Dirk Kuyt

Dutch international striker Dirk Kuyt became Rafael Benitez's sixth summer signing of 2006, when he arrived from Feyenoord in August.

Kuyt played in the summer's World Cup finals for Holland and is a player Benitez has long been an admirer of.

He was a prolfic scorer for previous club Feyenoord, netting 71 goals in 101 games for the Dutch side, and has registered 20 goals or more a season since 2002.

Kuyt is regarded as a very intelligent footballer who is good in the air.

He started his career at FC Utrecht in 1998 before making the move to Feyenoord in 2003.

His international debut arrived in September 2004 and he scored his first goal for Holland against Macedonia.

Kuyt becomes the fifth Dutchman, after Sander Westerveld, Erik Meijer, Bolo Zenden and Jan Kromkamp, to play for Liverpool.

Pepe Reina

Rafael Benitez secured the capture of Jose Manuel Reina from Villarreal in July 2005, and he has been a real success at Anfield.

Reina, who prefers to be known as Pepe, was the hero for Liverpool in the FA Cup Final in Cardiff when he saved three penalties to give the Reds the cup.

Reina kept 30 clean sheets in his first season at Anfield and beat the record of Reds legend Ray Clemence.

He had a fantastic 2004/05 season for Villarreal as they finished third in La Liga and he kept the fourth best defensive record in La Liga.

Although he was born in Madrid, Reina started his career playing for Barcelona. He played at Anfield in the 2001 UEFA Cup semi-final when he was beaten by a solitary Gary McAllister penalty.

Reina is well known to Liverpool's goalkeeper coach Jose Ochotorena as he is also Spain's goalkeeping coach. Reina was called up to the national team for the first time in 2005 and was named in the Spain 2006 World Cup squad but didn't feature.

Xabi Alonso

Highly rated midfield playmaker Xabi Alonso returned from a serious injury in April 2005 and played a major role in the Champions League win over Juventus.

Alonso made a terrible start to 2005 when he broke his ankle on New Year's Day but three months later he was back, and scored in the Champions League final win over AC Milan.

Alonso arrived at Liverpool from Real Soceidad for a fee in the region of 10.5 million in August 2004. He settled quickly and has been an instant favourite with the fans.

During his time with Real Sociedad Alonso was seen as one of the most promising central midfielders in La Liga. He has vision, is comfortable on the ball and can score goals.

His passing is his best asset and in his short time at Liverpool he looks to be one of the signings of 2004.

Alonso came through the youth ranks at Real Sociedad and made his debut for the San Sebastian outfit in the 1999/2000 season.

The following season in 2000/2001 Xabi spent the first part of the campaign on loan at minnows SD Eibar before returning to Real Sociedad later that season to break into the team.

Season 2002/2003 was the campaign when Xabi Alonso came to prominence as a star in the making and was a key performer as Real finished second in La Liga behind champions Real Madrid.

Alonso was called up to the Spain national team for the first time in 2003 and made his debut at the age of 21 in a 4-0 friendly win over Ecuador.

Last season Alonso played 35 games for Real Sociedad and although it wasn't a great season domestically scored a memorable goal against Valencia, giving Rafael Benitez a close glimpse of his undoubted talent. He also played for Spain in Euro 2004.

Xabi comes from a famous footballing family. His dad Miguel Angel 'Periko' Alonso was a star for Barcelona and won two league titles with Real Sociedad. Xabi's brother, fellow midfielder Mikel Alonso, is also on Real Sociedad's books.

Jamie Garragher

Captain of Liverpool FC and a product of the Liverpool Youth Academy, Steven Gerrard captained Liverpool to their fifth European Cup against AC Milan in Istanbul.

He was also named PFA Player of the Year for 2006 and was awarded the MBE in the Queen's honours list at the start of 2007. He also gave an inspirational peformance when he scored twice to help Liverpool win the FA Cup against West Ham. His last gasp sensational strike forced extra-time and broke Hammers fans hearts and sent Reds fans ecstatic.

Gerrard is the driving force of the team and plays with a great passion for the red shirt. He signed a new four year contract in the summer of 2005 and put an end to the speculation about his future.

In Istanbul Gerrard scored the first goal that got Liverpool back into the game in the Champions League final against AC Milan, and also won the penalty that enabled Xabi Alonso to equalise.

A boyhood Liverpool fan, Gerrard is living the dream of playing for his team and is considered by many to be the complete midfield player.

Tough tackling and with great passing vision Gerrard is also capable of scoring spectacular goals. Indeed his strike against Manchester United during the 2000/01 treble season was voted the club's best ever Premiership goal, in an exclusive poll on Liverpoolfc.tv

Gerrard's medal collection with his boyhood team now reads Champions League, two FA Cup, two League Cup (Worthington and Carling), UEFA Cup, UEFA Super Cup. Gerrard also picked up the PFA Young Player of the Year award in 2001.

Gerrard made his Reds debut in November 1998 as a second half substitute for Vegard Heggem against Blackburn. His full debut came in the UEFA Cup against Celta Vigo and despite the Reds losing on the night, Gerrard's outstanding performance belied his tender years.

Steven Gerrard

Captain of Liverpool FC and a product of the Liverpool Youth Academy, Steven Gerrard captained Liverpool to their fifth European Cup against AC Milan in Istanbul.

He was also named PFA Player of the Year for 2006 and was awarded the MBE in the Queen's honours list at the start of 2007. He also gave an inspirational peformance when he scored twice to help Liverpool win the FA Cup against West Ham. His last gasp sensational strike forced extra-time and broke Hammers fans hearts and sent Reds fans ecstatic.

Gerrard is the driving force of the team and plays with a great passion for the red shirt. He signed a new four year contract in the summer of 2005 and put an end to the speculation about his future.

In Istanbul Gerrard scored the first goal that got Liverpool back into the game in the Champions League final against AC Milan, and also won the penalty that enabled Xabi Alonso to equalise.

A boyhood Liverpool fan, Gerrard is living the dream of playing for his team and is considered by many to be the complete midfield player.

Tough tackling and with great passing vision Gerrard is also capable of scoring spectacular goals. Indeed his strike against Manchester United during the 2000/01 treble season was voted the club's best ever Premiership goal, in an exclusive poll on Liverpoolfc.tv

Gerrard's medal collection with his boyhood team now reads Champions League, two FA Cup, two League Cup (Worthington and Carling), UEFA Cup, UEFA Super Cup. Gerrard also picked up the PFA Young Player of the Year award in 2001.

Gerrard made his Reds debut in November 1998 as a second half substitute for Vegard Heggem against Blackburn. His full debut came in the UEFA Cup against Celta Vigo and despite the Reds losing on the night, Gerrard's outstanding performance belied his tender years.

Yossi Benayoun

Israeli captain Yossi Benayoun signed for Liverpool on July 12, 2007 after two years at West Ham.

The midfielder began his career at Hapoel Be'er Sheva, 30 miles from where he was born and grew up.

He was invited to join the Ajax Academy aged 15 but homesickness meant he spent just one full season in Holland before returning to Hapoel.

Benayoun broke into the first team soon after his return in 1997, scoring 15 goals in his first season.

Despite this, the club were relegated and their star man was off to Maccabi Haifa. Several foreign clubs had expressed an interest, but three years of national service would keep him at home until the age of 21.

International recognition soon came his way, with the player nicknamed The Kid making his senior debut aged 18 against Portugal in November 1998.

Benayoun was developing into one of the shining lights of Israeli football. He was the country's second top scorer in 1999-00 with 19 goals.

In 2000-01 he helped lead Haifa to their first title in seven years, winning the division's most valuable player in the process.

The following campaign brought another title-winner's medal but it was to be his last in his homeland. The midfielder then moved on to northern Spain and Racing Santander.

Benayoun enjoyed three seasons in La Liga, managing 21 goals in 101 matches before financial difficulties forced his owners to cash in.

West Ham reportedly paid £2.5million for the winger in the summer of 2005 and he quickly established himself as one of the Premiership's best right-sided midfielders.

His five goals and seven assists helped Alan Pardew's side finish ninth in 2005-06 - as well as an FA Cup final against Liverpool.

West Ham may have lost on penalties, but their number 15's disappoint was soon eased with news he was being handed the Israeli captaincy.

Fernando Torres

Fernando Torres became Liverpool's record signing on July 4, 2007.

The striker had spent the previous 12 years at Atletico Madrid, the club he supported as a boy.
The Spanish giants snapped him up at the age of 11 after he netted 55 goals in his first season at amateur side Rayo 13.

He signed his first professional contract in 1999 but he had to wait until May 27, 2001 to make his debut against Leganes.

Still, at 17 years and 68 days, he was Atletico's youngest ever player. Within a week he'd scored his first goal in a match against Albacete.

Torres was top scorer and player of the tournament in the 2001 European Under-16 Championships and 2002 European Under-19 Championships, both of which Spain won. The frontman bagged 13 goals during his first season in the Spanish top flight, earning him a first under-21 cap for his country.

The youngster made his full debut in a friendly with Portugal on September 6, 2003. The following April he scored his first international goal against Italy.

The player nicknamed El Nino (The Kid) because of his youthful appearance was selected for the 2006 World Cup in Germany, where he scored three goals.
The following year, in May 2007, Torres hit the headlines when he revealed the phrase 'You'll Never Walk Alone' on the inside of his captain's armband during a match between Atletico and Real Sociedad. Two months of speculation and paper talk ensued before the striker finally was unveiled at Melwood.

He left Atletico with a record of 82 goals in 214 league appearances.