Liverpool’s sale of Jordon Ibe looks more than justified after Anfield showing

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Liverpool cantered their way past Bournemouth at Anfield yesterday afternoon. A 3-0 win was comfortable for the Reds, with goals from Sadio Mane, Gini Wijnaldum and Mohamed Salah doing the business over their south-coast opponents.

One other factor that became clear from the game was the justification of Liverpool’s Jordon Ibe sale.

In the summer of 2016, Liverpool gave up on Ibe. Despite showing some promise under Klopp, he was sold to Bournemouth. As reported by The Guardian, the Cherries paid £15 million for the privilege. As reported by the Liverpool Echo, a buy-back clause was inserted into the deal, in case Liverpool lived to regret the decision.

That looks likely to go on untriggered. Ibe has struggled at Bournemouth. Yesterday, he failed to get any purchase on the game whatsoever. Early in the second-half, he was hauled off.

“We will watch them, they will have pressure there, they will fight for the league or whatever, and we will see them growing up in pressure situations. That’s perfect.

“Now (Brad) Smith and Ibe are there and we have buy-back clauses. Hopefully, they do really well and then, in the end, we and them will decide.

“The goodbyes were okay with both of them. Liverpool is still in their hearts so we will have a chance if they do well.”

– Jurgen Klopp on Brad Smith and Jordon Ibe’s transfers

Some Liverpool fans probably felt that Ibe still had growing to do and could become an Anfield regular with time. But at £15 million, the youngster simply had to be sold.

Judging by yesterday’s performance and his overall time at Dean Court, not many Liverpool fans will feel his exit was premature anymore.