There were two ex-Liverpool players lining up for AC Milan for the second leg of their round of 16 clash with Arsenal last night.
The first was none other than Fabio Borini who only ever scored three goals in a Liverpool shirt across 38 appearances leading the line on Merseyside. Technically still on loan from Sunderland, he baffled everybody by appearing at right-back during the 3-1 defeat and he impressed out wide.
Then there’s the curious case of Suso – the Liverpool youngster who left Anfield back in 2015 in a surprising transfer to the Rossoneri.
The Spaniard had made 20 appearances for Liverpool during the 2012-13 campaign and was given great backing during the Brendan Rodgers era, yet would never play a game under the wing of Jurgen Klopp.
He scored a solitary goal in the League Cup before his AC Milan switch and now finds himself a regular at the San Siro despite a difficult first two seasons in Italy.
HOW SUSO HAS BEEN GETTING ON AT AC MILAN
Still playing in an advanced midfield role, the 24-year-old has accumulated 39 appearances already this season and has eight goals to his name.
Impressive statistics indeed and numbers that even warranted January rumours that Liverpool could challenge to secure an Anfield return. Nevertheless, a return to English shores gave Kopites their clearest opportunity yet to see just whether that would be a wise decision or not.
And those Liverpool fans who watched the Europa League action formed an opinion very quickly.
LIVERPOOL FANS ARE CONVINCED HE WOULD NEVER HAVE MADE IT
While the Spaniard didn’t flop against Arsenal, he didn’t exactly have his best game either and the midfielder finished the game cautioned. Fans decided that not only would Suso never have made it at Liverpool but that he should probably remain in Serie A.
Check out the reaction:
You can see why Liverpool offed Suso.
— #WengerOut (@NoNewContract) March 15, 2018
To all those Liverpool fans who want Suso back please stop watching football it ain’t for you
— Cosmo Khan (@CosmoKhan7) March 15, 2018
Suso is as terrible as I remember him being at Liverpool. Terrible player.
— James Smith (@jamessmithsport) March 15, 2018
Suso is rubbish lads. Can those random 5 Liverpool fans at the back stop urging the club to re-sign him now please?
— Jack (@JackWatson_) March 15, 2018
Suso never would've made it at Liverpool.
— SH (@Sennesation) March 15, 2018
Can't believe some people want Suso back at Liverpool, I've been complaining about squad depth all year but Suso is fucking TERRIBLE. #ARSMIL
— Senile Arum (@SenileArum) March 15, 2018
Cruel after one game? Possibly, but Suso won’t get many better chances to show how much he’s changed as a player at AC Milan on the biggest stage.
He won’t get many opportunities this season, either, with Arsenal progressing with a surprisingly convincing 5-1 aggregate victory.
However, it could have been so different after Hakan Çalhanoğlu fired the away side into the lead and only an extremely controversial Danny Welbeck penalty eventually brought parity.
Suso could make little difference on the game as Granit Xhaka and Welbeck once again found the net and with Liverpool’s attack now boasting Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane, he failed any potential audition on all accounts.