You'll have plenty to celebrate when you subscribe to the Liverpool FC newsletter Sign me up Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

Liverpool have taken plenty of stick for their recruitment in recent years.

They have missed out on some prized transfer targets with the likes of Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Diego Costa, Willian and Alexis Sanchez all slipping through the net. They have also squandered millions on some real flops.

However, credit where credit is due - the much-maligned transfer committee appear to have got it spot on last summer when they got cold feet over a potential deal for Memphis Depay and later gave the green light for the Reds to sign Roberto Firmino.

The contrast between the two players at Anfield on Thursday night could hardly have been greater.

When the No 11 went up on the board late on Reds supporters stood to give Firmino a thunderous ovation. It was a show of appreciation for a classy performance from the Brazilian attacker, who ran Manchester United ragged and coolly slotted home Liverpool’s second goal.

Depay, meanwhile, sloped away after the final whistle with his head bowed. The Dutch winger’s contribution - like it has been for most of his first season at United - was miminal.

It was his careless challenge which gifted Liverpool a penalty and he later ballooned a hopeless free-kick into the Kop.

There was a time last May when United fans were celebrating the fact that they had beaten Liverpool to the £25million signature of the PSV Eindhoven winger.

A fortnight earlier Liverpool had been in the box seat to wrap up the deal. Brendan Rodgers had met Depay for talks and was keen on a player whose 22 league goals had fired PSV to the Eredivisie title.

But as negotiations continued the landscape changed dramatically when the Reds learned from American specialists that Daniel Sturridge would need surgery on his hip.

Video Loading Video Unavailable Click to play Tap to play The video will start in 8 Cancel Play now

Having been told that the England striker wouldn’t be fit until mid to late September, Liverpool quickly reassessed their summer plans. They decided splashing so much cash on a 21-year-old who was predominatly a wideman at a time when the Reds needed more cover centrally wouldn’t be wise.

Rodgers’ main target was Christian Benteke and that transfer took on greater priority in the wake of Sturridge’s operation. Liverpool opted to wait on Depay and United took advantage of the impasse as he headed for Old Trafford to be reunited with his former international boss Louis van Gaal.

Ten months on it looks like Liverpool enjoyed a lucky escape. Depay has scored just two Premier League goals all season and has failed to hold down a place in a bang average United side.

Underwhelming going forward, he’s frequently been a liability when it comes to defensive duties. He’s become a target of fans’ frustrations.

It was six weeks after Depay agreed to sign for United that Liverpool made their move for Firmino. With the Benteke saga dragging on, they decided the chance to snap up the versatile Hoffenheim attacker was too good to turn down.

Eyebrows were raised at the size of the fee - £21million rising to £29million with add-ons - but there were third party ownership issues to resolve. The committee were convinced he was worth the gamble.

The 24-year-old endured a tough start to the campaign as he adapted to the physicality of English football. Suffering a cracked bone in his back didn’t help that transition. Nor did being shunted out wide as part of a struggling team under Rodgers.

But since Jurgen Klopp took over Firmino has come alive. It helped that Klopp was already a firm admirer having watched him closely during his stint in the Bundesliga.

Buoyed by being granted the central role he craved, Firmino truly announced himself on the Anfield stage with his double in January’s 3-3 thriller with Arsenal. Since then he’s gone from strength to strength. In his last 13 appearances he has contributed eight goals and four assists.

Many top clubs had a good look at Firmino but only Liverpool were prepared to pay the fee. With every passing week, it looks like a sound investment. As for Depay, Liverpool dodged a bullet.