Top 7 free transfers of all time – Liverpool
By David Gate
Number One: Gary McAllister
When Gary McAllister arrived from Coventry on a free transfer in the summer of 2000 many Liverpool fans were questioning the decision to give good wage money to a 35-year-old midfielder. We already had Dietmar Hamann, Jamie Redknapp, Danny Murphy and a young man named Steven Gerrard. Why sign an old man who will just take minutes from one of our brightest prospects in years? One season, three trophies and a Champions League place later and those questions were well and truly answered.
The Scotsman brought much to Gerard Houllier’s side but most of all he brought leadership and became an example of focus and expertise. A league title winner and 15 year veteran of the Premier League he led the way for the talented but unsuccessful Liverpool side. His influence was instrumental in the development of character and work ethic of Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher. It brought a new professionalism to the club that was still in the lingering aftertaste of the ‘Spice Boys’ years.
There are two high points that Reds will long remember. Liverpool had not played in Europe’s leading club competition since the Heysel disaster of 1985. The race for Champions League places was fierce and Liverpool were facing a must win game with Everton. The Merseyside derby was tied in the 94th minute before a 44 yard free kick (FORTY FOUR) from McAllister clinched the crucial win. Then in May, McAllister had a hand in three Liverpool goals in the 5-4 UEFA Cup final victory over Alaves and was named Man of the Match.
He will long be remembered by the Kop faithful for his set pieces and crucial contributions at key times. He fully deserves his title as Liverpool’s best ever free transfer.