Liverpool Top Five: The Best Ever Anfield Debuts
Can Aquilani match these stunning introductions?
When Liverpool snapped up Alberto Aquilani from AS Roma back in July, it is safe to say it was with Champions League football in mind. Indeed, Rafa Benitez has revealed in recent weeks that he actually expected the £17 million man to be available by mid-September, and thus take part in the Reds' entire Group E schedule.
Yet it is only now, five months on, that the Anfield crowd will get their first good look at their new Italian midfielder in European action - ignoring the minute-long cameo in Debrecen - whilst simultaneously waving goodbye to Champions League football, for this season at least.
The player's father may disagree, but it is only now that Benitez has deemed the 25-year-old fit enough to start for his new club, and Anfield is expectant. In theory, it is an ideal game in which to blood the new-boy - pressure is relatively low, and the game is likely to lack the intensity of a Premier League clash.
But can the Italian live up to the hype? Here are five of the best full Anfield debuts:
1. Robbie Fowler (v Fulham, 1993)
Few players have made such an explosive start to their career than Robbie Fowler. After tearing up the record books for Liverpool's youth and reserve sides, the impish striker made a goalscoring debut at Fulham in a League Cup tie in October 1993. Two further substitute appearances hinted at his potential.
But nobody was prepared for what came next. In his first Anfield appearance, the 18-year-old Fowler netted all five goals as Fulham were caught in a Toxteth tornado. Typically, Fowler came away slightly disappointed that he had missed a golden chance late on to seal a double hat-trick, but this game cemented his place among the Anfield legends. The nickname "God" was soon to follow.
2. Kevin Keegan (v Nottm Forest, 1971)
When Bill Shankly paid £35,000 for a shy, skinny winger-cum-striker from Scunthorpe in 1971, few inside the game paid much attention. A couple of months later it was all they could talk about.
Shankly credits Kevin Keegan as "the inspiration" for his second great Liverpool side, and he didn't take long to make an impact at Anfield. Given his debut up front on the opening day of the 1971/72 season, 20-year-old Keegan took just 12 minutes to grab his first Liverpool goal, and created the Reds' second in a 2-0 win. He would go on to captain England but it was at Liverpool that his reputation was forged.
3. Nigel Clough (v Sheffield Wednesday, 1993)
For a few days in August 1993, Graeme Souness could have been forgiven for feeling a little bit smug. But, like all good things at Liverpool in those days, it didn't last long.
Souness' decision to spend £2.75 million on Nottingham Forest forward Nigel Clough had raised more than a few eyebrows on Merseyside, but the doubters were left eating their words after Clough's explosive Anfield debut.
Against Sheffield Wednesday, Clough scored both goals in a 2-0 victory, the second of which was a peach of a strike from the edge of the area. The Kop dared to believe that they had finally found a replacement for the ludicrously-cast-aside Peter Beardsley. But, like Souness' job, the feel-good factor with Clough did not last the season.
4. Fernando Torres (v Chelsea, 2007)
Believe it or not, there were some folk on Merseyside who felt that the £20.3 million spent by Rafa Benitez on Fernando Torres in 2007 represented a gamble. Some, though they would never admit it, even wondered whether Darren Bent might have been a better signing.
Their scepticism didn't last long. Torres' pace had already caused problems for Aston Villa, so by the time of his home debut - against Jose Mourinho's Chelsea - expectation was high.
It took just 16 minutes for "El Nino" to answer the call. Steven Gerrard slid a ball down the inside left channel for the Spaniard, who slowed Tal Ben Haim (yes, he did used to play for Chelsea) to a standstill, before blasting past the Israeli and sliding past Petr Cech for the first of many Anfield goals. Liverpool may not have beaten Chelsea that day, but they found themselves a new hero.
5. Jamie Carragher (v Aston Villa, 1997)
Perhaps the most incredible fact about Jamie Carragher's ascent from utility-player to defensive-lynchpin comes from the fact that, as a youth team player, he was a prolific, single-minded centre-forward. Hard to imagine, I know.
By the time he was introduced to first-team football, however, Carragher had begun his journey back down the field. Two substitute appearances, at full-back and in midfield, were enough to convince Reds manager Roy Evans that the 18-year-old from Bootle was ready for a start in front of the Kop.
Carragher was selected in central midfield alongside Jamie Redknapp, and took just 20 seconds to make his mark with a fearsomely late challenge on Andy Townsend. Reprieved by a lenient referee, Carragher went on to make a more positive impact, heading home a Stig Inge Bjornebye corner five minutes into the second half, as the Reds picked up a 3-0 win.
It would be a good few years before "Carra" earned the full appreciation of the Anfield faithful, but he managed to do what great friends Michael Owen and Steven Gerrard failed to do, and score on his full home debut. Pity he has only managed three goals in the 12 years since!
Can Aquilani match these stunning introductions?
When Liverpool snapped up Alberto Aquilani from AS Roma back in July, it is safe to say it was with Champions League football in mind. Indeed, Rafa Benitez has revealed in recent weeks that he actually expected the £17 million man to be available by mid-September, and thus take part in the Reds' entire Group E schedule.
Yet it is only now, five months on, that the Anfield crowd will get their first good look at their new Italian midfielder in European action - ignoring the minute-long cameo in Debrecen - whilst simultaneously waving goodbye to Champions League football, for this season at least.
The player's father may disagree, but it is only now that Benitez has deemed the 25-year-old fit enough to start for his new club, and Anfield is expectant. In theory, it is an ideal game in which to blood the new-boy - pressure is relatively low, and the game is likely to lack the intensity of a Premier League clash.
But can the Italian live up to the hype? Here are five of the best full Anfield debuts:
1. Robbie Fowler (v Fulham, 1993)
Few players have made such an explosive start to their career than Robbie Fowler. After tearing up the record books for Liverpool's youth and reserve sides, the impish striker made a goalscoring debut at Fulham in a League Cup tie in October 1993. Two further substitute appearances hinted at his potential.
But nobody was prepared for what came next. In his first Anfield appearance, the 18-year-old Fowler netted all five goals as Fulham were caught in a Toxteth tornado. Typically, Fowler came away slightly disappointed that he had missed a golden chance late on to seal a double hat-trick, but this game cemented his place among the Anfield legends. The nickname "God" was soon to follow.
2. Kevin Keegan (v Nottm Forest, 1971)
When Bill Shankly paid £35,000 for a shy, skinny winger-cum-striker from Scunthorpe in 1971, few inside the game paid much attention. A couple of months later it was all they could talk about.
Shankly credits Kevin Keegan as "the inspiration" for his second great Liverpool side, and he didn't take long to make an impact at Anfield. Given his debut up front on the opening day of the 1971/72 season, 20-year-old Keegan took just 12 minutes to grab his first Liverpool goal, and created the Reds' second in a 2-0 win. He would go on to captain England but it was at Liverpool that his reputation was forged.
3. Nigel Clough (v Sheffield Wednesday, 1993)
For a few days in August 1993, Graeme Souness could have been forgiven for feeling a little bit smug. But, like all good things at Liverpool in those days, it didn't last long.
Souness' decision to spend £2.75 million on Nottingham Forest forward Nigel Clough had raised more than a few eyebrows on Merseyside, but the doubters were left eating their words after Clough's explosive Anfield debut.
Against Sheffield Wednesday, Clough scored both goals in a 2-0 victory, the second of which was a peach of a strike from the edge of the area. The Kop dared to believe that they had finally found a replacement for the ludicrously-cast-aside Peter Beardsley. But, like Souness' job, the feel-good factor with Clough did not last the season.
4. Fernando Torres (v Chelsea, 2007)
Believe it or not, there were some folk on Merseyside who felt that the £20.3 million spent by Rafa Benitez on Fernando Torres in 2007 represented a gamble. Some, though they would never admit it, even wondered whether Darren Bent might have been a better signing.
Their scepticism didn't last long. Torres' pace had already caused problems for Aston Villa, so by the time of his home debut - against Jose Mourinho's Chelsea - expectation was high.
It took just 16 minutes for "El Nino" to answer the call. Steven Gerrard slid a ball down the inside left channel for the Spaniard, who slowed Tal Ben Haim (yes, he did used to play for Chelsea) to a standstill, before blasting past the Israeli and sliding past Petr Cech for the first of many Anfield goals. Liverpool may not have beaten Chelsea that day, but they found themselves a new hero.
5. Jamie Carragher (v Aston Villa, 1997)
Perhaps the most incredible fact about Jamie Carragher's ascent from utility-player to defensive-lynchpin comes from the fact that, as a youth team player, he was a prolific, single-minded centre-forward. Hard to imagine, I know.
By the time he was introduced to first-team football, however, Carragher had begun his journey back down the field. Two substitute appearances, at full-back and in midfield, were enough to convince Reds manager Roy Evans that the 18-year-old from Bootle was ready for a start in front of the Kop.
Carragher was selected in central midfield alongside Jamie Redknapp, and took just 20 seconds to make his mark with a fearsomely late challenge on Andy Townsend. Reprieved by a lenient referee, Carragher went on to make a more positive impact, heading home a Stig Inge Bjornebye corner five minutes into the second half, as the Reds picked up a 3-0 win.
It would be a good few years before "Carra" earned the full appreciation of the Anfield faithful, but he managed to do what great friends Michael Owen and Steven Gerrard failed to do, and score on his full home debut. Pity he has only managed three goals in the 12 years since!
