LIVERPOOL FC 2008/09 Squad List

(Click a players name to view more information)

Diego Cavalieri (#1): Brazilian goalkeeper Diego Cavalieri signed from Palmeiras in July 2008. He became the third Brazilian to sign for Liverpool after Fabio Aurelio and Lucas Leiva.

Andrea Dossena (#2): Left-back Andrea Dossena signed from Serie A side Udinese in July 2008. The Italian was a direct replacement for the outgoing John Arne Riise.

Sami Hyypia (#4): Veteran defender Sami Hyypia is firmly established as a Liverpool legend after nearly a decade of unblemished service. He cost Liverpool just £2.5million from Dutch outfit Willem II back in May 1999.

Daniel Agger (#5): Daniel Agger is a cultured centre-back who arrived from Brondby IF for a fee of approximately £5million in January 2006. The Denmark international is now firmly established in Rafa Benitez’s first team.

Robbie Keane (#7): The boyhood Red arrived at Anfield in July 2008. In his first interview as a Liverpool player, Keane expressed no regret over the move and revealed he would wear the number 7 shirt; a number previously worn by Liverpool heavyweights Kenny Dalglish and Kevin Keegan.

Steven Gerrard (#8): Liverpool’s inspirational captain is arguably the most complete footballer in the world. Power, pace, touch and a never-say-die attitude; Stevie G has it all, and rarely have these attributes been more apparent than when he skippered the Reds to 2005 Champions League glory in Istanbul.

Fernando Torres (#9): Signed for a club record fee of approximately £20 million in July 2007, El Nino was handed the shirt vacated by Anfield legend Robbie Fowler. He managed to overtake Ruud van Nistelrooy and become the most prolific foreigner ever in a debut season in England after scoring a total of 33 goals in the 2007-08 season.

Albert Riera (#11): Albert Riera signed from Espanyol on the transfer deadline day September 2008.

Fabio Aurelio (#12): Left-back Fabio Aurelio became the first Brazilian to sign for Liverpool in July 2007. The number 12 has immense technical ability but his Anfield career has so far been blighted by injury.

Xabi Alonso (#14): Cultured midfielder Xabi Alonso became one of the first players to join the Rafalution with a £10.5million move from his native Spain in August 2004. Alonso played a pivotal role in Istanbul when the club won its fifth European Cup. It was he who scored Liverpool’s third and equalising goal on 59 minutes, knocking in the rebound from his own missed penalty.

Yossi Benayoun (#15): Skilful winger Yossi Benayoun signed from West Ham in July 2007. Surprisingly strong, despite his slight appearance, Benayoun has established himself as one of the best creative players in the Premier League.

Jermaine Pennant (#16): Rafa Benitez signed Jermaine Pennant in the summer of 2006 following a long search for a right winger.

Alvaro Arbeloa (#17): Versatile defender Alvaro Arbeloa was brought to Anfield in January 2007. Arbeloa marked his debut at the Nou Camp, where he was deployed as a left-back. It proved a tactical masterstroke on the part of Benitez as the new boy excelled, thwarting Barca starlet Lionel Messi and helping the Reds return home with an unlikely 2-1 lead.

Dirk Kuyt (#18): Dutch forward Dirk Kuyt arrived on Merseyside in the summer of 2006 for a fee in the region of £10million. Selfless and versatile on the pitch, he’s undoubtedly one of the hardest working attackers in the game.

Ryan Babel (#19): Explosive winger Ryan Babel joined the Reds in July 2007 in a deal worth more than £10million. The Dutch international is a product of the famous Ajax youth academy.

Javier Mascherano (#20): Midfield enforcer Javier Mascherano signed from West Ham in February 2007. His dynamic style has established him as a Kop favourite and one of the first names on Rafa Benitez’s teamsheet.

Lucas Leiva (#21): Brazil international Lucas Leiva signed for Liverpool in July 2007. Having broken onto the scene in October 2005, Lucas soon became the youngest player ever to win the Bola de Ouro. The honour is given to the best player in the Campeonato Brasileiro and has previously been won by Zico, Romario, Kaka and Carlos Tevez.

Emiliano Insua (#22): Argentinean starlet Emiliano Insua is one of the brightest hopes among Liverpool’s reserve ranks. Noted for his attacking prowess, he is a regular for the reserves and has a handful of first-team appearances to his name.

Jamie Carragher (#23): The vice-captain has been instrumental in the Reds’ success over the last decade, during which he’s made more than 500 appearances. The ultimate one-club player, and with one of the biggest hearts in football, Jamie Carragher is Mr Liverpool. He became only the 12th player to make 500 appearances for Liverpool.

David Ngog (#24): Striker David Ngog arrived from Paris Saint Germain in July 2008. The hotshot is one of the brightest young talents in French football.

Pepe Reina (#25): Jose Manuel Reina is one of the world’s top stoppers with an uncanny knack of saving penalties. Reina has won the last three Premiership Golden Gloves awards. He also became the quickest goalkeeper in Liverpool history to keep a half century of clean sheet.

Jay Spearing (#26): Jay Spearing graduated to Melwood in the summer of 2007 after the best part of a decade at the Academy. The central midfielder cum defender captained Liverpool Under-18s to the second of their successive FA Youth Cup victories in 2007.

Phillip Degen (#27): Right-back Philipp Degen signed for Liverpool on a free transfer in the summer of 2008.

Damien Plessis (#28): Holding midfielder Damien Plessis is one of the most exciting prospects at Melwood. He already has a number of first-team appearances to his name.

Krisztian Nemeth (#29): Hungarian prodigy Krisztian Nemeth is the most talked about player in Liverpool’s reserve ranks. With lethal finishing, great movement and a fine touch, big things are expected of Nemeth, who has yet to make his first-team bow for Liverpool.

Charles Itandje (#30): Liverpool signed goalkeeper Charles Itandje from Lens in August 2007.

Nabil El Zhar (#31): Liverpool secured the signature of winger Nabil El Zhar from St Etienne in October 2006. The Moroccan can play on either flank or behind the striker. Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez has acknowledged the impact made by youngster Nabil El Zhar in the weekend’s last-gasp 2-1 win over Middlesbrough at Anfield.

Stephen Darby (#32): Right-back Stephen Darby graduated to Melwood during the summer of 2006 after the best part of a decade at the Academy. Darby was a key part of the 2006 and 2007 FA Youth Cup victories, wearing the captain’s armband in the first of those wins.

Martin Kelly (#34): Centre-half Martin Kelly graduated to Melwood in the summer of 2007. The tall but elegant defender, who missed almost two years of his Academy development due to a back problem, can play across the back four.

Ryan Flynn (#35): Central midfielder Ryan Flynn graduated from the Academy in the summer of 2006 and is now a regular for the reserves.

Steven Irwin (#36): Steven Irwin is a versatile Scouser who was promoted to Melwood in July 2008 after nine years at the Academy. Irwin is a player with a bit of everything: nice touch, a fierce tackle and great leadership qualities.

Martin Skrtel (#37): Slovak international Martin Skrtel arrived at Anfield in January 2008 with a reputation for being a no-nonsense centre-back.

Craig Lindfield (#38): Wirral-born striker Craig Lindfield is a product of the Academy who graduated to the first-team squad ahead of the 2006-07 campaign. He is on loan at Bournemouth until September 20.

Nathan Eccleston (#39): England youth international Nathan Eccleston is a fast striker currently learning his trade in the under-18s and reserves.

Martin Hansen (#41): Danish youth international goalkeeper Martin Hansen joined the Reds from Brondby in the summer of 2006.

Former Players

Steve Finnan: Right-back Steve Finnan signed for Liverpool in the summer of 2003. The popular Irishman is the only player to have played in every English football league. He completed a switch to La Liga outfit Espanyol on 1st September 2008.

Out on loan

Andriy Voronin (#10): Striker Andriy Voronin arrived on a free from Bayer Leverkusen in July 2007. He joined Hertha Berlin on a season long loan in September 2008 after a mixed first season at Anfield.