da lvbet： Not many players over the years have been brave enough to make the switch across Merseyside from Liverpool to Everton – nor vice versa – over the years.
da fazobetai： Since the turn of the century, it is only Abel Xavier and Nick Barmby who jumped ship from either club to the other – both making the switch from Goodison to Anfield in both 2002 and 2000 respectively.
It is not since 1992 where Gary Ablett moved in the opposite direction for £750,000 that a player has moved from Liverpool to Everton.
Unsurprisingly few are keen to swap merseyside allegiance – at least directly anyway – due to famously intense footballing rivalry between the two Liverpudlian clubs, and hence the hatred from fans that ensues following such a bold move.
In the past seasons, a number of the Red’s players have switched to other Premier League rivals – notably Fernando Torres and Raheem Sterling who moved to Chelsea and Manchester City respectively – however none are yet to take the short 1 mile journey from Red to Blue in the Premier League era.
With a re-build set for Everton under Ronald Koeman, and an exodus under-going at Liverpool under Jurgen Klopp, could this be the summer someone finally makes that historic move? Here at FFC we think it could be one of these 3 ….
Christian Benteke
Everton’s big Belgian striker Romelu Lukaku seems destined for a Goodison Park exit this summer, so how better to replace a big Belgian striker than with another big Belgian striker? (try saying that fast!)
Benteke has had a tough first season at Anfield and has arguably been under-appreciated despite notching 10 goals in all competitions for Jurgen Klopp’s men in significantly less games than his striking counterparts.
Everton like to play with a strong, powerhouse of a striker and if they can steal away Benteke from Liverpool and rte-install his confidence, they would have one of the league’s most prolific goalscorers at their disposal.
Jon Flanagan
The ‘Scouse Cafu’ as he is better known on merseyside will once again continue to struggle for playing time next season despite putting in some impressive performances last campaign – and indeed in the one’s gone past.
Nathaniel Clyne seems to have nailed himself the right-back position at Anfield, and the signing of Ragnar Klavan this summer means young Flanagan is unlikely to break into a position at left-back with competition from Alberto Moreno also.
While Everton do have a number of full-backs at their disposal, they likely back-up for Seamus Coleman. Flanagan fits the bill perfectly.
James Milner
Something about James Milner screams ‘Everton player’ at me. Hard-working, tireless, slightly annoying and altogether not pleasant to watch at times, the Englishman still manages to get the job done – even if it isn’t pretty.
Milner is also a decent footballer too we must not forget, and with Everton needing to now replace Leon Osman and an ageing Gareth Barry – the Liverpool workhorse could be the man to add solidity and tenacity to the Toffee’s midfield.