10 Worst Ever Premier League Panic Buys

9. Mario Balotelli - Liverpool

Marouane Fellaini Man Utd
Peter Byrne/PA Wire

With another failed striker purchase by Liverpool making the list, we promise this isn't a 'let's all laugh at Liverpool' post. The Italian famously brandished a shirt asking 'Why Always Me?' during his Manchester City days, but this signing had the Anfield faithful asking their club: 'why him?'.

It was seen as a risky signing when Brendan Rodgers forked out £16 million in 2014 on a man remembered as much for his off-field antics as those on the pitch in England. However, with striking options limited following Luis Suarez's departure to Barcelona, it was a risk the Northern Irishman was willing to take. A risk he must have sharp regretted.

With past Liverpool players including Michael Owen and Jamie Carragher branding the acquisition as a poor panic buy, the stats failed to provide an argument against their case. Time and time again the frontman looked disinterested and unsuited to Liverpool's style of play and it wasn't long before this unsuccessful relationship called for a break after a solitary Premier League goal.

After a loan spell with AC Milan, Balotelli left Merseyside for France to join Ligue 1's Nice on a free transfer, leaving the Kop licking their wounds after another bad bit of business.

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Contributor

Geordie journalist with itchy feet having lived in Tenerife, France, Belfast and Australia.