PAST PLAYER PROFILE - Peter Crouch

Peter Crouch : Striker
Date of Birth: 30/01/1981
Birthplace: Macclesfield
Debut : v FBK Kaunas, July 20, 2005, Champions League qualifier, won 3-1
1st team games: 135
1st team goals: 42
Other clubs: Dulwich Hamlet, IFK Hassleholm, QPR, Portsmouth, Aston Villa, Norwich, Southampton
International caps while with Liverpool: 27
International goals while with Liverpool: 14
Honours with Liverpool: FA Cup (2006), Charity Shield (2006)

PROFILE
Striker Peter Crouch became a cult hero after joining the Rafalution in the summer of 2005.

Many questioned Rafa Benitez's decision to pay Southampton approximately £7million for a player whose career had seen him jump around the Football League.

An incredible 19 games without a goal after arriving at Anfield did little to ease concerns, though in this time the Kop caught a glimpse of something that made Crouch stand out - and it wasn't just his 6ft 7 frame.

Despite being one of the tallest players ever to pull on a red jersey, the likeable frontman possessed an assured touch and a work ethic second only perhaps to teammate Dirk Kuyt.

It didn't take long for the faithful to devise the humorous "He's big, he's red, his feet stick out the bed" chant.

After breaking his duck with a brace against Wigan (the first of which had to go to the dubious goals panel after a freak deflection), the goals started to flow.

One of the most memorable was a winner in a fifth round FA Cup tie against Manchester United in January 2006. The Reds went on to win the competition in Cardiff, with Crouch getting the assist for Liverpool's second against West Ham.

Meanwhile, the Anfield number 15 was establishing himself as an England regular and was named in the 23-man squad for the 2006 World Cup in Germany.

He scored in a warm-up game against Hungary and celebrated with his much-publicised robot dance. Four days later he bagged a hat-trick against Jamaica despite fluffing a penalty.

With Wayne Rooney injured, the Liverpool man partnered Michael Owen in the World Cup opener against Paraguay. He kept his place for the follow up versus Trinidad and Tobago, during which he hit his first competitive international goal. Crouch made two further substitute appearances in the competition.

The start of the 2006-07 season saw him head the winner in the Community Shield triumph over Chelsea, while under new coach Steve McClaren he became the first England player to score 10 in a calendar year thanks to braces against Greece and Andorra.

In September 2006 Crouch scored perhaps his best ever goal, a stunning scissor kick at home to Galatasaray in the Champions League. It was a trick he would repeat just a few months later against Bolton Wanderers.

A broken nose sustained versus Sheffield United interrupted his second season on Merseyside, though he did go on to net his first club hat-trick against Arsenal in March 2007; one with his left foot, one with his right and another with his head.

Crouch was named as a substitute in the 2007 Champions League final in Athens, coming on for Javier Mascherano with 12 minutes to go. Sadly, his introduction wasn't enough to spark another incredible comeback.

There was further heartache the following November when he was part of the England side that failed to reach Euro 2008. The striker looked to have spared a nation's blushes when he equalised against Croatia at Wembley. All Steve McClaren's side needed to do was hold on - but they couldn't.

Meanwhile, the arrival of Fernando Torres at Anfield meant first-team starts were becoming more difficult to come by.

Despite being offered a new contract in the spring of 2008, Crouch decided the time was right to move on. It was Portsmouth who eventually won the race for his signature in July 2008.

PAST PLAYER PROFILE - Anthony Le Tallec

Anthony Le Tallec
Date of Birth: 3/10/1984
Birthplace: Hennebont, France
Debut : v Blackburn, September 13, 2003, Premier League, won 3-1
1st team games: 32
1st team goals: 1
Other clubs: Le Havre, St Etienne, Sunderland, Sochaux, Le Mans



PROFILE
Anthony Le Tallec was one of two 'French gems' brought to the club by Gerard Houllier but, like counterpart Florent Sinama Pongolle, his Anfield career never really took off.

Great things were expected of Le Tallec, for whom the word 'starlet' seemed to have been invented.

Such was his potential that he was snapped up by Le Havre aged just eight. The youngster came to the world's attention in May 2001 when he scored five goals in helping France reach the European Under-16 Championships final.

Three months later, aged 16, he made his club debut versus Grenoble. An incredible year was capped in September when France won the Under-17s' World Cup in England. Le Tallec was voted the tournament's second best player (behind Pongolle).

Houllier quickly pounced, signing the prodigious pair but allowing them to spend another two years in France to aid their development.

A wave of excitement flooded Anfield when they were finally unveiled in 2003 - though Le Tallec went on to amass just 32 appearances in a five-year Liverpool career.

The highlight undoubtedly came when he was selected against Juventus in the Champions League quarter-final in 2005 - and put in a great show.

Loan spells at St Etienne, Sunderland, Sochaux and Le Mans followed, the latter being made permanent in July 2008.

PAST PLAYER PROFILE - Harry Kewell

Harry Kewell
Date of Birth: 22/09/1978
Birthplace: Sydney, Australia
Debut : v Chelsea, August 17, 2003, Premier League, lost 2-1
1st team games: 138
1st team goals: 16
Other clubs: Leeds United
International caps: 20
International goals: 8
Honours with Liverpool: Champions League (2005), FA Cup (2006)

PROFILE
Harry Kewell was a player who threatened to deliver so much in a red shirt - but ultimately his stay at Liverpool will be filed under 'frustrating'.

A succession of long-term injuries prevented him reproducing the form witnessed at former club Leeds, where the Aussie winger had established himself as one of the Premiership's top talents.

Kewell's time in Yorkshire saw him voted PFA Young Player of the Year in 2000 before his love affair with the club came to an end in 2003.

Having turned down a move to Manchester United, the would-be Australia captain made his Reds debut in front of the Kop against Chelsea on August 17, 2003.

Kewell went on to score 11 goals in 49 games in his first season at Anfield - easily his best tally.

The following campaign saw him bag a single goal in 31 appearances. He was a shock starter in the Champions League final against AC Milan in Istanbul, though injury meant he was replaced by Vladimir Smicer after just 23 minutes.

A year later, after scoring three goals in 41 appearances during the 2005-06 season, fate again contrived against the playmaker as injury forced him to be substituted half way through the FA Cup final victory over West Ham.

Despite this, Kewell was fit in time for the 2006 World Cup in Germany. It was the first time Australia had qualified for the competition since 1974, and the Liverpool man was there in the opening game against Japan.

After a substitute appearance versus Brazil, Kewell scored a crucial equalising goal against Croatia which took his side into the second round. Unfortunately, another spell in the treatment room meant he played no part in the defeat to eventual winners Italy - nor indeed most of the following season back in England.

The winger returned to action in the penultimate league game of 2006-07 at Craven Cottage and went on to feature as a second-half substitute in the Champions League final against AC Milan.

Kewell now had a year to save his stuttering Reds career - he couldn't. More injuries prevented him playing any meaningful role in 2007-08 and his contract was not renewed.

He left Melwood for the final time in May 2008 wondering 'what might have been'.

PAST PLAYER PROFILE - John Arne Riise

John Arne Riise : Defender
Date of Birth: 24-09-1980
Birthplace: Molde, Norway
Debut : Aug 12 2001, Charity Shield v Man Utd
1st team games: 347
1st team goals: 31
Other clubs: Aalesund, Monaco
International caps: 71
International goals: 8
Honours with Liverpool: FA Charity Shield 2001, UEFA Super Cup 2001, Worthington Cup 2003, Champions League 2005, FA Cup 2006, FA Community Shield 2006.

PROFILE
Left-back John Arne Riise notched up well over 300 appearances during a seven-year association with the club through the Houllier and Benitez eras.

The Norwegian, who was famed for a fierce shot, joined Liverpool for approximately £4million in June 2001 having previously played for Aalesunds FK and Monaco.

His debut came in the Charity Shield against Manchester United on August 12, and it was in a fixture against the same opponents three months later that the flame-haired defender won a place in the heart of every Liverpool fan. From then until the end of his Anfield career, the Kop sang: "John Arne Riise, ooh, ah, I want to know how you scored that goal."

The full-back, who could also play left-midfield, remained a first-team regular as the Rafalution began in 2004.

It was he who opened the scoring against Chelsea in the 2005 Carling Cup final with a volley on 45 seconds - the fastest goal in the fixture's history.

During the 2005 Champions League final against AC Milan, Riise provided the cross for Steven Gerrard to head home on 54 minutes - and in doing so helped trigger the greatest comeback European football has ever witnessed. The fact his penalty was saved by Dida in the shoot-out is now a historical insignificance.

The following season was again full of highlights, most notably another opening goal against Chelsea - this time in an FA Cup semi-final.

Three weeks later he erased memories of the Istanbul penalty miss by converting his spot kick to help the Reds clinch their seventh FA Cup.

Riise continued his knack of scoring against Jose Mourinho's men at the start of the 2006-07 campaign, this time in the Community Shield. The full-back ran from inside his own half before lashing the ball beyond Carlo Cudicini to open the scores. Liverpool went on to win the match 2-1.

Ironically, the Scandinavian's last notable act in a red shirt again saw him net against Chelsea -- though this time it was at the wrong end to give the Blues a priceless away goal in the first leg of the 2007-08 Champions League semi-finals.

Riise was sold to Italian side AS Roma in June 2008.

PAST PLAYER PROFILE - Momo Sissoko

Momo Sissoko : Midfielder
Date of Birth: 22/01/1985
Birthplace: Mont-Saint-Aignan, France
Debut : July 26, 2005 v FBK Kaunas (A) Champions League qualifier: Won 3-1
1st team games: 86
1st team goals: 1
Other clubs: Auxerre, Valencia, Juventus
International caps while with Liverpool: 13
International goals while with Liverpool: 1
Honours with Liverpool: European Super Cup 2005-06, FA Cup 2005-06, Charity Shield 2006-07

PROFILE
Energetic midfielder Mohamed 'Momo' Sissoko spent nearly three years at Anfield after joining from Valencia in the summer of 2005.

The Malian had played under Rafa Benitez in Spain so it was no surprise when he chose Liverpool over the likes of Everton.

Benitez dared compare his new signing with Arsenal star Patrick Vieira - and the fans certainly weren't disappointed in his first two seasons.

Sissoko added steel previously lacking from the Liverpool midfield, though his first season on Merseyside was interrupted by a career-threatening eye injury sustained in a challenge with Benfica's Beto.

After just a month on the sidelines the African made a shock return against Birmingham. On doctors orders he donned protective goggles - though they didn't make it to half-time.

Two months later Sissoko put in a man-of-the-match performance in the FA Cup final against West Ham. The accolade would have been his but for the last-minute heroics of captain Steven Gerrard. Never mind; following a summer's break he was back at Cardiff for the Community Shield, and this time he did walk away with all the plaudits.

After an impressive start to the 2006-07 season, the Liverpool number 22 was back on the stretcher when he dislocated his shoulder against Birmingham. The injury ruled him out for three months.

Come February the African was back and putting in another stunning display, this time in the Nou Camp as the Reds beat Barcelona 2-1. The return leg saw him nearly break his goalscoring duck for the club - but he was denied by the crossbar.

Supporters would have to wait until the start of the 2007-08 season to see Sissoko get off the mark - and it proved to be a landmark goal for Liverpool. His 25-yard drive against Roy Keane's Sunderland at the Stadium of Light was the club's 7,000th league goal.

Despite this, the practicing Muslim was struggling to recapture the form he showed prior to his injuries and was sold to Juventus in January 2008 for a fee believed to be more than £8million.

PAST PLAYER PROFILE - Mark Wright

Mark Wright : Centre Half (1991-1998)
Date of Birth: 01-08-1963
Birthplace: Dorchester
Debut : 17th August 1991 v Oldham Athletic (H) Football League Division One: won 2-1
1st team games: 210
1st team goals: 7
Other clubs: Oxford United, Southampton and Derby County, Southport (manager), Oxford United (manager)
International caps while with Liverpool: 5 (England)
International goals while with Liverpool:
Honours with Liverpool: FA Cup 1992

PROFILE

Stylish England international Mark Wright was signed by Graeme Souness from Derby County for �2.2 million in the summer of 1991, and was soon joined at Anfield by Rams team-mate Dean Saunders.
With Alan Hansen retired, Glenn Hysen soon to go and Gary Gillespie moving on to Celtic, Liverpool were desperate for a centre half of quality, and after his courageous display's for England in the 1990 World Cup Wright fitted the bill perfectly.

Having made his Reds debut in the 2-1 win over Oldham Athletic at Anfield in August 1991, disaster came in his second game when he limped off after an hour in the 2-1 defeat by Manchester City at Maine Road. This was to be the start of many niggling injuries in his first season at Anfield but he did bounce back in style.

With Ronnie Whelan injured, Souness made Wright captain and his proudest moment came when he lifted the FA Cup at Wembley in 1992 after Liverpool defeated Sunderland 2-0.

However, that high was followed by a series of despairing lows with loss of form and injury problems set in. Wright lost the captaincy the following season and lost his place to the Dane Torben Piechnik.

More problems arose when Souness left Anfield and Roy Evans took sole charge. In the summer of 1994 Wright, along with Julian Dicks were relegated to the reserves after a 4-1 pre-season defeat at Bolton with Evans criticising the pair for attitude problems.

When Evans then signed John Scales and Phil Babb the writing looked to be on the wall for Wright but you can't keep a good man down and, in true three lions bravery, the England star bounced back to the team.

An Achilles problem and a knot of scar tissue higher up his leg was restricting Wright's progress and in a move of desperation he turned to blind physiotherapist Norman Collins for treatment. Collins was well known in the business for quick recovery and sure enough sorted out Wright's problem and the player was back in training.

Free of injury Wright worked harder than ever and was rewarded with a first team recall as a replacement for the injured Scales in March 1995 against Manchester United at Anfield. His performance that day signalled that Wright was back in business and a man of the match display saw Liverpool beat their fierce rivals 2-0.

Although he wasn't included in the 13 for the Coca Cola Cup win at Wembley in 1995, Wright was back the following season and with Scales moving to Tottenham he was back in his favoured position in a back three, playing 41 matches in the campaign.

A good leader and talker at the back, Wright was comfortable at bringing the ball out of defence and setting up attacks. He also chipped in with some memorable goals including a blistering drive against Queens Park Rangers in February 1996, and a header that gave the Reds brief hope against Paris St Germain in the European Cup Winners' Cup semi-final defeat.

Wright left Anfield in 1998 after retiring due to injury and pursued a career in management. His first post arrived fairly locally as manager of Conference side Southport for the 2000-2001 season and he did a fine job, steering the Haig Avenue outfit to a finishing position in the top five.

However, following a disagreement with the Southport chairman of whether the club should go professional or not Wright left, but was quickly back in football being appointed manager of his old club Oxford United.

PAST PLAYER PROFILE - Paul Ince

Paul Ince : Midfield – 1997-99
Date of Birth: 21/10/1967
Birthplace: Ilford
Debut: v Wimbledon. 9th August 1997, drew 1-1
1st team games: 80
1st team goals: 17
Other clubs: West Ham, Manchester United, Inter Milan, Middlesbrough, Wolves.
Honours with Liverpool: None


PROFILE

The self confessed 'Guvnor' Paul Ince was signed by Roy Evans for £4.5 million from Inter Milan to add some steel to the midfield and was seen by many as the ideal partner for Jamie Redknapp.

However Redknapp was injured for the first 10 games of the 1997-98 season and Ince partnered Michael Thomas in midfield. Former Manchester United star Ince shocked Manchester and Liverpool when he decided to join the Anfield club and was seen as the replacement for John Barnes who moved on to Newcastle.

The early days were encouraging as Ince settled in well and scored on his home debut but it was to end in disappointment as Leicester beat Liverpool 2-1.

In his first season at Liverpool the Reds finished third in the Premiership and Ince's best moment of the campaign was scoring a derby goal in a 1-1 draw with Everton at Anfield.

The following season there was a clash of personalities at the club between Ince and the new management of Gerard Houllier and Phil Thompson. Ince struggled with consistency and found it hard to adapt to becoming the defensive midfielder Houllier wanted.

One pivotal moment in his final second season at the club was an FA Cup tie with Manchester United at Old Trafford. With 15 minutes left and Liverpool leading 1-0 Ince walked off the pitch to be replaced by Jason McAteer. Ince had played well and as soon as he left the field Liverpool threw the game away and lost 2-1. However he was roundly criticised by Liverpool fans who felt he could have stayed on the pitch and played through the pain barrier, rather than walk off demanding to be substituted.

He did end his Liverpool career on a high on the pitch, scoring a late equaliser against Manchester United at Anfield in front of the Kop as the Reds came back from 2-0 down to force a 2-2 draw. Ince also scored in his final game as Liverpool beat Wimbledon 3-0 at Anfield.

After leaving Liverpool he continued playing in the Premiership for Middlesbrough and later Wolves.

PAST PLAYER PROFILE - Stephane Henchoz

Stephane Henchoz : Defender (1999-2005)
Date of Birth: 07/09/1974
Birthplace: Billens, Switzerland
Debut : v Hull City, September 1999, won 4-2
1st team games: 205
1st team goals: 0
Other clubs: Stade Payerne, Bulle, Xamax Neuchatel, SV Hamburg, Blackburn Rovers, Celtic, Wigan Athletic
International caps : 69 (Switzerland)
International goals: 0
Honours with Liverpool: -

PROFILE

Stephane Henchoz left Liverpool in January 2005 to begin a new career with Celtic after joining the Glasgow side on a short term deal until the end of the 2005/06 season.

Henchoz returned to the Premiership in the 2005/06 season when he had a very successful campaign with newly promoted Wigan Athletic.


During his five-and-a-half year stay at Anfield Henchoz proved to be an inspirational signing and was popular with the Liverpool fans. Unfortunately the past two seasons were interrupted due to spells of injury but he still surpassed the 200 mark of games for Liverpool in 2003/04.

With Gerard Houllier preferring Igor Biscan at centre half Henchoz became something of a bit part player appearing as an occasional right back. However it was surely no surprise that results started to improve and Liverpool made the fourth place when Henchoz returned alongside Sami Hyypia in 2003/04.
Together with partner Hyypia, they make a formidable pair and are the rocks upon which the team is based.

Henchoz missed a large part of the 2002/03 season due to injury and it surely wasn't any coincidence that without him Liverpool's defence looked vulnerable and the Reds missed out on the Champions League. However the Swiss defender did return from injury to play in the 2003 Worthington Cup win over Manchester United in Cardiff.
Stephane was signed from Blackburn Rovers in the summer of 1999. When Blackburn were relegated, Gerard Houllier moved swiftly to bring the cultured Swiss international to Anfield for a bargain 3.5 million, beating off competition from other interested European clubs.

Unfortunately the Liverpool supporters had to wait to witness the appearance of Henchoz in a red shirt. A groin injury delayed his debut and he became the last of the club's seven signings that summer to make his debut in the 4-2 win over Hull City in the Worthington Cup in September 1999.
Strong in the air and an uncompromising man marker, Henchoz became a vital member of the much improved Liverpool rearguard and was an unsung hero of the Reds' treble success.

He never scored from Liverpool in a senior match apart from a penalty in the Carling Cup win at Tottenham in the 2004/05 season, and in pre-season 2004 he scored in a pre-season friendly against Celtic.

PAST PLAYER PROFILE - Michael Owen

Michael Owen : (Striker, 1997-2004)
Date of Birth: 14/12/1979
Birthplace: Chester
Debut : v Wimbledon, 1997
1st team games: 297
1st team goals: 158
Other clubs: Real Madrid, Newcastle United.
International caps while with Liverpool: 60
International goals while with Liverpool: 26



PROFILE

Michael Owen scored on his debut for the Reds at Wimbledon in 1997 and didn't look back.

Since 1998 Owen was Liverpool's top scorer every season until he joined Real Madrid in August 2004.

The star of Liverpool's 1996 FA Youth Cup triumph, Michael has been with the club since a schoolboy and scored prolifically as he rose rapidly through the Anfield ranks.

During the summer of 1998 he achieved worldwide fame following his stunning strike in the World Cup second round clash between England against Argentina. Off the pitch he collected the PFA Young Player of the Year for season 1997-98 and in 1998 was also voted BBC Sports Personality of the Year.

It was in the treble season that Owen continued and enhanced his reputation in the treble season. He hit two goals against AS Roma in the UEFA Cup and followed that up with two magnificent late goals to win the FA Cup Final for Liverpool in Cardiff against Arsenal - a match which has since been called 'The Michael Owen Cup Final'. That just confirmed his standing as one of the most exciting strikers in Europe.

He followed that up by scoring a sensational hat-trick in England's 5-1 win over Germany, becoming the first England player since Sir Geoff Hurst in 1966 to score a hat-trick against Germany.

Michael was named European Footballer of the Year in December 2001 when he received the prestigious ballon D'or and scored his 100th Liverpool goal against West Ham at Upton Park on 29th December 2001.

In the 2002/03 season Owen scored 28 goals for Liverpool including his 100th in the Premiership with a hat-trick at West Bromwich Albion. Owen also scored at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff again when Liverpool beat Manchester United 2-0 to win the Worthington Cup.

In an injury hit 2003/04 campaign he still managed to net 19 goals and also surpass the England scoring record of Anfield legend Roger Hunt.

But with just one year remaining on his contract Owen's long-term future was the subject of much debate during the summer of 2004 and, despite the arrival of new boss Rafael Benitez, he opted for a high profile move to Real Madrid on the eve of the new season.

Owen returned to England a year later opting to join Newcastle United for £16 million. It was no secret that Liverpool tried to bring him back home but once Madrid accepted the huge fee from the Geordies the Reds were priced out of the deal.

PAST PLAYER PROFILE - Danny Murphy

Danny Murphy (Midfielder, 1997-2004)

Born: Chester
Date of birth: 18-3-1977
Other Clubs : Charlton Athletic, Tottenham Hotspur.
1st team games: 249
1st team goals: 44
England caps with Liverpool: 9
International goals: 1


PROFILE

Danny Murphy ended a seven year association with Liverpool when he signed for Premiership side Charlton Athletic for 2.5 million in August 2004.

Boyhood Red Murphy scored some vital goals for Liverpool including three winning goals at Old Trafford against Manchester United and a superb derby winner against Everton. During the 2002/03 season Murphy was named the supporters player of the year and scored 12 goals from midfield.

Signed from Crewe Alexandra by Roy Evans for 2 million in 1997, after impressing alongside Michael Owen for England in the World Youth Championships, he arrived with a reputation as one of the most promising youngsters in the game.

However, with competition for first team places at Liverpool so tough he struggled to establish himself as nothing other than a fringe player and was loaned back to Gresty Road at the tail end of the 1998/99 season.
His Liverpool days were seemingly numbered but on his return the following season he finally made the break though into the first team, scored his first goals for the club and staked a claim for a regular place in Gerard Houllier's starting line-up.

A cruel injury blow forced him to miss out on the Worthington Cup final success against Birmingham in 2001 but he started in the memorable cup final triumph's over Arsenal and Alaves and was an integral part of Houllier's squad.

Murphy left Charlton to join Tottenham Hotspur in 2006.