If there is one man who should never be entrusted with an open cheque-book, it is Kenny Dalglish. In 2011, he splurged extortionate sums for an array of British talent, as the Liverpool board were hoisted by their ankles and shook down for every last penny. Stewart Downing was just one example of these over-priced English starlets, acquired for an expensive £20 million. Having announced himself as one of the Premier Leagues top performers at Villa Park following the loss of James Milner, Liverpool swooped in to pinch the English winger. During his debut against Sunderland, a sumptuous 25 yard bullet from his left peg crashed back off Simon Mignolets upright. Inches separated the Middlesbrough-born winger from a dream start to his Anfield career. Subsequently, he finished the season without any assists or goals to his name a shocking contribution for a winger. Deployed as a make-shift left-back in Europa League fixtures, the former England international displayed some determination and grit, but supporters couldnt help but werent fooled they knew they hadnt paid £20 million for a left-back. In December 2012, he finally registered one of each in a 4-0 victory over Fulham, as his form slightly improved, but it wasnt enough to sway new boss Brendan Rodgers, and Downing was sold to West Ham at a cut-price £5 million in August 2013.
A proven failure at Anfield, Downing might just think back to that first game against Sunderland, and rue the six inches of wood that separated him from shrugging a slice of the extortionate price tag that had been weighing him down.