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Every new season brings with it that hope that Liverpool might finally end the drought and win their first league title since 1990. Hopes and dreams have tons of cash to rely on this time, with the NESV owners not skimping out, spending over 100 million pounds on new players since purchasing the club. How much has exactly been spent on players who are with the team, preparing for a run at the team’s first Premier League title? The answer is just beneath these lines.

Brad Jones – The 29 year old Australian goalkeeper was purchased for 2.3 million pounds in 2010 but has yet to play a game for the Reds and I doubt he ever will. Since beginning his senior career in 2001, Jones has played in only 99 games. Quite an expensive and needless signing.

Glen Johnson – One of Rafa Benitez’ final signings to kick off his last season with Liverpool in 2009-2010. Glen Johnson, capped 34 times for England, cost 17.5 million pounds. Since his arrival Liverpool didn’t make the needed leap to become champions. He has created a few moments of joy for fans with his adventurous strides on the wing, but quite a few holes as well.

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Raul Meireles – Signed by Roy Hodgson, Meireles might have been the best things Hodgson has done for Liverpool. This year the midfield is a lot more crowded, but Meireles was arguably Liverpools best performer during certain months last season. He won the PFA Fans’ player of the year award in 2011. He cost 13 million Euros to get from FC Porto.

Daniel Agger – Still the unfulfilled potential at Centre back, Daniel Agger is pushing his 27th birthday. Hoping for a first fully fit season with the Reds, the former Brondby man cost six million pounds back in 2006.

Fabio Aurelio – Joined for free. Every season seems like his last year with the club, but he keeps on sticking at left back. Has 130 matches with the club.

Luis Suarez – Signed in the middle of last season and the cornerstone of hope in Kenny Dalglish’s plans to make Liverpool grand again. The 24 year old Uruguayan, fresh off a fantastic Copa America, cost 22.8 million pounds to sign from Ajax. He has 4 goals in 13 matches for Liverpool.

Andy Carroll – The most expensive British footballer in history. It cost the new Liverpool regime 35 million pounds to bring Carroll down from Newcastle, all according to their plan of using the Fernando Torres money. Carroll has mostly been injured since arriving at Anfield, playing only 5 matches, scoring twice.

Joe Cole – After a terrible first season, getting sent off on his first league match, Joe Cole is still here, fighting for his place and relevance. He didn’t cost a penny, at least.

Maxi Rodriguez – The last signing by Rafa Benitez, Maxi Rodriguez flourished under Kenny Dalglish, scoring two hat tricks, finishing 2010-2011 with 10 goals. He also cost 0 to get.

Jordan Henderson – 81 League games for Sunderland and Coventry plus one cap for the English national team were enough to sway Liverpool on scooping up Henderson for 16 million pounds in another example waiting to happen for Englishmen costing way way too much.

Sotirios Kyrgiakos – A substitute as long as no one is injured, Kyrgiakos cost 2 million pounds for Rafa Benitez coming from AEK.

Dirk Kuyt – The hardest working man on this team has been moved around from striker, to winger to midfielder and pretty much everywhere since arriving from Feyenoord in 2006. He cost 9 million pounds to get, scoring 66 goals in five seasons.

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Stewart Downing – Another expensive piece from the British invasion, Downing cost 20 million pounds to get from Aston Villa.

Lucas Leiva – Some love him, some hate him. He plays for Brazil (16 caps), but many fans would like to see him with another club. Signed for 5 million pounds in 2007, he might find himself again in the starting XI, against all odds.

Danny Wilson – The young Scottish defender is part of a very young and full of potential crew in Liverpool’s defense, waiting for a big break. Some (like Martin Kelly), got their chance last year. Wilson played in only two games, one for every million he cost arriving from Rangers.

David N’Gog – Arriving from PSG for 1.5 million in 2008, the 22 year old French striker refuses to make the breakthrough he’s predicted to make each year. Maybe it’ll never come. He has 19 goals in 94 games for the club.

Jose Manuel Reina – Pepe Reina has been with Liverpool since 2006 and until last year was one of the more solid aspects in the team. He did lose confidence and produce some shaky days, but anyone would with a defense such as he had for a better part of the season. Reina cost 6 million pounds.

Charlie Adam – The Scotland international proved himself as a fantastic talent, despite being unable to stop Blackpool’s relegation bound path. He scored 13 goals on a crappy side, getting him a 7 million pound ticket to Liverpool.

Christian Poulsen – Hardly used once Dalglish arrived, Poulsen was signed for 4.5 million pounds by Roy Hodgson.

Doni – Signed on a free transfer, the Brazilian keeper came from AS Roma in hope to give Reina a solid backup on the bench. Reina hasn’t missed a league game since the 2006-2007 season, mind you.

Jonjo Shelvey – Showing quite a few moments of promise last year, the 19 year old will have to battle through a very thick list of midfielders this season, probably delaying his ascendancy in the Premier League. He cost 3.4 million pounds from Charlton in 2010.

Martin Skrtel – The Slovakian international cost 6.5 million pounds back in 2008, coming from Russia. He has yet to impress me and many others that he is a world class defender, despite ample opportunities (played all 38 league matches last season).

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Alberto Aquilani – Two years after coming from Italy for 17 million pounds so he can replace Xabi Alonso, arriving injured and then proving to be in a different position everyone else thought he played, it seems both sides don’t want anything to do with each other. Aquilani was away on loan with Juventus last season and will probably be finding himself playing in the Serie A again this year.

Philipp Degen – The Swiss defender spent last year on a loan with Stuttgart, not playing very much as well. He came on a free transfer.

Emiliano Insua – Has been appearing in Liverpool’s pre season matches, although I’m not sure how much he’ll feature with the team during the season. Didn’t cost money (came in a player exchange from Boca).

Milan Jovanovic – A traumatic debut season at Anfield has sent Jovanovic seeking a return to Belgium, where he was very much a hit during his Standard days. He cost nothing last summer, and produced nothing.

A quick calculation gives us the sum of 194 pounds spent over the years to build this squad. Since Dalglish’s arrival and the new owners taking hold of the team – 101, making Liverpool one of the biggest spenders in the market during the last six months or so if not the biggest. Will it be worth it? From the friendlies and pre season matches so far, Suarez better be up for one hell of a challenge. His defense isn’t going to make it easy for him.