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.