10 Liverpool Heroes Whose Careers Have Nosedived Since Leaving Anfield

2. John Barnes

John Barnes spent ten years at Anfield, playing over 400 games and scoring 106 goals for the club. A club legend, it was a sad day when he exited Merseyside in 1997, penning a deal at Kenny Dalglish€™s Newcastle United. Sadly for the England international, he was unable to replicate his sparkling Anfield form and scored just seven goals in 40 games for the club. Question marks were raised about his fitness and fluctuating weight issues, and former Newcastle team-mate Stuart Pearce has since cast aspersions on his hunger when he arrived at St. James€™ Park.

€œWhen I signed for Newcastle in 1997, I signed with John Barnes and Ian Rush. We all got put into the same category of old players at the end of our careers, but with no disrespect to them, I felt that my attitude was different to theirs. They€™d come from Liverpool with a sackful of medals; I€™d come from Forest with nothing. They€™re not playing now and I am; people put us in the same category but I didn€™t because I was still hungry for the game.€ - Stuart Pearce, August 2000.

The 34 year old Barnes was immediately relegated to the reserves following the arrival of Ruud Gullit in 1998, and left on a free transfer for Charlton Athletic in February 1999. The forward made 12 appearances for the Addicks as they were relegated to the second tier, and subsequently announced his retirement from professional football. Having been appointed as head coach of Celtic for the 99/00 season, Barnes briefly reneged on his decision and re-registered as a player but never played a competitive game for the Hoops.