All Rafa Benitez 45 signings for Liverpool ranked!

Number 23: Ryan Babel

The third most expensive transfer in Liverpool’s history at £15.5m (at the time) is a curious one. Loads was expected of former Ajax boy Ryan Babel, but did he live up to it?

Babel was certainly given a fair crack of the whip at Anfield and his 146 club appearances is the most he has made for anyone, but 22 goals and 18 assists is an underwhelming return.

Playing on the left, his favourite method of producing a goalscoring chance was to cut inside onto his right foot to pass or shoot. As his left foot was very weak, this led to working him out very quickly.

Despite these shortcomings, Babel had a productive first campaign at Anfield and made 49 appearances over the course of the season, scoring 10 times and creating eight assists.

But as sides managed to defend more efficiently against the Dutchman, his influences waned and he was sold to Hoffenheim in 2011.

For the price and the potential that Babel had, it should have been a more productive deal. Either the staff failed to improve his play, or the scouting department failed to identify a major weakness in his game. Either way, this deal wasn’t Benitez’s most inspiring. @rusty_hughes

Number 22: Boudewijn Zenden

Former Barcelona, Chelsea and Middlesbrough ace Bolo Zenden was an excellent midfielder in his day, but he never really had his day an Anfield.

Liverpool signed him on a free transfer from Boro, for whom he excellent, but the Dutchman only played 47 times before being moved on to Marseille.

Rafa Benitez did place his trust in him for several Champions League games and Zenden played 30 games during the 2006/2007 campaign, but he was never more than a squad player.

For all his pedigree, Benitez never saw the best of Zenden and perhaps that was to be expected. But still, the Dutchman was probably only signed to be a squad rotation option and for that reason he can’t be too harshly judged. @rusty_hughes