europe’s best teams. He also scored a crucial header against West Brom in 2021 that helped the Reds keep their Champions League status. The Brazilian’s impact at Anfield is immeasurable and fans will hope he stays for many years to come.
2. Mo Salah
When Salah joined Liverpool, he became one of the world’s best attackers. After arriving from Roma for £36.9 million in 2017, the Egyptian broke the Premier League goal-scoring record in his first season with 32 goals.
Read More: Three Players Set To Leave Liverpool Following Klopp’s Departure
The 31-year-old is the only member of Klopp’s famous front three who was at the team for his departure. His consistency in his seven years at Anfield has seen him break records nearly every season. Salah won the PFA Player of the Year in 2018 and 2022 alongside three golden boots in 2018, 2019, and 2022. His goal against Everton in 2018 won the FIFA Puskas Award.
His 211 Liverpool goals put him fifth on the club’s all-time scoring list. The Egyptian’s 157 Premier League goals are good enough for 10th in the Premier League’s all-time scoring charts. The 31-year-old may be passing his best but he is still determined to break even more records under Arne Slot.
1. Virgil van Dijk
When Virgil van Dijk signed from Southampton for £75 million in January 2018, he helped Liverpool’s heavy metal style become more controlled. Europe’s best teams chased the Dutchman in the summer of 2017 but the rising Reds beat the competition to sign the centre back six months later.
Read More: ‘Priority Position’: Liverpool To Discuss Key Transfer Decision With Arne Slot
The now 32-year-old immediately made an impact, leading Liverpool’s improved defence to the Champions League final. Van Dijk’s brilliance was recognized with the PFA Players’ Player of the Year in 2019. The Dutch international was acknowledged as one of the best players in the world, finishing behind only Lionel Messi in the 2019 Ballon d’Or.
Van Dijk became the Liverpool captain in the summer when Jordan Henderson left for Saudi Arabia. He led a young, injury-hit side to the Carabao Cup with the winning goal in the final against Chelsea. Klopp’s best signing is now looking to lead his team into a successful new era under Arne Slot.
