As we prepare to bid a fond farewell to the noughties, Click Liverpool's chief Liverpool FC reporter Richard Buxton looks back at top ten Reds signings of the past decade as well as some Kopites would like to forget.
1. Fernando Torres
A player well worth the £20.2 million Rafael Benitez stumped up for the Spanish prodigy in the summer of 2007. With pace, power and goalscoring prowess, Torres is possibly the most complete striker to grace Anfield's hallowed turf since a young Robbie Fowler in the early 1990s.
2. Pepe Reina
Part of Spain's European Championship-winning side last year, the Reds goalkeeper was a snip at £6 million from Villarreal in 2005. With three consecutive Golden Glove awards to his name, the stopper is a very reliable pair of safe hands in the Kop goal with a passionate, if at times eccentric, personality to boot.
3. Xabi Alonso
One of the first cornerstones of the Rafalution back in 2004, Alonso proved to be one of the best bargains to grace Anfield under Benitez. After beating off competition from Real Madrid, the playmaker's current employers, Alonso arrived on Merseyside for a £10.5 million bargain and quickly gained notoriety with defence-splitting passes and an eye for goal from distance.
4. Javier Mascherano
Tough-tackling, determined and passionate are just three words to describe the Argentina captain who constantly puts in gritty performances, acting almost like a man possessed. Costing £18.6 million in total, El Jefecito (the little chef) has been an ever-present in the Reds' midfield since joining on loan from West Ham in early 2007 despite having a reputation for picking up suspensions.
5. Steve Finnan
Possibly Gérard Houllier's best acquisition during his Anfield tenure. Finnan joined Liverpool for £3.5 million from Fulham in the summer of 2003 after a lengthy behind-the-scenes courtship which fuelled intense paper talk. The Irishman was a consistent performer and possibly one of the most unsung heroes for the Reds this past decade alongside the likes of Sami Hyypia and Didi Hamann.
6. Gary McAllister
As far as free transfers go, the Scot's arrival in July 2000 was one of the best. The veteran dead ball specialist was worth his value in goals during the treble winning season of 2000/01 and was a strong performer in the campaign that followed when Houllier's side finished league runners up.
7. Luis Garcia
Another player who was never short of contributions in front of goal, especially on the road to the historic 2005 Champions League win. Joining compatriot Xabi Alonso in making the move from Spain to L4, Little Luis cost £6 million from Barcelona and became a cult figure on the Kop in the three years he graced the red shirt.
8. John Arne Riise
Following the treble win of 2001, Houllier decided to opt for the Monaco full-back with a moderately priced £4 million move. Despite regularly finding row 12 of the Kop with his long-range efforts, the defender cropped up with his fair share of pivotal goals, including the winner against Barcelona at the Nou Camp in 2007, and proved to be an invaluable addition to Liverpool's back line.
9. Markus Babbel
Another free transfer signing that proved to be integral to the club's 2001 treble-winning side, the German snubbed Real Madrid to join Liverpool from Bayern Munich. A key member of the team that lifted the League, FA and UEFA Cups who contributed the occasional goal and several assists. Unfortunately he was stricken down with Guillain-Barré syndrome at the beginning of the 01-02 season and spent most of the campaign recovering.
10. Yossi Benayoun
Many an eyebrow was raised when the Israel captain was signed for £5 million from West Ham United in the summer of 2007. Despite a faltering year and a half with Liverpool, Benayoun's turning point came at the start of 2009 when he began to prove his worth with some fantastic moves and a handful of goals.
And 10 signings we'd like to forget...
1. El Hadji Diouf
The Senegal striker arrived on Merseyside on the back of his country's successful run in the 2002 World Cup, Houllier invested £10 million in the striker-cum-winger. Despite scoring a brace on his Anfield debut, his limited ability combined with a penchant for confrontation saw him gain a level of notoriety previously enjoyed by Paul Ince during his short-lived Liverpool career.
2. Charles Itandje
Signed from Lens for an undisclosed fee in 2007, the Frenchman was expected to act as Pepe Reina's understudy. During the handful of appearances that he made during his short-lived Anfield career, Itandje made several gaffes including two huge errors in the 2008 FA Cup defeat to Barnsley. However his name is forever written in Anfield folklore for his inappropriate behaviour during the 20th anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster when he laughed and joked during the memorial service.
3. Jermaine Pennant
Like Diouf, another player who spent more time in the headlines for what he did off the pitch than on it. The ex-Arsenal and Leeds United winger cost £6.7 million but with only a handful of goals to his name, did very little to justify his price tag other than being snapped constantly on nights out, even taking to the streets of London with only a bottle of Jack Daniels for company. Pennant ran down his contract at Anfield and joined Real Zaragoza on a free transfer.
4. Bruno Cheyrou
Another pillar of Houllier's Anfield downfall, "The new Zidane" failed to live up to his manager's billing and is best remembered for his infamous white boots. A real waste of £3.7 million and possibly Lille's most satisfying sale as the French international failed to deliver.
5. Robbie Keane
A boyhood Red who couldn't make the grade when presented with his dream move in July 2009. Ranting and raving at officials and team mates as well as at the dugout when substituted sealed the Irishman's legacy at Anfield. Liverpool recouped some of the £19 million spent on him by offering him back to Tottenham Hotspur in the January transfer window for an initial £12 million, with add ons bringing the potential total to £19 million.
6. Harry Kewell
Another lifelong Liverpool fan who failed to make the grade in spectacular fashion. Costing £5 million from financially sunk Leeds United, Harry Kewell was expected to be the most promising signing to arrive at Anfield since the trio of Peter Beardsley, John Barnes and John Aldridge in 1987. However a lack of effort and season-long injuries, from which he made a miraculous recovery on more than one occasion with cup finals creeping round the corner, secured his status as a Houllier flop. Cried off in the first half of the 2005 Champions League final and was substituted in two additional showpiece contests with, yes you've guessed it, injuries.
7. Anthony Le Tallec
The so-called "French gem" was signed for £1.5 million in the summer of 2002 but spent a year on loan at Le Havre with team mate and cousin Florent Sinama-Pongolle, who would also move to Anfield the following year. Spent more time attempting to rival David Beckham for ludicrous hairstyles instead of on the pitch.
8. Andriy Voronin
An out-of-favour strker that Liverpool simply cannot offload despite the pleas of Kopites. The Ukrainian came from Bayer Leverkusen on a free transfer in the summer of 2007 although some consider the divine ponytail's £2 million signing-on fee as his fee. After a failed first season, Voronin was sent back to the Bundesliga for a loan spell with Hertha Berlin during which he helped them to a high league finish despite receiving the 1000th red card in Bundesliga history. During his year in the German capital, the 30-year-old made several pleas in the media to Hertha bosses to sign him permanently but was left disappointed when he returned to Anfield.
9. Daniele Padelli
The 21-year-old Italian was loaned to the Reds by Sampdoria in January 2007 but made just one appearance in Liverpool's last league game of the season; shipping two goals against Charlton Athletic at Anfield. He returned to the Serie A outfit at the end of the season.
10. Josemi
Signed for £2 million from Malaga, Jose Miguel Gonzales Rey (to give him his full title) was the first Spaniard to play for Liverpool when signed by Rafael Benitez in the summer of 2004. One of several players who undeservedly walked away from the club clutching a 2005 Champions League winners' medal, the right-back was sent back to Spain as part of a player exchange deal with Villarreal for Jan Kromkamp.
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