Sometimes success doesn’t always stare at you right in the face.
There’s a reluctance from bigger clubs to look away from the more obvious targets in the transfer market. Call it turning their noses up at easy wins.
That’s where Liverpool have capitalised on their rivals’ ignorance.
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In each of the last three summers, the current Premier League leaders have taken the plunge on a recently relegated player and offered them a chance at Premier League redemption.
In Gini Wijnaldum, Andy Robertson and Xherdan Shaqiri, they now have three regulars who don’t look out of place in a title-chasing side.
All three experienced the heartbreak of relegation, all three are now making a difference under Jurgen Klopp.
Wijnaldum was signed for £25m from Newcastle in 2016 but has become the surprise success story of the season, producing midfield masterclass after midfield masterclass.
With competition for places higher than ever after the £90m double swoop for Fabinho and Naby Keita in the summer, the Dutchman has outshone the lot in a variety of roles.
Robertson’s rise to fame has been unprecedented, with many an eyebrow raised when Liverpool recruited him from Hull for £8m in 2017.
Considering Kevin Stewart went in the other direction for the same price, it seemed a no brainer at essentially zero cost.
But Robertson has gone onto surpass even the wildest expectations, solving Liverpool’s longest ongoing problem position and becoming a Kop cult hero in the process.
Shaqiri is the least surprising of the trio but he still had his doubters.
A player befitting of Bayern, Inter and Liverpool? Or an unreliable luxury?
Shaqiri has six goals and three assists from just 10 starts this season to rubbish those doubts and at £12m looks like the bargain of the season.
The three cost a combined £45m – or half a Paul Pogba.
All were seen as gambles at the time but some brilliant man management from Klopp has brought out the best in them.
From staring down the barrel of the Championship to potential Premier League winners.
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- How many of Liverpool’s current invincibles would get in Arsenal’s invincible side?
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