Liverpool FC: Top 10 Signings in the 2000s

After a barren spell in the previous 10 years, the 2000s were a pivotal time for Liverpool Football Club. Managers Gerard Houllier, and his successor Rafael Benitez, put Liverpool firmly back on the map with a string of impressive performances in the Premier League and in Europe.

Houllier and Benitez oversaw this transition period for Liverpool, but the defining factor in a football match always lies in the performances of the players themselves.

So who were the jewels in the Liverpool crown during the 2000s? Here's a list of Liverpool's top 10 signings from 2000 to 2009—feel free to have your say below.

10. Peter Crouch: The Big Man

He's got a good touch for a big man.

Such is the tag that has been afforded to Peter Crouch throughout his career. But it's his efficiency and strike-rate that first brought him to Rafa's attention, which led to a £7 million transfer from Southampton.

Crouch famously went 19 games before finally scoring his first goal for Liverpool, but he went on to contribute numerous vital goals during his three seasons with the Reds, including a memorable "perfect hattrick" (with his left foot, right food and head) against Arsenal.

But his attacking flair, first touch and dribbling skills were the icing on the cake. Liverpool fans still fondly remember his outrageously mazy runs from midfield, and who can forget his stunning bicycle kicks against Galatasaray and Bolton?

Following three productive years with Liverpool, during which he also established himself as a key player for the England national team, Crouch returned to Portsmouth for £11 million, leaving behind many good memories.

9. John Arne Riise: The Norwegian Hammer

His name will forever be synonymous with that goal against Manchester United, and his marauding runs and devastating shots from left-back: John Arne Riise.

Joining Liverpool from Monaco for around £4 million, Riise's first significant act was to score the opening goal in the 2001 European Super Cup, landing Liverpool's historic fifth cup in the 2001 calendar year. That was, of course, just a taster for what he would bring to the club in his years to come.

With his powerful left foot, Riise scored many spectacular goals during his time as a Liverpool player. His runs down the left flank, and his excellent crossing ability, created many assists for his teammates, none more important than his cross for Steven Gerrard's opening goal in the 2005 Champions League final.

While his unfortunate own-goal at Anfield against Chelsea in the Champions League contributed to his slow decline down the Liverpool pecking order, following Fabio Aurelio's arrival as first-choice left-back, Riise is fondly remembered for his many attacking exploits, and rightly as one of Gerard Houllier's finest signings.

8. Javier Mascherano: The Argentine Monster

Coming in at 8th on my list is Javier Mascherano, whose work rate and bite in the Liverpool midfield impressed both the media and the fans after his signing, initially on loan, from West Ham in February 2007.

Mascherano's transfer to West Ham, alongside Argentine star Carlos Tevez, sent shockwaves through the world footballing community. But, unlike his friend, who contributed greatly to West Ham's belief-defying fight against relegation that season, Mascherano barely featured for their first team, which prompted Rafa Benitez to take him on loan to the Reds.

Donning the No. 20 shirt, Mascherano went on to prove his ability in both the Premier League and the Champions League, often as the first line of defence in the Liverpool midfield.

His constant harrying of the opposition midfield caused untold trouble for even the most esteemed opponents, and he was duly voted as Liverpool's Man of the Match in the 2007 Champions League final, a mere five months after his arrival.

His fiery temper also landed him in hot water on a number of occasions, the most notable of which was his uncontrollable tirade against referee Steve Bennett at Old Trafford in 2008.

Having established himself as one of the best midfielders in the world during his time at Liverpool —then Argentina manager Diego Maradona named his national team selection as "Javier Mascherano and ten more"—he left Liverpool in a big-money transfer to Barcelona, worth a reported £22 million.

7. Gary McAllister: The Scottish Veteran

Gerard Houllier's free-transfer signing of Gary McAllister, then 35 years old, was a decision that raised eyebrows, to say the least.

But during his short stint in a Red shirt, McAllister contributed his considerable experience and dead-ball prowess to a productive, trophy-laden two years for Liverpool.

Most memorably, he turned in a Man of the Match performance in the UEFA Cup final against Alaves, contributing a goal and the free-kick that led to Liverpool's golden-goal win in extra time.

McAllister's presence in the Liverpool first team helped galvanize other players on the pitch—his leadership and poise has been credited as a massive impact on many of Liverpool's then youngsters, and Gerard Houllier has since called him his "most inspirational signing."

Fondly remembered for his spectacular freekick against Everton, Gary McAllister has remained an Anfield hero after his departure.

6. Jerzy Dudek: The Hand from God

Du the Dudek.

Prior to joining Liverpool, Dudek was a two-time Dutch Goalkeeper of the Year for Feyernoord, and he promptly secured himself as first-choice goalkeeper upon his arrival at Anfield.

While his steady stint between the Liverpool goalposts ensured that he proved to be a solid successor to Sander Westerveld, Jerzy Dudek will forever be remembered for his memorable performance in the 2005 Champions League win over AC Milan.

Picking himself up after conceding three goals to a blistering Milan attack, none of which he was directly culpable for, Dudek commandeered the his area with authority while watching the legendary Liverpool comeback. His late belief-defying double save from Andriy Shevchenko from point-blank range ensured that Liverpool would enter a heart-stopping penalty shootout with the Italian giants.

Following advice from Jamie Carragher, Dudek took inspiration from Bruce "Jelly Legs" Grobelaar en route to a goalkeeping masterclass that earned Liverpool's historic fifth European Cup.

Dudek has since claimed that he had "no idea" how he was able to pull off the save from Shevchenko. That would be quite an apt summary of his Liverpool career: solid but unspectacular, brilliant at times.

Thankfully he saved his best performance for the biggest stage of all.

5. Luis Garcia: The Little Wizard

One of Rafa's first signings in his reign as Liverpool manager, Luis Garcia arrived from Barcelona for £6 million, and went on to make a considerable impact during his three seasons at Liverpool.

Frustrating at times, due to his tendency to lose possession in the attacking half, he was capable of magical moments and often scored important and spectacular goals. His long-range stunner against Juventus in Turin set Liverpool on their way to the Champions League semi-finals against Chelsea, where his goal-that-never-was (as dubbed by a still bitter Jose Mourinho) knocked out the Blues and took the Reds to the final in Istanbul.

To further silence his critics from Chelsea, Garcia's long-range shot, yet another from his collection of top-drawer goals, helped Liverpool on their way to their eventual FA Cup victory in Cardiff.

Besides his dribbling skills, Garcia also possessed an uncanny penchant for attacking headers, despite his short stature. While his defensive play was suspect at times, his inventive play brought Liverpool fans to their feet, and he remains a fan favorite.

4. Dirk Kuyt: The Energizer Bunny

Not your flashiest or most skilful player, Dirk Kuyt has established himself as an Anfield hero with his exceptional work rate and his never-say-die attitude.

After his free-scoring exploits in the Dutch Eredivisie, most notably with Feyenoord, Kuyt joined Liverpool in 2006 for a reputed £10 million.

A strong start to his career as a Liverpool striker endeared himself to Reds fans immediately, while he also drew praise from the media due to his work ethic up front.

Following Fernando Torres' acquisition, Rafa Benitez began to convert Kuyt into a right-winger. Ever the consummate professional, Kuyt took to his new role with ease, and became Benitez's first choice on the right.

Despite not possessing an impressive array of dribbling skills, Kuyt was an ever-present during Rafa's reign at Anfield, with his defend-from-the-front approach often serving as the catalyst of many Liverpool counterattacks.

Dirk Kuyt has established himself as a big-game player. His composure and mental strength has seen him deliver important goals for Liverpool on the biggest stages, while he has a 100 percent record from the penalty spot in a Red shirt.

Still going strong in Liverpool colors under new coach Kenny Dalglish, Dirk Kuyt maintains his status as a fans favorite, and one of Rafa Benitez's most important buys.

3. Pepe Reina: Golden Gloves

In 2005, Rafa Benitez brought in Spain's best goalkeeper, Pepe Reina, from Villarreal, who immediately established himself as first-choice goalkeeper and relegated Dudek to the sidelines, mere months after the latter's phenomenal European Cup-winning performance against AC Milan.

Even after Dudek's Istanbul masterclass, Liverpool fans immediately took to Reina's confidence, shot-stopping ability and accurate distribution. In just his debut season, Reina broke Liverpool's record for most consecutive clean sheets, and ended his first year with the Golden Glove, which he retained the following year.

After his penalty-saving heroics in the FA Cup Final against West Ham, Reina went on to break even more goalkeeping records for Liverpool. After becoming Liverpool's quickest ever goalkeeper to reach 50 clean sheets, he followed up with 50 more in less than three years to become their quickest ever to 100.

Besides his shot-stopping prowess, Reina is currently one of Liverpool's creators-in-chief—his accurate long throws and goalkicks have been the catalyst of many a Liverpool counterattack.

His influence on Liverpool's backline, as well as his affable and infectious personality, has cemented his status as a Liverpool hero, and he has rightly been awarded the captain's armband in the absence of captain Steven Gerrard and vice-captain Jamie Carragher.

So secure is Pepe Reina's status as Liverpool's No. 1 that new goalkeeping signings have been consigned to the bench, in hopes of one day finally getting a chance to emulate Reina's heroics in the Liverpool goal.

Until then, Liverpool will continue to have one of the Premier League's, and indeed the world's, finest goalkeepers among their ranks.

2. Xabi Alonso: The Spanish Maestro

It takes something truly special to usurp Pepe Reina in the rankings for top 10 signings in the 2000s, but Xabi Alonso has exactly that X-factor to propel him to Anfield legend status.

Alonso's £10.7 million move from Real Sociedad in 2004 saw one of the world's most promising midfielders join the Spanish revolution under Rafa Benitez.

Comfortable in possession with an eye for the most spectacular precision pass, Alonso immediately established himself as a mainstay in the Liverpool midfield alongside Steven Gerrard, winning rave reviews for his passing masterclasses week after week.

More widely regarded as Liverpool's pivotal playmaker, Alonso also chipped in with some important goals, the most significant of which was the equalizing goal in the Champions League final against AC Milan, a close-range finish after his own miss from the penalty spot. His most memorable goal, though, was of course his 70-yarder against Newcastle.

In the summer of 2008, Rafa Benitez strongly pursued England midfielder Gareth Barry, then of Aston Villa, and Alonso was rumored to have been made available for transfer. His calm demeanor in handling the speculation and ultimately staying with Liverpool despite knowing that he was not considered first-choice anymore has elevated his reputation among Liverpool fans.

He retained his starting position as Liverpool's lynchpin, and went on to be one of the Reds' most impressive performers the following season.

His eventual departure to Real Madrid came on the back of Liverpool's successful 2008-2009 season. The Reds finished seventh in 2010, leading to Rafa's departure, and captain Steven Gerrard has since said that the most telling factor of the disappointing campaign was Alonso's departure.

That speaks volumes for Xabi Alonso's impact as a Liverpool player. His continued affection for the club has seen him return to Anfield as an interested spectator, and Liverpool fans to this day continue to hope to once again see him in a Red shirt.

1. Fernando Torres: The Kid Who Lit Up Anfield

This is a controversial choice, I know.

Fernando Torres is now Chelsea's No. 9, I know.

But in a list of top 10 signings of the 2000s era, Fernando Torres was indisputably Liverpool's best signing.

He was the player who brought exhilaration and euphoria back to the Kop, from the first day he appeared in a Liverpool shirt. His expertly-taken finish against Chelsea, his first of many, was the first sign of the Gerrard-Torres partnership, which would set him on his way to becoming the most prolific foreign goalscorer in a debut season.

Torres set many other records along the way, and he would most impressively become the fastest ever Liverpool player to score 50 league goals. He was as capable of the simple predatory tap-in as the spectacular strike-from-nowhere, and the Gerrard-Torres axis became one of the most feared attacking partnerships in all of Europe.

This was a partnership that was destined to sparkle from the very beginning. Gerrard, now installed in his most effective position just behind the striker, developed a telepathic understanding with Torres, leading Liverpool to some major exploits with the two main men at the helm.

But all this was done under the impression that Torres was a true Red. He endeared himself to the Kop with his goalscoring feats and his professed love for the club, and his passion for the Reds was there for all to see.

He loved Liverpool, and Liverpool loved him back. El Nino was one of our own.

Which makes it such a pity that he would burn his bridges with the Reds in such a shocking move to Chelsea. The resulting heartbreak that Liverpool supporters felt was unrivaled, purely because he was so loved.

Ironically, this huge backlash and widespread schadenfreude at his dismal form with Chelsea reflects his erstwhile importance at Liverpool, and marks him down as Liverpool's best signing of the 2000s, and perhaps even one of the finest Red signings ever.