FOOTBALL: The 9 players sold by Liverpool in 2022 and how they’ve fared since

 

“Jurgen Klopp’s side have endured something of a hangover after their quadruple-pushing exploits last season, although form has picked up in recent weeks, despite the arrival of Darwin Nunez and Cody Gakpo in the last year. But have things gone well for those that left? Let’s take a look”

PEGASUS REPORTERS, LAGOS | MARCH 11, 2023

Liverpool said goodbye to an all-time legend, a cult hero, and plenty of fringe players in the summer of 2022, but how have they fared since? We’ve done some digging to find out. Jurgen Klopp’s side has endured something of a hangover after their quadruple-pushing exploits last season, although form has picked up in recent weeks, despite the arrival of Darwin Nunez and Cody Gakpo in the last year. But have things gone well for those that left? Let’s take a look…

Loris Karius
Liverpool finally cut ties with Karius in 2022, four years after that Champions League final disaster class against Real Madrid.

The goalkeeper had spent the intervening period on loan at Besiktas and Union Berlin, but his next permanent move was considerably closer to home.

Newly-minted Newcastle signed Karius as cover for Nick Pope, initially on a three-month deal. This was later extended until the end of the 2022-23 season.

His one and only appearance for the club came in last month’s League Cup final defeat to Manchester United, where Karius performed well despite conceding two goals.

It remains unlikely that his contract at St James’ Park will be extended beyond the end of June.

Divock Origi
Beloved by the Anfield faithful for his goals against Barcelona and Everton, Origi left with everybody’s best wishes at the end of his contract.

The Belgium striker moved to AC Milan and has scored twice in 23 appearances for the Italian giants. He’s also taken to social media to announce the creation of his own fashion brand.

“I think it comes from my mum because she’s very stylish,” said Origi in 2018, when speaking to the Soccer Bible about his adoration for fashion.

“I think it’s always been in me, even when I was very young I always used to combine my clothes, and I would always get compliments about my outfits.

“Every time I was given some money to go and buy some clothes I would always be very creative. I’d go into the stores and try and match my clothes.

“I’ve always tried to make outfits that bit more special and unique. I think it’s my way of expressing myself because I’m not a big talker, I’m not really expressive in that way, but I am in the way that I dress.”

Liverpool’s Divock Origi celebrates after scoring against Everton. Anfield, December 2019.

Elijah Dixon-Bonner
Dixon-Bonner left Anfield last summer after making just two appearances for the senior side.

The young midfielder, who left London to join Liverpool as a 14-year-old, moved back to the capital to sign for Championship side Queens Park Rangers last October.

He’s yet to make an appearance for the west Londoners, but his talent means he’s unlikely to sit on the subs bench for much longer.

Sheyi Ojo
With eight Liverpool appearances and seven loan spells away from Anfield, Ojo’s departure last summer was probably the best solution for both parties.

The attacker moved to Cardiff City, one of the clubs he’d represented on loan, and impressed during a televised FA Cup tie against Premier League opposition in Leeds United.

Don’t bet against him returning to the top flight one day.

Ex-Liverpool and Rangers attacker Sheyi Ojo doubled Cardiff’s FA Cup lead against Leeds! ✌️

A big second-half lies ahead for Jesse Marsch… pic.twitter.com/eMlkfhsb8w

Ben Woodburn
Woodburn played the same amount of games for Wales (11) as Liverpool, meaning a permanent move away from the Premier League juggernauts was probably overdue.

Blessed with a wicked shot and more tricks than David Blaine, the attacking midfielder signed a one-year contract with Championship side Preston North End with an option for a further year.

Asked by the Lancashire Post whether he’d like to stay at Deepdale, Woodburn said: “Oh yeah, 100%. I’m enjoying it. It feels nice to be a part of a team, I’ve been on a lot of loans and you feel like you’re in and out and you’re never going to be staying there.

“So it does feel nice to be a part of a team and playing a lot of games this year.

“My contract does run out but hopefully if we can get it done it could be a lot more than a year. That’s what I really want to do.”

Sadio Mane
This one still hurts, especially as Mane has scored 11 times in 26 games for Bayern Munich this year.

Takumi Minamino
Despite possessing talent, it never quite happened for Minamino on Merseyside.

It was always a tall order for a young player to break into the Salah-Mane-Firimino trio and the Japan international left for Monaco last summer in the hope of first-team football.

Minamino has made 19 appearances for the Ligue 1 side, scoring once, and was part of the Japan side that illuminated last year’s World Cup.

Neco Williams
Another Wales international, Williams found it difficult to usurp Trent Alexander-Arnold at Liverpool and left the club in July 2022 in search of first-team football.

Signed as part of Nottingham Forest’s trolley dash for £17million, the full-back has made 22 Premier League appearances as his new club make an admirable effort to avoid relegation in their first top-flight season in the 21st century.

Ben Davies
Signed to cover Liverpool’s defensive injury crisis at the start of 2021, Davies use expired once Virgil van Dijk and company returned.

He spent the 2021-22 season at Sheffield United and made the permanent move to Rangers for £4million last summer.

After overcoming fitness issues, Davies has become a regular in the Rangers side and has spoken about how much he’s enjoying life at Ibrox.

“It’s been kind of difficult,” the defender said in January. “I think pre-season the last couple of years have been good for fitness, but the match minutes haven’t matched what I’ve needed in previous years.

“Coming to a club on loan and being expected to play 90 minutes from the start has been difficult, not just this year but last year as well.

“But I’ve always felt once I can get a run of games then the little niggles will fade away and I think I’m at that stage now.”

Source: Football365

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