All Rafa Benitez 45 signings for Liverpool ranked!
By David Gate
Number 11: Peter Crouch
“He’s big, he’s red, his feet stick out the bed. Peter Crouch! Peter Crouch!”
Perhaps the club’s tallest striker to date, Peter Crouch gave three years of his skills and talent to Liverpool FC. Despite being the only forward to hold the record for 50 headed Premier League goals, Crouch was subject to a lot of height-related taunts.
His first 19 games for Liverpool were goalless, which sparked a lot of scrutiny amongst the fans and media. But despite his goal drought, his other skills were noticed and appreciated. His touch on the ball was second to none.
Although the arrival of Fernando Torres saw less game time for the 6’7 striker, Crouch marked a milestone for himself with the club after his ‘perfect hat trick’. The trio of goals netted against Arsenal came from his right foot, left foot and head. Superb talent that should have stayed with the club longer than three years. @LFCGeorgia
Number 10: Luis Garcia
Luis Garcia signed for Liverpool in August 2004 for a fee of £6 million in the initial Spanish invasion of Benitez’ first summer. He wrote his name into the annuls of Liverpool history during the Champions League campaign of 2005. His stunning goal against Juventus in the quarter final gave Liverpool an advantage and a confidence they never lost that year.
The ‘ghost goal’ against Chelsea in the semi-final remains the most important moment of his Liverpool career. Blues fans are still pouting over the goal but it counted and was the only goal of the tie to send us to the final.
His second season at the club was not as strongs as his first but he did score the goal to knock Chelsea out of the FA Cup on the way to Liverpool’s winning of the trophy. The following year saw him pick up a terrible knee injury, effectively ending his Liverpool career. He moved to previous club Atletico Madrid in 2007 as Liverpool were trying to seal the deal for Fernando Torres.
He was an outstanding player for the club and responsible for some amazing memories and is often involved in Liverpool legends games and representing the club in many ways.
“Luis García, he drinks Sangria/he came from Barça to bring us joy”