Downing: Keep or sell?

Liverpool fans' love of Kop legend Kenny Dalglish makes him almost immune from criticism. However, although he was harshly sacked and, in hindsight, should have been given another season in charge, it's hard to refute those who criticised the Scot for overspending.

FSG must take some of the blame for allowing him to spend so much as any manager, with the possible exception of trained economist Arsene Wenger, will take all the money he's given. Nevertheless, Dalglish must also bear some responsibility for paying inflated fees for seemingly average footballers.

Stewart Downing was widely believed to be the most woefully average player Dalglish wasted a whopping £20 million on. Bought in to finally solve Liverpool's historic problems on the left wing, many were excited at the arrival of an England international with 27 caps, reasonably believing the expense would be worth it if Downing became a permanent fixture on the left hand side, providing much-needed width and vitality to the Reds' attack.

Unfortunately, in his first season at least, the number 19 disappointingly failed to live up to expectations. Unable to settle at Anfield and generally failing to make the sort of impact on games that was demanded of a major summer signing, Downing's displays lacked the wow factor expected due to his considerable price tag. Although he obviously couldn't control how much the club paid to sign him, that £20 million valuation weighed significantly on him, only reducing his already low confidence further.

Grin and bear it- Downing struggled through his first season

His worrying form was reflected in the statistics. Despite playing in 36 Premier League fixtures, he provided no assists and failed to find the net once. It was a measly return on FSG's sizeable investment. He may have picked up his second League Cup winners medal and been the Reds' man of the match in the Carling Cup final versus Cardiff City, but, week-to-week, Downing simply was't producing the goods.

Consequently, in the summer, new manager Brendan Rodgers informed him that he was free to leave if he could find a new club. After starting versus West Bromich Albion on the opening day of the season, Rodgers left Downing out of his line-up for a significant spell, indicating that Downing had fallen out of favour with the former Swansea manager and seemingly sealing his fate.

With youngsters Raheem Sterling and Suso keeping Downing out of the starting eleven, he even considered moving back to Middlesbrough on loan according to media reports in November. Surprisingly, though ever since then Downing has enjoyed the best form he has had since moving to Merseyside. 

After clinching a Europa League win with a fantastic strike against Anzhi Makhachkala, the 28-year old has steadily improved and began to have a more noticeable impact on matches. Against Fulham, he not only provided an assist, but also netted his first Premier League goal for the club. 

Downing silenced the critics with a goal against Fulham

Although Rodgers' experiment with him at left back backfired- Downing's poor defensive positioning cost us a goal versus Spurs- the winger now looks more at home either side of Luis Suarez, able to cut in from both the right and left in a threatening and purposive manner.

It looks like playing to secure his future at the club has given him a new lease of life and motivation to succeed. Instead of being more conservative and often, therefore, anonymous, Downing seems to be going all out in games to try and make the most of every minute of playing time he's given. Whether that is to attract potential suitors or impress Rodgers enough to change his mind, either way Liverpool benefit.

Ultimately, at this stage it would be unwise to sell Stewart Downing in January unless a significant offer that would reimburse Liverpool's expense on signing him in the first place was put forward. For previous club Aston Villa, his assists increased  from six to nine from his first to his second season, while his goal tally more than doubled. 

The Reds shouldn't sell him after investing so much in him, particularly when he appears to have settled in at the club and be on the cusp of replicating that same improvement at Anfield. Downing should instead be given until the summer to show whether his improved form is a temporary phenomena or a sign of better things to come.

YNWA