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It was the window supposed to take Liverpool that one final step to being Premier League champions.

Instead, it proved the beginning of the end of Brendan Rodgers and was the nadir of the debate over the infamous transfer committee.

Two-and-a-half years on, though, and history has served judgement on the 2014 Anfield summer intake.

Well, almost.

A surprising amount – Dejan Lovren, Adam Lallana, Emre Can, Divock Origi and even Kevin Stewart – have found a new lease of life under Jurgen Klopp, who remains, at least in public, a fan of Alberto Moreno.

By contrast, the trio of Rickie Lambert, Javi Manquillo and Mario Balotelli have long gone.

Which leaves just one player.

Lazar Markovic arrived with a reputation to match the near-£20million fee handed over to Benfica for his services, a 20-year-old regarded one of Europe's next big things.

Yet the truth is most Liverpool supporters had barely seen the Serbian in action, a fact that has largely remained the case.

Since being hooked at half-time after a dire showing in the FA Cup semi-final defeat to Aston Villa in April 2015, Markovic has played just 20 competitive first-team minutes for Liverpool.

He spent last season on loan at Fenerbahce and, after setting up a goal for Marko Grujic at Wembley against Barcelona in August, was then shipped out to Sporting Lisbon for this campaign.

Returning to the Portuguese capital should have acted as a comfort blanket, the ideal stage for Markovic to regain battered confidence and self-belief and produce consistently what he could only demonstrate so intermittently while in red.

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Except the suggestion now is he could be sent back to Liverpool this month, so disastrous has his time been at Sporting, where he was the target of jeers from his own fans.

Markovic is still only 22. Time is on his side.

But even though Liverpool are short of options in wide attacking areas – so painfully evident against Swansea City on Saturday – it would take an unlikely reversal in trend, both from the club and player, for him to have a future at Anfield.

Klopp may have helped revitalise and reinvigorate the Liverpool careers of many of that 2014 vintage.

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However, like Rodgers before him, the Reds boss appears to have made up his mind about Markovic.

Christian Benteke – and even his fee was largely recouped – aside, Liverpool's subsequent big-money purchases have been on the money.

Yet if Markovic returns, he won't be like the proverbial new signing.

Instead, he'll act as an uncomfortable reminder of how spending big on young talent is no guarantee for success.

Pilgrims put Premier fans in their place

A reminder that Premier League supporters are spoiled came at Home Park on Wednesday.

As Philippe Coutinho was substituted shortly after the hour, local radio commentators sat in the press box were moved to declare the Brazilian as “the best player this stadium has seen in years”.

It was an opinion echoed by Plymouth Argyle's official Twitter account.

Coutinho hadn't even played particularly well, clearly easing his way back to peak sharpness having started a game for the first time in two months.

But, for those who hadn't seen him before, his talent was glaringly obvious.

The game itself, while not a classic by any means, was absorbing enough to suggest doing away with FA Cup replays would be the final nail in the battered competition's coffin.

Long may they continue.

Now, to get the semi-finals away from Wembley...

More FIFA fume

They say good players don't necessarily make good managers.

And they certainly don't make good FIFA officials if Marco van Basten is anything to go by.

Orange cards, sin bins, allowing only captains to speak to referees, ditching penalty shoot-outs, practically everything was up for grabs.

Including offsides, which van Basten wants to scrap completely.

You'd never guess he was a former striker.

Managers from around Europe queued up to pour scorn over the outlandish suggestions.

But don't be hasty to dismiss van Basten's ideas.

Let's face it – the last 12 months has proven ridiculousness is no barrier to something becoming reality. And that's just at FIFA.