“I cannot accept the lie” – Liverpool’s former class clown, banished by Jurgen Klopp, has been without a club for months.
As Liverpool prepared to wrap up a busy but ultimately underwhelming summer, it was a deadline day signing that generated the most excitement.
Brendan Rodgers sought to strengthen his defense further after signing free agent Kolo Toure by bringing in the highly-rated but untested Thiago Ilori for £7 million. However, it wasn’t the young Portuguese defender who grabbed the headlines in early September 2013. Instead, it was Mamadou Sakho, who joined from Paris Saint-Germain amid much fanfare.
Costing £18 million, Sakho became the most expensive center-back in Liverpool’s history at the time and one of the top five most expensive players at any position. The timing of the deal, completed at the last minute, raised some concerns, but Sakho’s signing was seen as a significant statement.
At 23, the former PSG captain was viewed as a potential cornerstone for Rodgers’ defense, essential for Liverpool’s pursuit of glory. By September 2013, Sakho had been capped 14 times by France and was expected to become a mainstay in Liverpool’s defense for years.
Rodgers endorsed this view, stating, “You look at some teams and they have ageing centre-halves because it is a struggle to get a really good one. Sakho is 23 but he is an experienced player, he has senior international caps and looks an absolute monster in training. He is one who is ready for now and that is what we want. We had a chance to protect the club for maybe the next 10 years and that is what we have done.”
Sakho’s debut season coincided with Rodgers’ best campaign as Liverpool manager, coming close to securing their first title in nearly 25 years. Despite this, Sakho made only 18 Premier League appearances as Liverpool’s title challenge faltered due to a weak defense that conceded 50 goals, nearly twice as many as third-placed Chelsea.
Critics saw Sakho as a potential liability, appearing uneasy and nervous with the ball at his feet. However, he posted a 92 percent pass accuracy in his first season. Despite this, with Kolo Toure, Martin Skrtel, and Daniel Agger also in the squad, Rodgers never seemed to fully trust his £18 million man.