Liverpool tried to sign Netherlands winger Arjen Robben before the 2013 Champions League final, according to Jamie Carragher.
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And the former Reds vice-captain also claims that the club have not had a world-class wide player on their books since John Barnes was at his peak nearly 20 years ago.
Robben -- linked with a move to Manchester United this summer -- has been a key figure in his country's run to the World Cup quarterfinals.
But he struggled to win a starting place at Bayern Munich for much of the 2012-13 season, as then-coach Jupp Heynckes initially preferred Thomas Muller on the right wing.
Robben regained his place towards the end of that season and scored the winner in the Champions League final against Borussia Dortmund at Wembley.
But former Liverpool defender Carragher, who retired in 2013, says that the Dutchman was a transfer target for manager Brendan Rodgers.
Carragher told the Daily Mail: "Brendan Rodgers tried to sign him for Liverpool before the 2013 Champions League final.
"He wasn't a regular for Bayern then but he scored the winner at Wembley against Borussia Dortmund and has since gone from strength to strength."
Robben is at the centre of a diving controversy following the Netherlands' 2-1 round of 16 World Cup win over Mexico in Fortaleza on Sunday.
The 30-year-old insisted he did not cheat to win a late penalty -- scored by Klaas Jan Huntelaar -- but told Dutch television that he had dived in the first half.
Netherlands officials have since claimed that Robben's comments were misinterpreted.
Meanwhile, Carragher has claimed that Liverpool have lacked a truly great winger since the 1990s.
He said: "Liverpool have not had a world-class wide man since John Barnes."
Former England international Barnes moved to Anfield from Watford in 1987, and stayed for 10 years before leaving to join Newcastle.