'I cannot accept the lie' - rise and fall of Mamadou Sakho, Liverpool's class clown who tested Jurgen Klopp's patience and paid price

As Liverpool prepared to complete a busy, yet ultimately underwhelming, summer, it was a deadline day signing that would most excite.

With Brendan Rodgers in the market to bolster his defensive options further following the signature of free transfer Kolo Toure, in came the highly-rated but unproven Thiago Ilori at £7million.

But it was not the young Portuguese who would hog the limelight at the beginning of September 2013. Instead, that would shine on Mamadou Sakho, who joined from Paris Saint-Germain to much fanfare.

Liverpool staff excited about 'reloaded' side but FSG have big decision looming

Klopp names two exciting youngsters and explains 'problem' with signing number 6

At a cost £18m, Sakho would become the most expensive centre-back in Anfield history at the time and inside the top five of any position.

The timing of the deal - coming in the final throes of the window - might have alarmed a few, but Sakho's signature was viewed as a statement at the time.

At the age of 23, the former PSG captain was thought of as the potential bedrock of a defence that would underpin Rodgers' charge for glory at Anfield.

Capped 14 times by France in September 2013, Sakho was seen as someone who could become a mainstay at the heart of Liverpool's defence for years to come.

It was a theory Rodgers certainly got himself on board with.

“You look at some teams and they have ageing centre-halves because it is a struggle to get a really good one," said Rodgers at the time.

“Sakho is 23 but he is an experienced player, he has senior international caps and looks an absolute monster in training. He is one who is ready for now and that is what we want.

“We had a chance to protect the club for maybe the next 10 years and that is what we