PHILIPP DEGEN

Right-back Philipp Degen signed for Liverpool on a free transfer in the summer of 2008.

The Swiss international began his career with FC Basel in 1996, making his debut five years later.

Four seasons in the first team followed, during which he claimed three league titles and one domestic cup.

His time at St Jakob Park also gave him a taste of Champions League football. In fact, Degen was an unused sub when Basel claimed a 1-1 draw at Anfield in 2002-03.

In 2005 the defender joined the Bundesliga with Borussia Dortmund.

Degen, who featured four times for his country in the 2006 World Cup, spent three years with the German giants, the last of which was blighted by injury.

The full-back managed to recover in time for Euro 2008, a tournament co-hosted by Switzerland. Unfortunately he did not feature as the Swiss failed to negotiate the group stages.

From there he arrived at Melwood to work with Rafa Benitez, who said: "Philipp is an offensive player with great energy and a winning mentality. His strength is going forward and I am confident he will prove to be a quality addition to our squad."

Degen, who is fluent in French and German, has a twin, David, who also plays professional football.

DAVID NGOG

Striker David Ngog arrived from Paris Saint Germain in July 2008.

The hotshot is one of the brightest young talents in French football.

His tally of just one goal from 18 league appearances in 2007-08 was largely down to PSG's disappointing form - a contention backed up by his prolificacy on the international stage.

Ngog has scored goals at every youth level for France, including two absolute corkers against England Under-19s last season.

He made his Liverpool debut as a substitute against Aston Villa on August 31, 2008. A first goal followed away at PSV on December 9.

The lightning quick forward is the cousin of former Newcastle United defender Jean-Alain Boumsong.

EMILIANO INSUA

Argentinean starlet Emiliano Insua is one of the brightest hopes among Liverpool's reserve ranks.

The left-back has impressed during a handful of first-team appearances since making his debut against Portsmouth on April 28, 2007.

He was also a key man as Gary Ablett's second string clinched the national title in 2007-08.

Insua started out at Boca Juniors, though never played a first-team game at La Bombonera.

Noted for his attacking prowess, he is a regular for Argentina Under-20s and helped them win the 2007 FIFA World Cup.

SAMI HYYPIA

Veteran defender Sami Hyypia is firmly established as a Liverpool legend after nearly a decade of unblemished service.

The towering Finn's consistent performances through the Houllier and Benitez eras earned him a place among Europe's top centre-backs - and he's undoubtedly one of the finest ever to ply their trade at Anfield.

Hyypia's contribution to the British game has not gone unnoticed in his homeland, where he's been crowned footballer of the year seven times (1999, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006 and 2008).

It's hard to believe he cost Liverpool just £2.5million from Dutch outfit Willem II back in May 1999.

By that stage Hyypia already had seven years as a professional behind him. His glittering career began with MyPa, where he spent three years and won two Finnish Cups.

An international debut arrived aged 19 against Tunisia in November 1992. Sixteen years on, he's well on the way to 100 caps.

In 1995 Hyypia enjoyed a trial at Kevin Keegan's Newcastle, but it'd be another four years before he would grace the Premiership.

Instead he joined Dutch side Willem II, where he was soon installed as captain.

The big man's final act before heading to Merseyside in 1999 was to help Willem secure Champions League qualification.

After making his Reds debut against Sheffield Wednesday on August 7, 1999, Hyypia quickly formed a watertight partnership with Stephane Henchoz, providing the foundation for a historic treble in 2000-01.

The centre-half wore the captain's armband through much of this momentous campaign in the absence of the injured Jamie Redknapp. He jointly lifted both the UEFA and FA Cups.

Following the departure of Redknapp in April 2002, Gerard Houllier handed his trusty defender the captaincy on a permanent basis, though he'd be replaced by the emerging Steven Gerrard in October 2003.

With the arrival of new boss Rafa Benitez in 2004 came numerous personnel changes, though it was clear Hyypia was going nowhere.

However, he did have a new central-defensive partner in Jamie Carragher, who was at last given a regular slot in his preferred position. Within 12 months they were regarded as one of the most formidable pairings on the continent following Liverpool's Champions League triumph in the Ataturk.

Hyypia scored one of the most memorable goals en route to Istanbul, an unstoppable volley to open the scoring against Juve in the quarter-finals.

Incredibly, he played every minute of 57 consecutive European games for the Reds from November 2001 to February 2006.

The arrival of young centre-halves Daniel Agger and Martin Skrtel provided competition for places as Hyypia entered his twilight but, despite sometimes missing out, he continued to climb the club's all-time appearance table. In December 2008 he overtook Ron Yeats to enter the top 20.

History will undoubtedly judge the big Finn to be one of the club's shrewdest pieces of business. His collection of winner's medals is now in double figures and in 2006 fans voted him 38th in Liverpoolfc.tv's 100 Players Who Shook The Kop series.

ANDREA DOSSENA

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.

Dossena began his career aged 14 with Hellas Verona in northern Italy, coming through the ranks before spending four seasons in the senior squad.

His big break came when he signed for Udinese in 2005, though he was immediately loaned to Treviso FBC 1993 for a year.

The defender returned to the Stadio Friuli ahead of the 2006-07 campaign, where his form eventually earned a first international cap in a friendly against South Africa in October 2007.

By the end of the season his move to Merseyside had been confirmed, with Dossena saying: "Liverpool are a great team and it is great to be linked to such a famous club.

"I want to play Champions League football. The Reds have already won it and they often get to the big games. In England, they are on the same level as Manchester United."

Dossena made his competitive debut in a Champions League qualifier against Standard Liege on August 13, 2008.

DIEGO CAVALIERI

Brazilian goalkeeper Diego Cavalieri signed from Palmeiras in July 2008.

The stopper penned a four-year contract with the Reds and will act as understudy to Pepe Reina in goal.

Cavalieri became the third Brazilian to sign for Liverpool after Fabio Aurelio and Lucas Leiva.

After breaking into the Palmeiras team in 2002, he was linked to a host of European clubs - but Merseyside was his chosen destination.

Upon signing, Cavalieri told Liverpoolfc.tv: "I know it won't be easy to get into the team. I watched some Liverpool games in both the Premier League and Champions League last year and I know Pepe is a very good goalkeeper. But everyone has to fight for their place and I'm sure we will have a healthy rivalry.

"I know I will have to be patient and work very hard to achieve my aims - but it is always like that when you come from another country. You have to adapt inside and outside of the pitch and get used to the way things work. But with hard work you get there.

"My confidence has got me where I am today and maybe people are aware of what I did at Palmeiras in Brazil. I am sure that one day I can get the number one position but that will only come with hard work."

Cavalieri, who also holds an Italian passport, made his competitive debut in a 2-1 Carling Cup victory over Crewe on September 23, 2008.

LUCAS LEIVA

Brazil international Lucas Leiva signed for Liverpool in July 2007.

The midfielder's arrival from Gremio was seen as quite a coup for Rafa Benitez, with a host of European clubs apparently circling.

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.

The youngster, nephew of former Brazilian footballer Leivinha, captained his country's under-20s to the South American Youth Championship title in 2007, scoring four goals in the process.

No wonder senior coach Dunga was starting to take note. He actually selected the box-to-box midfielder against Al-Kuwait in October 2006, but the game was not an official FIFA tie and so did not count as his international debut. That came a month into his Liverpool career in August 2007 when he came on as a substitute in a friendly with Algeria.

Lucas, who also holds an Italian passport, made his Reds bow as a second-half sub in a Champions League qualifier against Toulouse on August 28, 2007.

The Brazilian notched up more than 30 appearances in his debut season, breaking his Anfield duck in style with a 25-yard curler in the FA Cup against Havant and Waterlooville.

Lucas was absent for the start of 2008-09 after travelling to the Olympics in Beijing, where he had to settle for bronze after a semi-final defeat to Javier Mascherano's Argentina.

JAVIER MASCHERANO

Midfield enforcer Javier Mascherano signed from West Ham in February 2007.

Since then his dynamic style has established him as a Kop favourite and one of the first names on Rafa Benitez's teamsheet.

The Argentina captain has quite a pedigree having come through the ranks at South American giants River Plate.

Such was his potential, he earned a first international call-up before kicking a ball for his club. Mascherano made his Argentina debut against Uruguay in July 2003. The following summer brought Olympic glory in Athens, a trick he'd repeat in Beijing four years later to become the first Argentinean to win two gold medals.

Back on the domestic front, Mascherano joined Brazilian club Corinthians in July 2005, helping them to win the Campeonato Brasileiro in his first season.

From there he travelled to the 2006 World Cup in Germany, where his performances led to links with several of Europe's top clubs.

It was West Ham who eventually clinched Mascherano's signature alongside compatriot Carlos Tevez in August 2006, though his time in east London was troubled at best.

After featuring just seven times in six months, he jumped at the opportunity to try his luck on Merseyside.

Despite the presence of Momo Sissoko, Steven Gerrard and Xabi Alonso, the new boy quickly established himself as a regular in the Liverpool midfield.

Mascherano made his debut against Sheffield United on February 24, 2007 and three months later won fans' man of the match for his performance in the Champions League final.

While goals are not his forte, he did bag two in the summer of 2007 to help Argentina win the Copa America. A first for Liverpool arrived against Reading in March 2008.

Eight months later Mascherano was handed the captain's armband for his country by new boss Diego Maradona, who once described the midfielder as a 'monster' of a player.

What he lacks in height, he makes up for in power, and the sight of our number 20 thundering across the field to recover possession is as familiar to the Kop as a Fernando Torres goal or a last-ditch tackle from Jamie Carragher.

RYAN BABEL

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, which he joined aged 11.

By the time he was 17 he was deemed ready for first-team action, resulting in a debut against ADO Den Haag in February 2004.

Just over a year later Babel won his first international cap against Romania when he came on as a substitute for former Chelsea winger Arjen Robben. Holland won the game 2-0, with the new boy bagging himself a goal. At just 18 years and 97 days, the strike made him his country's youngest scorer in 68 years.

Despite featuring at senior level, Babel was still eligible for the Under 20s' World Cup in June 2005, at which he scored two goals.

From there, he was part of Marco van Basten's 23-man squad for the 2006 World Cup in Germany, though made only one substitute appearance against Argentina in the group stages.

In June 2007, the winger was one of the stars as Holland Under-21s won the European Championships on home soil. His two goals included one in the final against Serbia, helping him scoop man of the match.

Babel, who can play on either wing or up front, left Ajax with a record of 14 goals in 73 Eredivisie outings.

His Reds debut came on August 11, 2007 when he appeared as a second-half substitute against Aston Villa.

It wasn't long before our new number 19 was hitting the back of the net, making two Derby County defenders look silly before lashing home at the Anfield Road end on September 1.

Another nine goals followed in a satisfying first year including an audacious flick in an 8-0 Champions League drubbing of Besiktas.

Sadly, just as he was poised to set Euro 2008 alight with Holland, Babel was forced into the treatment room. An ankle ligament injury sustained in training brought with it the heartache of missing Austria and Switzerland.

ALVARO ARBELOA

Versatile defender Alvaro Arbeloa was brought to Anfield in January 2007.

The Spaniard started out at Real Zaragoza before being lured by Real Madrid aged 16.

The Spanish capital was where he first worked with Rafa Benitez, who was then youth team coach at the Bernabeu.

Arbeloa made his full debut for Madrid against Real Betis in October 2004, but managed just one further appearance in the next two years.

By July 2006, the time had come to move on. His destination was northern Spain and Deportivo La Coruna.

Little did he know, however, that within six months he'd be on his way to the Premiership.

It took just 21 appearances at Depor to convince Benitez that Arbeloa was the man to challenge Steve Finnan for the right-back slot at Anfield.

The defender, who represented Spain at every youth level, made his Reds debut as a substitute against Newcastle on February 10.

This was followed by a first start in the Nou Camp, where Arbeloa 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. The trick was repeated two weeks later and Liverpool were through to the quarter-finals of the European Cup.

The full-back featured 14 times in his first six months on Merseyside, scoring once against Reading and coming on as a late sub in the Champions League final.

Arbeloa's club form finally brought international recognition in March 2008 when he came on with 15 minutes to go as Spain recorded a friendly victory over world champions Italy. Three months later he was part of the squad which triumphed in Euro 2008, though started just one game.

FABIO AURELIO

Left-back Fabio Aurelio became the first Brazilian to sign for Liverpool in July 2006.

The number 12 has immense technical ability but his Anfield career has so far been blighted by injury.

Aurelio came through the ranks at Sao Paulo, making his first-team debut in 1997.

He represented Brazil at under-17, under-20 and under-21 level, as well as at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney.

The defender moved to Spanish side Valencia in 2000, working under manager Hector Cuper for a year until Rafa Benitez took the reins.

The 2001-02 season saw Aurelio help Valencia win their first title in 31 years.

From there he established himself as one of La Liga's best left-backs, bagging 10 goals during the 2002-03 campaign.

The following year brought another league title as well as the UEFA Cup, though a broken leg meant the Brazilian defender managed just two games.

Having fulfilled his six-year contract at the Mestalla, Aurelio joined Liverpool on a Bosman free in July 2006.

He made his debut as a substitute in the Community Shield victory over Chelsea on August 13, though a series of injuries would restrict him to 25 games in his first year on Merseyside.

The full-back's season was ended prematurely when he ruptured his Achilles' tendon during a Champions League quarter-final victory over PSV.

After five frustrating months on the sidelines, Aurelio made his comeback as a second-half substitute when Liverpool opened their 2007-08 European campaign in Porto.

A string of impressive performances followed until injury once again meant he saw out the campaign in the treatment room.

ALBERT RIERA

Spanish winger Albert Riera arrived from Espanyol in September 2008.

The left sider had a point to prove in English football following an unspectacular loan spell at Man City in 2005-06 - and he wasted no time convincing the Kop.

An impressive debut in a 2-1 victory over Man Utd on September 13 was followed a few weeks later with a first goal against Wigan Athletic.

Riera began his career with Real Mallorca before trying his luck in France with Bordeaux for two years.

He returned to Spain with Espanyol in 2005 where, after his City loan, he wowed fans with his traditional brand of wingplay.

Like teammate Steven Gerrard, Riera can boast a goal in a UEFA Cup final. However, unlike Stevie, it was a bitter-sweet occasion for the winger, with Espanyol losing on penalties to Seville in 2007.

Riera marked his international debut with a goal against Denmark in October 2007.

ROBBIE KEANE

Irish striker Robbie Keane has been tearing Premier League defences apart for years - now he's doing so with a Liverbird on his chest.

The boyhood Red arrived at Anfield in July 2008 in what was his sixth major move since starting out with South Dublin side Crumlin United as a schoolboy.

Fourteen years before joining the Rafalution, Keane chose Wolverhampton Wanderers over Liverpool in order to gain first-team experience. The decision seemed justified when, in 1997 and aged just 17, he burst onto the scene with a raft of spectacular goals which were usually followed by a trademark cartwheel celebration.

It was no surprise when Premiership side Coventry City agreed to fork out £6million in 1999 - then a British record for a teenager. A tally of 12 goals in 34 games for the Highfield Road club soon made Keane one of the hottest properties in football; someone with the ability to turn a game with a sublime touch of brilliance.

Even so, one or two eyebrows were raised when Marcelo Lippi, manager of Italian giants Inter Milan, offered £13million for his services in 2000. The Republic of Ireland skipper would team up with Ronaldo and Christian Vieri in Serie A, though the move was to turn sour when Lippi was sacked.

A loan to Leeds United was arranged in December 2000, where nine goals in 14 games persuaded David O'Leary to write a cheque for £12million. Unfortunately, Keane's arrival at Elland Road coincided with a growing financial crisis, and he was to join the exodus of stars in 2002 with a £7million transfer to Tottenham Hotspur.

Over the next few years the prodigious talent finally settled, tallying an impressive 107 goals in 253 appearances and becoming a firm fans' favourite. So good was his form in February 2006 that Inter president Massimo Moratti admitted his regret at letting Keane go.

Three months before departing for Merseyside he won his first senior honour as a player after helping Spurs beat Chelsea in the League Cup final.

Keane made his competitive debut for Liverpool in a Champions League qualifier against Standard Liege on August 13, 2008.

He had to wait 11 games for his first goal, which came at Anfield against PSV on October 1.

As well as excelling on the club stage, our new number seven also has an impressive international CV.

The frontman was part of the Irish side which triumphed in the 1998 European U18 Championships just months after making his senior bow against the Czech Republic.

A first international goal came against Malta in October 1998 and he famously scored a last-minute equaliser against Germany in the 2002 World Cup, one of three in the tournament.

Keane, who was handed the captain's armband in 2006, is now the Republic's all-time record scorer ahead of Niall Quinn.

Daniel Agger

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, with his ability on the ball allowing Liverpool to build from the back.

Agger made his professional breakthrough for Brondby in 2004 and, under the guidance of club captain Per Nielsen, quickly developed into a classy defender with a maturity beyond his years.

In December 2004 he won the Spillerforeningen Talent of the Year award (the Danish equivalent of PFA Young Player of the Year), which he retained in 2005.

By the end of his debut season he was clutching Danish Cup and Superliga medals, and it was no surprise when, in June 2005, Agger won his first cap in a friendly with Finland. A few months later he excelled against Wayne Rooney and England before scoring his first international goal in a World Cup qualifier against Georgia.

A move abroad seemed inevitable, with the north-west of England his chosen destination in January 2006.

Denmark's most expensive export made his Reds debut against Birmingham on February 1, though injury meant his first few months on Merseyside were spent largely on the sidelines.

The 2006-07 campaign saw Agger force his way into the starting XI, and he even won PFA Player of the Month for September.

A 35-yard belter against West Ham did his kudos no harm, with the strike winning Liverpoolfc.tv's Goal of the Season.

The highlight of his first full campaign came in the Champions League semi-final second leg versus Chelsea, when his left-foot strike took the game to penalties. Agger went on to play 90 minutes in the final against AC Milan.

A metatarsal break left the popular defender on the sidelines for a large chunk of 2007-08 but there was some joy when Denmark's top players and managers voted him Player of the Year for the first time.