Liverpool have today confirmed the departures of five players, per the Liverpool Echo.

They, and all other clubs in the division, sent their released and retained lists of players to the Premier League today, with Glen Johnson and Brad Jones both released.

Steven Gerrard was also officially declared released, his contract expiring ahead of a move to LA Galaxy in the MLS, as well as youngsters Jordan Lussey and Marc Pelosi.

Johnson's departure is one that has been speculated in recent months and hardly comes as a surprise, with the player himself even admitting that he did not believe that he would be offered a new contract this summer, and Liverpool targeting other right-backs, such as Nathaniel Clyne and Kieran Trippier.

The defender joined Liverpool back in 2009 from Portsmouth for a fee believed to be in the region of £17.5 million. He made a total of 200 appearances for the Reds, scoring nine goals.

Jones is another who was not expected to stay at Liverpool. He was given his chance in between the sticks earlier in the season when Simon Mignolet's form saw him dropped to the bench, but he was hardly an improvement and injuries saw him cast back to the sidelines as the Belgian stopper returned to the starting line-up.

Mignolet's form picked up after this, reaching a remarkable standard in comparison to his performances in the first half of the season, and therefore Jones failed to earn himself any more opportunities before the season was done. The Australian made a total of 27 appearances in his five years with the club, 11 of which came in the league.

Lussey and Pelosi, both aged 20 and natural midfielders, have come through Liverpool's academy, but are obviously deemed as surplus to requirements and not good enough to push through into the first team.

Lussey spent the end of last season on loan with Bolton Wanderers and has been capped for England at under 18 level. He has been with Liverpool since 2002, but failed to make a single appearance for the first team before being released today.

Pelosi, on the other hand, was far more well known, albeit not for the best reasons. A terrible leg break in February 2013 massively hindered his development and the German-born American would not return to action until April the next year. 

The left-sided midfielder was signed in 2011 from De Anza Force after an impressive showing at the FIFA Under-17 World Cup that year, but he is another youngster who leaves Anfield without making his first team debut.

Players can still be offered new contracts by the club despite being declared released, but this looks unlikely in all four cases of those without a new team.

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About the author
Amee Ruszkai
Head of the Sunderland, Swansea City and women football sections at VAVEL UK. Email: [email protected]