We have ranked all of Rafa Benitez signings for Liverpool. From Josemi to Jovanovic he had some good ones and some not so great!
Rafa Benitez spent six years as Liverpool manager between 2004-2010. He orchestrated one of the best nights in Liverpool history.
The Champions League victory over AC Milan in Istanbul to lead Liverpool to their fifth European Cup victory is iconic. He took the Reds back to the Champions League final 2 years later, this time losing to Milan.
He also won the 2006 FA Cup final and took Liverpool within an inch of their first Premier League title in 2008/9. He is a legend at the club. Not least for his constant support and generosity to the Hillsborough families and campaign for justice.
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Yet when he left the club in the tumultuous summer of 2010 there was much criticism of the Spaniard. One of the majors gripes that people had over his managerial reign was the quality (or lack of) of some of his signings.
The Hicks and Gillett ownership wouldn’t let him sign everyone he wanted to. Most notably Daniel Alves, Sergio Aguero and David Silva were players that he fought to buy before they became huge stars.
However, many of the guys he brought in became club legends. We are ranking all of the 45 players that were signed by Benitez who made first team starts.
The list is ranked on the signing’s entire Liverpool career, not just their performances under Benitez. Therefore it includes players who he signed but played under future managers.
Here they are – All 45 of Rafa Benitez’ signing ranked:
Number 45: Milan Jovanovic
Milan Jovanovic was the final signing for Rafael Benitez at Liverpool and probably the worst. It’s probably a good thing he was a free transfer from Belgian side Standard Liège.
The Serbian only lasted one season at Anfield, and failed to score a single goal in league play. He did however score in his only League Cup appearance, a loss to Northampton that went to penalties.
Jovanovic’s only other goal came in the second leg of Liverpool’s Europa League group stage tie against Romanian club Steaua București. The game would end in a 1-1 draw and help Liverpool advance on to the knockout stages.
Jovanovic’s time at Anfield was short-lived. He only made 18 appearances for the club, with 10 coming in league play.
On August 4, 2011, Milan Jovanovic returned to Belgium to sign with Anderlecht. And thus, the final player Rafael Benitez signed had departed Liverpool almost as quickly as he had arrived. @UnofficialAB
Number 44: Daniel Ayala
The Spaniard was a youth player at Sevilla who rejected a professional contract with his them to sign one at Anfield in 2007. The center back played a couple of seasons in Liverpool’s Under 18 side before making his way to the first team in 2009. He appeared five times for Reds in Benitez’ last season as the club.
After Rafa left he lost his main advocate. Neither Roy Hodgson or Kenny Dalglish appreciated the youngster and sent him out on loan. He made a permanent move to Norwich in 2011 but only made seven appearances as the Canaries were relegated.
Ayala made his way back to the Premier League by being a key part of the Middlesbrough first team that were promoted from the Championship in 2016. He lost his place during the course of that season and is now a squad player at Boro as they are back in the Championship. @davidgatesports
Number 43: Jack Hobbs
The center back was a hot prospect at Lincoln. He made his debut as a 16-year-old and there was a scrum for his signature. Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur were both fighting hard for him but he chose to come to Anfield. He signed a contract on his 17th birthday.
Unfortunately for the Englishman he never got much of a chance in the first team. He was always on the brink of involvement and solid performances for the youth teams and reserves always had fans intrigued to his potential. He eventually went out on loan to Leicester where he played we and was enjoying himself
Hobbs decided that it was better for him to play first team football than fight for a place at Anfield. He made his move to Leicester permanent in 2009. He has spent most of his career in the Championship including the last 4 years with Nottingham Forest. @davidgatesports
Number 42: Gabriel Paletta
In the summer of 2006 Benitez wanted to bring in two young center backs to compete with Sami Hyypia and Jamie Carragher. One was Daniel Agger and the other was Gabriel Paletta. Many fans were more excited about Paletta with his reputation as a tough, scrappy defender from Argentina.
He only spent one season at Liverpool making only 8 appearances. He never really settled at the club and was keen to leave in 2007. Eventually he got move back to Argentina as he signed for Boca Juniors as a sweetener for the signing of Emiliano Insua.
After three seasons at Boca he moved to Italy to play for Parma. He began to thrive there, eventually earning a move to AC Milan. He was a regular for Milan in his one-and-a-half seasons. This summer saw a big clear out of players and he is now on loan at Atalanta. @davidgatesports
Number 41: Andriy Voronin
Andriy Voronin was probably one of the least inspired Liverpool transfers of all time, but at least he actually played a few games before being shipped off.
The Ukranian striker was signed on a free after Bayer Leverkusen let his contract run down, and played 28 times during his debut Anfield campaign.
Voronin managed to hit the back of the net six times during his first season at the club – but that would prove to be the last time he would as his Liverpool career took a massive plunge after 2007/2008.
Benitez realised his mistake for the start of the 2008/2009 campaign, loaned him to Hertha Berlin (where the forward scored 11 times in 20 league games) but got him back when Berlin couldn’t afford to sign Voronin permanently.
He finally left for Dynamo Moscow during the January 2010 transfer window and that, folks, was that. Not the worst signing, but nowhere near the best or even good. @rusty_hughes
Number 40: Diego Cavalieri
Brazilian goalkeeper Diego Cavalieri arrived at Liverpool from Palmeiras as competition for Pepe Reina. However, Cavalieri was unable to dislodge Reina and he spent his two seasons at Anfield largely on the bench besides the occasional cup game. At most, he was a serviceable backup.
He made 9 total first team appearances between 2008 and 2010 wothout ever playing int he Premier League. He did however play in both the Champions League and the Europa League for the Reds.
Cavalieri left Liverpool for Cesena in 2010 before going back to his native Brazil to join Fluminense. The Brazilian shot stopper has since made 188 appearances for the Rio de Janeiro outfit. Cavalieri has also been capped three times for his national team, but he’s unlikely to add to that after falling out of favor at Fluminense this season. @wilko_mart_cach
Number 39: Philipp Degen
When the Swiss right back arrived in 2008 it was considered to be a bit of a coup. He came of a free from Borussia Dortmund and came to challenge Alvaro Arbeloa who had not overwhelmed in his first two seasons.
Injuries conspired to delay the growth of his Liverpool career. During his debut he collided with Hyypia to suffer broken ribs and a punctured lung. That kept him out for two months only for him to break his metatarsal on his return. That injury would keep him out for the rest of the season.
While he was out Liverpool signed Glen Johnson from Portsmouth for £19 million; the record fee for a Liverpool defender at the time. There was no way he was going to displace the superior Johnson.
His Reds career was effectively over after Hodgson arrived and he went on loan to Stuttgart for the season before being released. He joined his former youth club Basel. @davidgatesports
Number 38: Mark Gonzalez
Mark Gonzalez was meant to be the missing piece of the Liverpool midfield. Xabi Alonso and Steven Gerrard were one of the best midfield duos in Europe and Luis Garcia was manning the right flank with craft and guile. The speed and trickery of Gonzalez was going to complete the set.
After a drawn out process of obtaining a work visa he finally made his debut in 2006, scoring against Maccabi Haifa from the bench. His first start for the Reds was against Spurs in the Premier League, another game he scored in.
Those two goals set the Liverpool fans abuzz with his potential. Unfortunately that was two-thirds of his eventual tally for the club. He made a host of appearances that season but never looked a threat after his promising start.
Benitez decided to cut the losses by selling him at the end of his first season to Real Betis. @davidgatesports
Number 37: Mauricio Pellegrino
Liverpool were desperate for cover at center back during Benitez’ first season. Behind Hyypia and Carragher there was only converted midfielder Igor Biscan and Djimi Traore. So the idea of getting Mauricio Pellegrino on a free transfer seemed too good to be true.
The Argentinian had played in two Champions League finals and had been a star defender for Benitez as he won two league titles and a UEFA Cup with Valencia. Even at 34 years old he was thought to be a canny purchase.
The reality was a lot more sobering. He never looked close to the pace of the Premier League. One performance in a 2-0 loss to Southampton sticks out. Peter Crouch owned him all afternoon and was the game that convinced Benitez to sign the English striker the following summer.
The current Southampton manager left at the end of that season as Liverpool turned to younger signings to bolster the back line. @davidgatesports
Number 36: Antonio Nunez
One of the first things Benitez did at Liverpool was to sell Michael Owen. It was a huge call for the new manager but he let the English marksman go to Real Madrid. Part of that deal was Antonio Nunez came the other way to Anfield.
The right midfielder was technically Benitez’ second signing and would compete with Vladimir Smicer. However it was not long until Liverpool would also sign Alonso and Garcia making a wave of Spanish imports.
Nunez was firmly behind Garcia in the pecking order but stayed around the first team for the duration of his one season at Liverpool. He made 27 appearances in total an only scored one goal for the club.
He famously made the bench for the Champions League final in Istanbul but did not see the field. Benitez decided to cash in soon after selling him to Celta Vigo. @davidgatesports
Number 35: Josemi
The signing of Josemi from Spanish side Malaga was Rafael Benitez’s first after taking over for Gerard Houllier. Benitez signed the defender for two-million pounds on July 26, 2004. The Spaniard was 24-years-old, stood at 6’1”, and was expected to be a strong component of Liverpool’s defence.
However, Josemi’s stay at the club was short-lived. And his time as a starter was even shorter after he fell out of favour with Benitez.
He was sent off in a 4-2 victory over Fulham on October 16, just two months after his debut. Steve Finnan, who was signed by the club one year earlier, took over at right back during Josemi’s suspension.
Finnan would prove his worth to Benitez in that time, and Josemi was subsequently dropped from the starting XI upon his return.
The Spaniard made 23 appearances for Liverpool during the 2004-2005 season, 15 coming in league play. He was featured as a substitute in the majority of those matches. He made just 12 appearances in what would be his second and final season.
And after two years at Liverpool, Josemi went back to Spain. He joined Villareal on January 1, 2006. The move was a straight swap for Dutch defender Jan Kromkamp. Speaking of which… @UnofficialAB
Number 34: Jan Kromkamp
Dutch right-back Jan Kromkamp didn’t make much of an impact at Liverpool, but he hardly wasted anyone’s time either.
He arrived from Villareal as part of a straight swap deal and left little over a year later for his native land and PSV Eindhoven.
Kromkamp struggled to dislodge Steve Finnan from his position and played 18 times for the Reds, although he did manage to snatch an FA Cup win after coming on as a substitute for Xabi Alonso in the 2006 final.
This one isn’t one of Rafa Benitez’s finest moments, but at least he hardly cost the club anything and the decision was rectified the next year. @rusty_hughes
Number 33: Nabil El Zhar
Nabil El Zhar signed for Liverpool in 2006, and made his debut for the reserve team against Newcastle. He finally had a chance to make his first team debut a month after signing, against Portsmouth at Anfield.
He scored his first goal in a League Cup tie against Cardiff City in 2007, and made his first assist against Wigan Athletic in 2008. In 2010 Liverpool had sent him loan to PAOK FC, and a year later was released from his contract as he signed for Spanish side Levante.
A young player with some talent who never really got it together under Benitez. He tried his best at the club and was never short of enthusiasm but lacked the elite level mentality and ability to become a regular first member. @_rahultanna
Number 32: Scott Carson
This was not a signing that achieved much for LFC but that doesn’t make it a bad signing. Reserve goalkeepers rarely make a difference to the side unless there is an emergency. Carson was brought in to be provide cover for Dudek and grow into a good keeper for the future.
Carson arrived in January 2005 and was the backup for the Champions League final win. That summer Pepe Reina arrived to be the unquestioned number one. Carson was so highly though of that he actually beat out Jerzy Dudek to be reserve keeper for some of the 2006/7 season.
As his stock was rising there was talk he could make the England World Cup squad. He requested to go out on loan, ending up at Sheffield Wednesday. He did indeed make the trip to Germany for the World Cup.
Benitez wanted to continue his experience and he wanted to stay in England contention so he went out on loan again. First to Charlton and then to Aston Villa. Eventually he was sold to West Brom in 2008. @davidgatesports
Number 31: Jonjo Shelvey
The young, bald, controversial package that is Jonjo Shelvey. The London lad was just 18-years-old when he signed for Liverpool – with Benitez looking to see him develop into Steven Gerrard’s successor.
However this was never to be, as spell with the Reds wasn’t an overly memorable one. Despite his tenacity and hard work, he only managed to score 7 goals in his 69 total appearances for the club. His more famous stats are for racking up booking points.
Shelvey seems to attract the red cards no matter where he goes. His most infamous for Liverpool was after his brutal challenge on Jonny Evans against Manchester Utd in 2012. His follow up clash with Sir Alex Ferguson only added to the heat of the situation.
Even now, Shelvey is still finding way of getting himself exiled to the dressing room. Old habits clearly do die hard. @LFCGeorgia
Number 30: Alberto Aquilani
Clearly a good player but one who never got going during his time at Liverpool. His signing represents the sad end to Benitez’ time as Liverpool manager. He was brought into replace Xabi Alonso who had moved to Real Madrid after his relationship with Benitez had become strained.
The signing of Aquiliani was a welcome plus. He came with a big reputation from Italy and had showed a high level of skill and nous alongside Totti at Roma. Famously some fans made a banner for the Italian before he’d ever kicked a ball for the club. Not the best idea and it didn’t help the pressure on him to fill Alonso’s shoes.
Injuries initially kept his away from the first team but he made eventually made his first Premier League start in December of 2009. It was a debut that flashed talent and vision. He received a standing ovation from the Kop.
He ended playing 26 times for the Reds that season. While he only score two goals he did put in some Man-of-the-Match performances across that time.
Roy Hodgson’s inherent mistrust of skillful midfielders meant he played on loan the next year and then again in 2011/12. By that time there were new owners and a host of new players under Kenny Dalglish and club sold him to Fiorentina in 2012. He reamins one of the biggest ‘what if’ players in recent times. @davidgatesports
Number 29: Sotirios Kyrgiakos
The big Greek freak came to Liverpool as a free transfer in 2009 to help bring cover to central defense following Sami Hyypia’s departure to Bayer Leverkusen. He ended making 49 appearances over 2 years and had some strong performances in that time.
His first season under Benitez was a mini-success for him personally. He was regularly rated as our best defender in that turbulent season. he seemed to handle the pressure of replacing Hyypia with relish.
Under Roy Hodgson he ended up playing in the first team a lot alongside Jamie Carragher as Hodgson sort to install his agricultural style of football.
The English manager also had the habit of pushing Kyrgiakos up front late in games where we trailing as we sort to pump it into the box at every opportunity.
He ended up with three goals for the club before leaving for Wolfsburg in the summer of 2011 as Kenny Dalglish sort to renovate the squad. @davidgatesports
Number 28: Robbie Keane
This was a weird one. On paper it made all the sense in the world. Liverpool had been overly reliant on Fernando Torres the previous season and needed more goals in a team with a stout defense and the best midfield trio in Europe.
Lifelong Liverpool fan Robbie Keane seemed the perfect addition. A natural goalscorer and a hard worker he seemed ready-made to join Benitez at Liverpool.
It took him a while to get going. He scored in Europe and the League Cup but was very slow to score in the Premier League not netting in the league until November against West Brom. Despite not finding the net he had been instrumental in victories against Everton and Manchester United helping Liverpool to a strong start.
Liverpool had a mini-dip in form, four draws in 5 games as they fell behind United in the title race. Keane’s profligacy was often cited as a cause. An equalizer at Arsenal stemmed the tide of criticism and he scored a brace against Bolton on Boxing Day.
Three straight draws in January saw Benitez lose patience in Keane and he was sold on the deadline day back to Spurs at a significant loss. It was a hasty decision as Liverpool rallied later in the season for title challenge. If only we had kept Keane six more months there may have been another important goal or two for the Irishman. @davidgatesports
Number 27: Fernando Morientes
With Michael Owen going to Real Madrid in the summer of 2004, Fernando Morientes found himself down the pecking order at the Santiago Bernabeu and joined Liverpool in January 2005. The Spanish striker came in with lofty expectations on his shoulders, but he failed to live up to them.
As a result of being cup-tied, Morientes was unable to feature in Liverpool’s historic Champions League campaign in 2005. Morientes was able to string a sequence of games together in his second season, but he only managed to score five league goals, an incredibly disappointing return for a striker who had excelled in Spain.
After a season and a half at Anfield, Morientes departed for Valencia, where he topped his total goalscoring record in his first season at the Spanish club. Ultimately, Morientes will be regarded as one of the disappointments in the Benitez era at Anfield. @wilko_mart_cach
Number 26: Andrea Dossena
When signed to replace the departing John Arne Riise, Andrea Dossena was advertised to Liverpool fans as a dynamic fullback who could both attack and defend. Unlike other Benitez signings which were seen as long-term projects, the 26-year old Dossena was perceived as being able to contribute right off the bat.
In his first season at Liverpool, Dossena was often rotated with Fabio Aurelio as the starting left back.However, a series of unimpressive showings quickly saw Aurelio and youngster Emiliano Insua usurp him in the pecking order.
Dossena is best remembered at Liverpool for scoring twice in four days against Real Madrid and Manchester United, respectively. Had those moments of magic been consistent, the Italian international could have lasted longer at Anfield, but he was shipped off to Napoli in the January transfer window after only a year and a half in Merseyside. @wilko_mart_cach
Number 25: Emiliano Insua
The Argentinian arrived at Liverpool from Boca Juniors as an 18-year-old. Fans were quickly impressed with his size and speed as looked older than his years. He played a few games here and there in his first two seasons at the club and was primarily a back up for Fabio Aurelio and Andrea Dossena
It was in 2009 that he became a first team regular playing all most tthe entire season as Liverpool’s first choice left back. Strong and decisive he often flashed glimpses of a good future for Liverpool.
However a handful of costly errors eroded his confidence and he was beginning to be a player of derision for some of the fanbase. Many were turning away from Benitez as the ownership was crippling the club with debt and lies.
In reality the mistakes he was making were normal for a young player and he should have been given more time. He went on to win La Liga with Atletico Madrid and feature in their Champions League final run in 2014. @davidgatesports
Number 24: David N’Gog
David N’gog joined Liverpool from PSG as a highly touted 19-year old in 2008, but ultimately failed to live up to his potential. The lanky French striker made 19 appearances in his first season at Anfield, racking up a total of 3 goals under Rafa Benitez’s tutelage.
N’gog bettered his numbers the following season, scoring 5 league goals while also finding the net once in both the Champions League and then the Europa League. N’gog’s best moment in a Reds shirt also came in his second season when he rounded off a 2-0 win against Manchester United in front of the Kop with a low finish past Edwin van der Sar.
However, the Frenchman never took his game to the next level. His inconsistency and lack of goalscoring sent N’gog to Bolton Wanderers in a £4m deal at the beginning of the 2011-12 season. His stint at Liverpool ended with 19 goals in 94 appearances, and he now finds himself without a club at the age of 28. @wilko_mart_cach
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
Number 21: Albert Riera
Another player who arrived as the missing piece. Like Mark Gonzalez and Harry Kewell before him Albert Riera was brought in to be Liverpool’s first choice left midfielder and solve a problem position we had since John Barnes’ heyday.
While he did not light up Anfield with goals and assists in his first season at the club he was a very reliable player. He did everything the manager wanted and was never wasteful in possession or shirking his defensive responsibilities.
Another player who suffered during the sour season of 2009/10 as the Anfield crowd became frustrated with a poor year of results. Riera was one of the players labelled to be not good enough and indicative of the weaknesses in Benitez’ management. That was harsh. He left in for Olympiakos at the end of that season during the Hodgson clear out. @davidgatesports
Number 20: Jermaine Pennant
Jermaine Pennant came to Liverpool as a player with unfulfilled talent. His arrival in 2006 was to bring some pace to the side. His first season and a half at the club was reasonably successful. While never wowing the Liverpool crowd he proved himself to be dangerous from time to time.
He played a key role in the Champions League run of 2007. Many think he was Liverpool’s best player in the final loss to AC Milan in Athens.
After Torres arrived he found it harder to get games. The Spaniard took the number 9 role and Dirk Kuyt shifted over to right midfield essentially booting Pennant out of the first team.
He was loaned out to Portsmouth for the second half of the 2008/9 season before being sold that summer to Real Zaragoza. @davidgatesports
Number 19: Robbie Fowler
Robbie Fowler will forever be a legend at Liverpool. He scored 120 goals in 236 League games from 1992 to 2002. Unfortunately, his career with the club ended on a sour note after tension grew with manager Gerard Houllier. But regardless of how Houllier felt, the fans certainly did not want to see Fowler leave.
And that’s why the Liverpool faithful rejoiced when Benitez brought Fowler back on a free transfer on January 27, 2006. He made his second Liverpool debut on February 1, 2006.
Fowler entered the game as a substitute, coming on for Peter Crouch to a massive ovation. Signs around the stadium read, “Fowler God 11 — Welcome back to heaven.”
Although the 31-year-old Fowler was a shell of his former self, he still managed to tally five league goals in 14 appearances during the 2005-2006 season. His next season would be his last as a Red.
Fowler scored three goals in 16 appearances during the 2006-2007 campaign. Amazingly, all three goals were scored on penalties against Sheffield United. The first came in the season opening away fixture, with second and third (and final) ones coming at Anfield on February 24, 2007.
Fowler’s last game with Liverpool came against Charlton Athletic on May 13, 2007. He was brought on as a substitute with only a few minutes remaining in the game, and was given the captain’s armband to a standing ovation. @UnofficialAB
Number 18: Craig Bellamy
Craig Bellamy’s first stint at Anfield only lasted one year, but it was full of anecdotes and good memories. Bellamy was not the flashiest signing, but he was always willing to put a shift in and came up big in decisive moments for the Reds.
Bellamy’s most infamous moment for Liverpool came when it was reported that he had attacked his teammate John Arne Riise with a golf club during a training session. Yet, this was all forgotten when Bellamy opened the scoring and then assisted the second goal in a historic victory at the Camp Nou.
The Welsh speedster left Liverpool only a year after joining amid rumblings of a bust-up with Rafa Benitez, but he returned in 2011 under Kenny Dalglish for a final season with the Reds. All in all, his first year for Liverpool should be considered a small success. @wilko_mart_cach
Number 17: Momo Sissoko
Momo Sissoko is one of the most underrated players of the Benitez era. He rarely gets mentioned in the lists of influential player during that time but he was a very good player for the Reds.
He endeared himself to Kopites immediately by rejecting a move to Everton to move to Liverpool instead. Up the Reds!
In 2005 he was brought in to be a defensive compliment to Xabi Alonso in the Liverpool midfield. That season Steven Gerrard was playing more on the right of midfield as Benitez wanted to use his crossing and attacking sensibilities further forward. The truth being that Benitez never really trusted Gerrard as part of a midfield two. Sissoko was the solution to that problem.
The Malian was a more than capable defensive midfielder and featured 46 times in his first season at Anfield which was considered a success as Liverpool qualifed again for the Champions League and won the FA Cup.
Following Mascherano’s arrival first team chances grew thin and he was eventually sold to Juventus for £11 million in 2008. @davidgatesports
Number 16: Alvaro Arbeloa
The Spaniard came to Anfield as bit of an unknown to most Liverpool fans. He came from Deportivo and a number of Reds were skeptical as he looked to thin and slow to be an effective right back in the Premier League.
Yet he did not lack strength and what he did not have in physical presence he made up for with impeccable timing and technical prowess. He combined with Reina, Hyypia and Aurelio to give us the most skillful back five in the League. This was essential to Benitez’ possession based style.
He played two seasons al Liverpool’s first choice right back including the title run of 208/9. His performances in a Liverpool shirt earned him a place in the Spanish squad which became a first team spot after his move to Real Madrid in 2009.
While he won no trophies at Anfield he went on to win La Liga and the Champions League with Real and 2 European Championships and a World Cup with Spain. A player Liverpool fans can be proud that he made his name at the club. @davidgatesports
Number 15: Glen Johnson
After Liverpool had come so close to winning the Premier League in 2008/9 there was much hope going into the beginning of the next season that Liverpool were back and going to challenge again. Some of that belief came as Liverpool spent a record £20 million fee on a right back.
Glen Johnson was an exciting signing as he would bring pace and attacking threat that Arbeloa did not. Benitez had wanted to sign a marauding right back for over year and had narrowly missed out on Daniel Alves to Barcelona.
Johnson was the Aldi Alves. The whole team sank in 2009/10 as Benitez time at the club came to the end. It wasn’t until Brendan Rodgers arrived that Liverpool started seeing more from the Englishman as he played a regular role in the amazing title run of the 2013/14 season. @davidgatesports
Number 14: Fabio Aurelio
The first ever Brazilian to play for Liverpool football club he had a career at Anfield. He played 134 for the Reds across six seasons. Only injuries prevented him from being a player fans consider to be a legend.
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He is perhaps the most technically gifted player to play at left back for the club. Yes even more than Alberto Moreno!
His most famous moment for the club came in the 4-1 victory at Old Trafford that set off Liverpool’s title challenge in 2009. We were 2-1 up in a competitive game before Aurelio curled a peach of a free kick into the top corner. Van der Sar was glued helpless.
In a crowd of left backs of recent years including Dossena, Konchesky, Milner, Insua, Moreno and Enrique – Fabio Aurelio now has a semi-cult status as a left who was actually good! @davidgatesports
Number 13: Yossi Benayoun
Liverpool signed Yossi Benayoun in the summer of 2007 from West Ham United. He had already agreed, but not signed, a contract extension with the Hammers. But Benitez saw an opportunity and swept him for his signing for £5 million
He made his debut for the club in the Champions League against Toulouse and scored his first goal against Reading in the League Cup. It did not take long for him to impress the fans and the manager. He started most games for the club in his first season and carried on scoring. He ended his first season with 11 goals scored in 48 appearances. He scored many memorable goals for the club including the late equaliser against Arsenal at Anfield in the epic 4-4 draw.
He left the club in 2010 as part of new manager Roy Hodgson’s clear out. His choice to join city was met with disappointment by many fans. However he was a very good player for the club and we got to have him for his best years. @_rahultanna
Number 12: Raheem Sterling
There is no love lost between Liverpool fans and Raheem Sterling so I’m sure there will be some annoyed that he is so high on this list. Yet this is about how they played for the club, not how much we like them!
Sterling arrived at Liverpool just as Benitez was leaving. The manager snapped up the precocious talent from QPR when he was just 15. A couple of stellar season in the youth team persuaded new manager Brendan Rodgers to give him a good run in the first team.
Sterling immediately looked the part. His pace and dribbling were a constant threat down the right hand side. What was most impressive was how he got involved in the defensive responsibilities. He would use his pace – like a bullet – to rob bigger and stronger opponents of the ball.
He was a key player in the thrilling title challenge of 2013/14. With Suarez and Sturridge he formed one of the most lethal Liverpool attacks we had seen in years. He scored 23 goals in his three seasons in Liverpool’s first team before his acrimonious move to Man City in 2015.
You may not like him but you do have to concede that it was a very good buy from Rafa Benitez. @davidgatesports
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”
@davidgatesports & @_rahultanna
Number 9: Maxi Rodriguez
Another free transfer who provided excellent value for the club. Benitez picked Rodriguez on a free transfer from Atletico Madrid in January of 2010 when Liverpool were in desperate need for more attacking quality without Xabi Alonso who had moved to Real.
The Argentinian was keen to renew his partnership with Fernando Torres from their time together at Atletico. He found Torres a few times in his early games for a couple of assists. But it was his goal threat that really helped Liverpool in some barren periods.
Liverpool were over reliant on Torres and Gerrard for goals and both had been struggling with injuries. Maxi came and immediately provided a new goal threat with his late runs and incisive finishing.
In his two season at Anfield he scored 17 goals including two hattricks in quick succession against Birmingham and Fulham in the Premier League. He helped Liverpool to win the League Cup against Cardiff in 2012 under Kenny Dalglish.
Eventually he was sold back to his boyhood club, Newell’s Old Boys in the summer of 2012. It is shame he did not get to play more under Benitez or even Rodgers who would have made more out of the skillful Argentinian. @davidgatesports & @_rahultanna
Number 8: Lucas Leiva
Lucas Leiva had just turned 20-years-old when Rafael Benitez purchased him from Brazilian club Grêmio on May 11, 2007.
His ten years with Liverpool were somewhat of a rollercoaster. Lucas was recently presented with a Special Recognition award, in honour of spending a decade at the club. However, the Brazilian wasn’t always beloved by the fans. In fact, he began his career often being heckled by the Anfield faithful.
But the turn of the decade brought Lucas a level of support most players dream of. He was named the Standard Chartered Player of the Season for the 2010-2011 campaign. The award is voted on by Liverpool supporters.
Three years later, Lucas was presented with the inaugural Bill Shankly Award. It’s an honour given to, “someone who has upheld the club’s values, showing dignity, unity, commitment and ambition.”
On November 8, 2015, Lucas started a Premier League game as Liverpool captain for the first time.
Lucas was eventually loved by Liverpool supporters for his constant effort on and off the ball. And perhaps also for contributing to the pure gold “unlucky” meme.
The sale of Lucas to Italian club Lazio was confirmed on July 18, 201. Liverpool sold the Brazilian midfielder for an estimated five-million pounds, the same amount Rafael Benitez bought him for ten years earlier. Lucas departed as the last remaining member of the Benitez era. @UnofficialAB
Number 7: Martin Skrtel
The towering Slovakian defender signed with Liverpool on January 11, 2008 for an estimated six-and-a-half-million pounds from Russian club Zenit Saint Petersburg.
Quite incredibly, Skrtel actually scored 18 goals during his time with Liverpool. That includes seven league goals in the exhilarating 2013-2014 season, helping the club finish second in the Premier League.
But perhaps no Martin Skrtel goal is more memorable than his heroic header in the 97 minute against Arsenal on December 20, 2014.It seemed as though the Anfield faithful would be sent home unhappy when Fabio Borini was booked for a second time and sent off in the 92 minute, with Liverpool already trailing 2-1.
Borini caught Arsenal’s Santi Cazorla with a high boot and actually cut the Spanish midfielder through his shirt. But Cazorla wasn’t the only one to see his own blood on this day.
Skrtel took Olivier Giroud’s studs to the head earlier in the contest, causing for a long delay in the action. Subsequently, the ref granted nine minutes of added time to the contest.
So when the bloody and bandaged Slovakian rose up for the equalizer in the 97 minute, the crowd at Anfield absolutely lost their collective minds.
Skrtel was named the Standard Chartered Player of the Season three years earlier in a 2011-2012 season that saw Liverpool finish eighth in the Premier League.
In 2016, after falling out of favour with new manager Jürgen Klopp, Skrtel was sold to Fenerbahçe for a reported five-and-a-half-million pounds. But fans will always remember the bold, bald-headed centre back for his aggressive defending and wonderful aerial skills. @UnofficialAB
Number 6: Pepe Reina
The best goalkeeper Liverpool have brought into the team since the Istanbul legend Jerzy Dudek was none other than Pepe Reina; the always consistent, always lovable Number 25. Reina’s career blossomed with Liverpool FC – spending 9 years with the club and creating everlasting memories for the Kopites.
Benitez recruited Reina after noticing the Spaniard’s fantastic record of penalty saving. However, his sharp saves encountered an unexpected twist during the 2009 clash against Sunderland. Darren Bent featuring a large red beach ball completely bamboozled the keeper and the Reds lost against the northern side.
But this was perhaps one of the only down points during his LFC career. Nobody has come close to Pepe Reina’s ability since he departed from Anfield. Liverpool could seriously do with some magic from the Spanish keeper right about now.
Brendan Rodgers was never convinced by Reina and loaned him out to Napoli after the arrival of Simon Mignolet in 2013. He was eventually sold to Bayern Munich in 2014 but remains an iconic figure from the Benitez era. And he loved to beat United! @LFCGeorgia
Number 5: Daniel Agger
With Liverpool’s current defensive issues, a lot of fans are reminiscing about when times were easier and the defenders were like gold dust. Daniel Agger is one that’s being pined for a lot lately. The Danish centre-back was a hugely vital cog in the LFC machine. Scoring 14 goals during his eight years as a Red, Agger ranks as one of Liverpool’s best centre-backs to date.
The former Number 5 was everything a football fan could want in a player. His captaincy for the Denmark international team gifted him a lot of leadership experience. That teamed up with his sharp defending and his absolutely sublime shots from range made him a lethal weapon.
Agger’s ability to score from 40 yards out is a talent every footballer wants and a very minute percentage can actually master.
The Dane made Liverpool FC his life. Sporting several LFC tattoos which he is still immensely proud of to this day. His insatiable passion for the club is everything Liverpool are lacking right now. Anfield could have been blessed with a few more years of his presence, but Agger admits his reason for leaving the club was pure and simple: Brendan Rodgers.
The Reds are in definite need of another Agger-type player, but money can’t buy you that level of love. One of only a handful of Benitez’ signings that formed an inseparable bond with fans. He’s only 32 and more than one person has speculated about how he could help us if came out of retirement. @LFCGeorgia
Number 4: Javier Mascherano
Liverpool signed Mascherano from West Ham after the Premier League accepted the club’s request to register the player amid his dodgy move from Argentina with Tevez.
He made his debut four days later against Sheffield United at home and itdid not take long for him to impress the manager and become an important part of the team. He was described as a monster of a player from Benítez and was part of Liverpool’s journey to the Champions League final in 2007.
Mascherano, alongside Gerrard and Alonso, would form one of the best midfields this club has ever seen. That is high praise but absolutely justified. The Argentinian was the midfield enforcer, patrolling in front of the the back four. He was also adept and bursting forward to nip in the bud any opponent’s counter attacks.
With interest coming from Barcelona in 2010 Javier Mascherano pushed for a move to Spain. Roy Hodgson had just been appointed and he figured that working under Pep Guardiola for the La Liga champions. Not much of a choice really!
He has gone on to win four La Liga title and two European cups with the Catalans. Despite only playing three and half years at the club he made a huge impact and was an outstanding player for the Reds during Benitez’ reign. @davidgatesports & @_rahultanna
Number 3: Fernando Torres
Now, this was a proper signing. This was the type of signing that signaled to the world that Liverpool meant business, that we were a lean, mean footballing machine.
Rafa Benitez and the Anfield heirarchy showed what they were made of by spending a club record £20.2m on the Spaniard and his early returns were electric as he became the fastest player to score 50 Premier League goals for the club.
Torres hit 24 league goals during his debut season, 14 in the next and 18 in just 22 games during 2009/2010 before a strange loss of form lead to a decline in returns and a move to Chelsea as the fourth most expensive player in history.
A fantastic return of 81 goals in just 142 appearances for Liverpool highlights what a player he was in his prime and what a good transfer it was. Hats off to Rafa and the backroom boys for this, it was stunning.
Many fans felt betrayed when moved to Chelsea but time has healed many of those wounds. Under new owners, and coming out of the Hodgson debacle, it was hard to see if the club was going anywhere. He was in the prime of his career. Perhaps the best number 9 in the world at the time.
Most of us can look back now and see a incredible player who scored magical goals and was a huge part of one of Liverpool’s best teams of the Premier League era. @rusty_hughes
Number 2: Dirk Kuyt
A truly iconic Anfield legend. One of the most hardworking and talented midfielders to wear the Liverbird on his shirt. The dutchman bagged his first goal during his third appearance for the club, and after that they just didn’t stop rolling in.
He arrived as a prolific striker from Feyenoord to be the goalscorer that Benitez’ well organized team so desperately needed. He never quite got going as the number 9 in his first season and shifted to right midfield as Fernando Torres arrived in 2007.
Throughout his career with the Reds, Kuyt netted 71 fantastic goals in his 285 appearances. Just months before his move to Fenerbahce, Kuyt came off the bench in ET to score against Cardiff in the 2012 League Cup Final. After the shootout, his penalty helped Liverpool clinch the win and he bagged his first piece of silverware with the Reds.
Despite his transfer to the Süper Lig, the former Liverpool Number 18 remained a loyal and passionate supporter of the team. Even now he is retired, the Anfield favourite still stays in contact with his former teammates and enjoys his rather apt #18 position in the 100 Players Who Shook the Kop list. Firmly ahead of the likes of Kevin Keegan and Ian Callaghan. @LFCGeorgia
Number 1: Xabi Alonso
The first big signing of Rafa Benitez’ time as Liverpool boss was also his best. There are a number of place he signed that the fans fell in love with but no more so than Xabi Alonso. He was instrumental in everything good that happened during those years.
His first season at the club was incredible, capped with the Champions League victory in Istanbul. Alonso took and missed a penalty before slamming in the rebound to equalize for Liverpool and complete the historic comeback.
He was then an instrumental player in the 2006 FA Cup winning season and the return to the Champions League final in 2007. His one season of underperforming came in 2007/8, which was not coincidentally Liverpool’s worst year of his tenure.
He regained his form terrifically in 2008/9 as he formed that sensational trio with Mascherano and Gerrard. He left as one of the most talented midfielders in Europe and went on to be a key player for Real Madrid, Bayern Much and Spain as those teams found huge success.
Next: The 32 best Liverpool signings of the Brendan Rodgers era
A master passer he is the most silky distributor of the ball we have had in the Premier League age. He will be long remembered for his technique, success and goals from the half way line. An amazing player at the best signing of the Benitez era. @davidgatesports