From Tottenham to Liverpool, from Liverpool to rehab

Even though Liverpool were still "soul-searching" in 2016 and were not the force they are in the last 2-3 years, the Anfield club has always been a place where most footballers dream of ending up. To feel the tradition, the hunger and the successes of yore boost ones career.

There are, as always, examples of such transfers pushing a player into a downward spiral. Such was the case of Steven Caulker.

Steven Caulker has opened up about problems while on loan at Liverpool under Jurgen Klopp that led him to enter rehab.

The defender, who was contracted to Queens Park Rangers at the time, had his loan deal cut short at Southampton during the 2015-16 season in January and set off for Anfield as an emergency-loan for the Reds.

Caulker, now 29, made just three appearances for Liverpool and spent the remainder of the season playing in the Under-23 squad.

The defender has revealed that he was feeling 'really low' during his time on Merseyside and turned to alcohol 'to numb the pain' before eventually deciding to enter rehab.

'I was really low. The cycle of drinking and self-loathing was supposed to numb the pain, but it only made things worse.' he told FourFourTwo.

'At the time, I thought I was at rock bottom. I was wrong. After a couple of months, I knocked on Jurgen Klopp's door and said, 'I don't feel like I'm good enough – what do I need to do to improve?'

©Reuters Staff/Gallo Images

'He gave me some suggestions for the gym, but I was mostly playing for the under-23s and that rejection was difficult to handle. In a dark place, I didn't feel like I could train and fulfil my duties – so I decided it was time for rehab. That was extremely hard, because I'd been given such a massive opportunity at Liverpool."

The centre back returned to action as he signed a one-and-a-half year deal with Dundee in the Scottish Premiership.

Caulker had two seasons in Scotland before moving abroad to Turkey, where he now plays for Alanyaspor in the Super Lig and is a first-team regular.

Revenge of the(n) fallen

The Englishman started his youth career with Tottenham Hotspur and was for some time with the Spurs first team. After a couple of loan moves, he signed permanent deal with Cardiff City first and then moving to QPR also on a permanent signing. As a QPR player, he was again loaned to couple of clubs, of which one was Liverpool.

Caulker was one of the players who were, some would say, collateral damage of Jurgen Klopp finding the right squad and the right formula to attack the English and European trophies.

That "after-Suarez" era at Anfield saw numerous footballers come and leave or, as in case of Steven Caulker, come to questioning their careers due to lack of playing minutes or successes with the confused Reds.