GOODBYE
Gini Wijnaldum
“He’s been a big part of our lives for so long,” said Liverpool FC manager Jürgen Klopp after it emerged that Gini Wijnaldum would leave the Reds following the expiry of his contract. “There is nothing I won’t miss about him. I will miss the player he is like crazy – highest-quality ability, one of the smartest players I have ever had the privilege to coach. His contribution was off the scale, a manager’s dream. But as a person he’ll leave just as big a hole.”
After captaining PSV Eindhoven to the Dutch Eredivisie title in 2015, Wijnaldum spent a season at Newcastle United FC before signing for Liverpool FC in 2016. Energetic, hard-working, versatile and capable of scoring goals, the Dutch international midfielder was a perfect fit for the counter-pressing system that Klopp was instilling into his new team.
During his first season as a Red, Wijnaldum played in an advanced midfield role and netted six goals. His 11 assists was the most by any LFC player during the 2016/17 campaign and his opening goal against Middlesbrough FC, in a must-win the final game of the season, helped Liverpool FC to secure UEFA Champions League qualification.
“The goal against Middlesbrough in the last game of the season was the most beautiful goal because in the moment when I scored the situation was that we were sixth in the league table,” he recalled.
“One minute before half-time I scored and there was relief for everyone! We could feel it. Everyone was stressed and nervous – not only the supporters but on the pitch – because we hadn't created many big chances, but then I scored that goal out of nowhere. Because of the moment we were in it makes it the most beautiful goal for me.”
The 2017 summer arrival of Mo Salah resulted in Philippe Coutinho moving into the advanced midfield role Wijnaldum had occupied during season 2017/18. As a result, Gini moved deeper into a new midfield role and contributed to Liverpool FC's incredible UEFA Champions League campaign, playing in 14 of the Reds' 15 games as they reached the final in Kiev.
It was his goal, away to AS Roma in the semi-final second leg, that ultimately secured a place in the final and although Liverpool FC were unable to beat Real Madrid CF in the Ukraine capital, they came back even stronger.
Despite the arrivals of Fabinho and Naby Keita, Wijnaldum made more appearances than any other midfielder during season 2018/19 and no Kopite will ever forget his contribution against FC Barcelona in the UEFA Champions League semi-final second leg. His goals, in the 54th and 56th minutes, helped the Reds to remarkably overturn a three-goal first leg deficit by beating Barca 4-0 on Anfield's greatest-ever night.
A few weeks later, Gini Wijnaldum was a European Champion. “It changes your life,” he said after the Reds beat Tottenham Hotspur FC 2-0 in Madrid, “because you'll always be a Champions League winner. It's a great honour for everyone to have won it. It's a difficult thing to do and when you look around, you can see how many good players haven't won the Champions League.”
Wijnaldum added to his medal collection as the Reds defeated Chelsea FC in the UEFA Super Cup final in Istanbul and won a maiden FIFA Club World Cup in Qatar with a 1-0 success against Brazil's CR Flamengo. He was unable to play in that tournament due to a rare injury, but appeared in 37 of Liverpool FC's 38 Premier League games during season 2019/20 – a campaign best summed up in one word. Champions!
“When you think how much this means to the supporters, to us as a team and for the Club, I think everyone realises how big it is for us,” he said after getting his hands on the Premier League Trophy. “A lot of great Liverpool teams have tried to win the Premier League before, but we did it. We did it for the Club.”
Injuries disrupted Liverpool FC's 2020/21 campaign, although Gini was an ever-present in the Premier League and also skippered the Reds on 11 occasions. He scored his 20th goal for the Club during a 4-0 home win against Wolverhampton Wanderers FC, but made his 237th and final appearance in a red shirt on the last day of the season against Crystal Palace FC.
The 10,000 supporters inside Anfield that afternoon gave Wijnaldum a richly-deserved standing ovation for a brilliant and successful five seasons as a Liverpool FC player before he was presented with a framed Champions Wall by Reds CEO Billy Hogan.
Wijnaldum, who captained the Netherlands and scored three times at UEFA Euro 2020, now begins the next stage of his career at Paris Saint-Germain FC and will be missed by Klopp and the Liverpool FC squad.
“His team-mates adored him and respected him in equal measure,” said the Liverpool FC manager. “His smile lit up our workplace. He was a huge part of our beating heart. Farewell Gini, you came, you saw, you won the lot. You’re a Liverpool legend now and forever.”
Harry Wilson
Wrexham-born Wilson joined the Liverpool FC Academy as an U9s player and almost 16 years later the left-footed midfielder has moved on to Fulham as a fully established Welsh international with 29 caps. The 24-year-old only made a couple of first-team appearances for the Reds in 2017 (v Plymouth Argyle FC) and in 2020 (v Arsenal FC), but enjoyed some successful loan spells at Crewe Alexandra FC, Hull City FC, Derby County FC, AFC Bournemouth and Cardiff City FC. Wilson's grandfather Peter Edwards famously won £125,000 after placing a £50 bet, at 2500/1, that Harry would play for Wales when he was just a toddler back in 2000!
Marko Grujic
Jürgen Klopp's first signing as Liverpool FC manager in January 2016, Serbian international midfielder Marko Grujic arrived from FK Crvena zvezda and made 14 first-team appearances before being loaned out to Cardiff City FC in 2018. The 25-year-old subsequently spent two seasons on loan with Hertha BSC before returning to Anfield and netting his first LFC goal against Lincoln City FC in the Carabao Cup last season. Grujic went out on loan again to FC Porto in October 2020 and has now signed for the Portuguese club on a permanent basis.
Liam Millar
The first Canadian international footballer to play for Liverpool FC, Liam Millar joined the Reds Academy in 2016. After two spells on loan with Kilmarnock FC in 2019, Toronto-born Millar made his Reds' first-team debut in the 1-0 FA Cup 4th Round replay win against Shrewsbury Town FC at Anfield in 2020. The 21-year-old spent the second half of last season on loan at Charlton Athletic FC and recently completed a permanent move to Switzerland's FC Basel 1893.
Kamil Grabara
Signed from Polish second division side KS Ruch Chorzów in 2016, goalkeeper Kamil Grabara has moved on to FC Copenhagen without making a first-team appearance for the Reds. The 22-year-old Polish U21 international was an unused substitute in a League Cup defeat to Chelsea FC in 2018 before spending the last three seasons out on loan at Aarhus Gymnastikforening, Huddersfield Town FC and FC Copenhagen.
Taiwo Awoniyi
Nigerian centre-forward Taiwo Awoniyi signed for Liverpool FC in August 2015, but spent the majority of his six years as a Red out on loan. The 23-year-old played for FSV Frankfurt, NEC Nijmegen, Royal Excel Mouscron (twice), KAA Gent, 1. FSV Mainz 05 and 1. FC Union Berlin. After netting five goals in 22 games for 1. FC Union Berlin last season, Awoniyi has signed for the German club on a permanent basis.
