Andy Carroll joined West Ham United from Liverpool on a season-long loan on Thursday night as clubs scramble to sign players on transfer deadline day.
Reds manager Brendan Rodgers said last week he would have been a "nutcase" to sell the striker on loan or permanently, yet he has reneged on his statement by admitting Liverpool cannot "have a £35m player on the bench".
Earlier on Thursday it was reported the 23-year-old would be excluded from Liverpool's Europa League qualifier against Hearts last night, although further stories emanated stating the striker wanted to fight for his place.
Signed for a club record £35m in January, Carroll has struggled to acclimatise to the Liverpool Way and scored a paltry 11 goals in his 18 months at Anfield.
He enjoyed a resurgence towards the end of the 2011/12 campaign, scoring the winning goal in the FA Cup semi-final against Everton before arriving from the bench to score and galvanise the Reds in their 2-1 final defeat to Chelsea.
The former Newcastle United favourite also scored at the European Championship for England against Sweden but his sale, irrespective of whether it will be made permanent, is another damning indictment on Kenny Dalglish's second reign as Liverpool manager.
The Scot spent around £114.2m on players in 2011, with few considered to have triumphed at the club since.
Rodgers has said Stewart Downing, bought as a left-winger for £20m yet who contributed no goals or assists last season, may be converted into a left-back. Charlie Adam meanwhile has arrived at Stoke City to complete a £5m transfer.
Carroll has arguably a more auspicious chance of flourishing at West Ham and under Sam Allardyce, whose direct style conflicts with Rodgers' passing philosophy.