Would Alexis Sanchez have been better off at Liverpool?
By Ethan Lowe
In the long term, Alexis Sanchez may have benefited more from a move to Liverpool instead of Arsenal before last season
The 2014/15 saw Liverpool fans get more than excited to sign the talented Barcelona winger, Alexis Sanchez. In the end, it was Arsenal that obtained the Chile international – much to the disliking of may sore Liverpool supporters. Yet now there’s some room to say that Alexis Sanchez might have been better off had he moved to Liverpool instead.
Sanchez enjoyed an exceptional first season with the Gunners, making 52 appearances and lighting the Premier League up with his brilliant skills. He bagged 25 goals and 12 assists, instantly becoming an integral part of Arsenal’s success in winning the FA Cup.
Unfortunately, Sanchez missed 8 matches this season with a hamstring injury, limiting him to only 35 appearances as of now. He’s managed to score 13 goals, assisting 11, yet has still been far less of a talking point amongst fans of the league.
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This season, Liverpool gained a new manager in the form of Jurgen Klopp, who has transformed the atmosphere at Anfield. A side not yet altered by Klopp managed to reach the semi-finals of the League Cup, and are currently fighting on in the Europa League after their dramatic comeback against Borussia Dortmund.
Even Arsenal have failed to beat Liverpool this season, who have held them to a draw during both their league meetings. So why might Sanchez have been better off at Liverpool?
Well, the future. Jurgen Klopp has restored the belief and hope to Liverpool, taking a rather weak side and getting them to produce incredible performances. As Klopp has risen and impressed, Arsene Wenger has seemingly fallen – losing the fans support in the process.
Had Sanchez moved to Liverpool instead, he would now be working with a manager just starting his promising rise. The players he can attract this summer, and the hopes he has going forward, would have allowed Sanchez to become part of something historic.
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He would be one of Liverpool’s top players alongside the likes of Philippe Coutinho, and would earn far more recognition than he has this season, making him much more of a key figure in this league.
Sanchez would have been there when Liverpool made history against Borussia Dortmund this week, and he could have been etched into their history had he been here to save them from last season’s disappointment.
There’s no denying that Alexis Sanchez is a big player, and he’s a joy to watch, but Arsenal never seem to achieve everything they hope too. Liverpool have a promising future under Klopp, and had Sanchez moved to Liverpool instead, he would have been part of this exciting transition.
However you feel about Liverpool and Arsenal, you can step back and admire the changes Jurgen Klopp has made in such a short space of time. He has the likes of James Milner, Joe Allen, Simon Mignolet and Sheyi Ojo competing against teams they should be getting slaughtered by.
If Sanchez would have been better at Liverpool, I guess we’ll just never actually know.