WITH LIVERPOOL IN action in the Champions League tonight, it inevitably invites recollections of the last time they played in the competition during the 2009-2010 season.
Having already been eliminated, their campaign ended with a whimper as Rafa Benitez’s side were beaten 2-1 at Anfield by Fiorentina. Yossi Benayoun had opened the scoring just before half-time, but second-half strikes from Martin Jorgensen and Alberto Gilardino handed the visitors a win.
Consequently, below we have listed the Liverpool team that lined out on that less-than-memorable night, replete with an explanation of what became of each player…
Diego Cavalieri: Ultimately failed to establish himself as the club’s number one goalkeeper with Pepe Reina consistently chosen ahead of him. Cavalieri was then sold to Italian side Cesena where he similarly struggled for first-team football. Now 31, he has impressed since joining Fluminense — so much so that he has won three caps for Brazil as a result.
Stephen Darby: The Liverpool-born star never managed to establish himself in the first team. After loan spells at Swindon, Notts County and Rochdale, he signed for Bradford in 2012 and has been a regular at right-back for the League One side ever since.
Daniel Agger: The defender continued to be a regular in the Liverpool team thereafter, but some indifferent displays at the heart of Brendan Rodgers’ side’s defence last year prompted his recent £3 million move to Brøndby, with the Danish centre-back agreeing to take a considerable pay cut in the process.
Martin Skrtel: One of only two players mentioned in this starting XI that are still with Liverpool, Skrtel recently featured in the Reds’ 2-1 win over Southampton, but the defender is currently out of action with a knee injury
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Emiliano Insua: After 46 appearances for Liverpool, the Argentinian left-back went to Galatasaray on loan, before signing for Sporting Lisbon in 2011. He then joined Atlético Madrid, where he again struggled for first-team football, making just six appearances in their title-winning campaign last year. Now 25, he was recently sent on loan to Rayo Vallecano.
Javier Mascherano: Arguably one of the few players mentioned here to have improved since 2009, Mascherano has made over 100 appearances for Barcelona since signing for them in 2010, in addition to playing a starring role as part of Argentina’s run to the 2014 World Cup final.
Alberto Aquilani: After loan spells at Juventus and Milan, Liverpool eventually sold Aquilani to Fiorentina following his unsuccessful spell at Anfield. He finally seems to have settled in Florence, appearing 31 times for the club last season and subsequently earning a place in Italy’s 2014 World Cup squad.
Yossi Benayoun: After arguably enjoying the best spell of his career at Liverpool with 18 goals in 92 appearances, Benayoun moved to Chelsea where he received little first-team football. Benayoun then had further unmemorable stints at Arsenal, QPR and West Ham, before joining Maccabi Haifa last June.
Steven Gerrard: Still one of the first names on the teamsheet at Liverpool, Gerrard has reverted to a more defensive role since 2009. Nevertheless, he still managed 13 goals and 13 assists last year, and came agonisingly close to winning his first-ever Premier League winners’ medal in the process.
PA Archive / Press Association Images
PA Archive / Press Association Images / Press Association Images
(Former Liverpool star Andrea Dossena is currently a free agent)
Andrea Dossena: Dossena was sold to Napoli in 2010 having made just 18 appearances for Liverpool. He rejuvenated his career at the Italian side for a period before eventually being sold to Sunderland last year. And following a disappointing season at the Stadium of Light, he was released on a free transfer. The 33-year-old is now a free agent.
Dirk Kuyt: Kuyt ultimately made over 200 appearances for Liverpool before making a €1 million move to Fenerbahce where he has gone on to be a success. The 34-year-old also featured prominently for the Netherlands at the 2014 World Cup, with the team ultimately finishing third.
And the subs…
Pepe Reina: Was eventually displaced by Simon Mignolet as Liverpool’s number one. Reina spent a season on loan at Napoli before joining Bayern Munich last August.
Fernando Torres: Despite winning the Champions League since moving there, Torres was widely perceived to have flopped after joining Chelsea from Liverpool. Accordingly, he recently went on loan to Milan, after being deemed surplus to requirements at Stamford Bridge.
Fabio Aurelio: Having made 87 appearances for Liverpool, the Brazilian signed for Gremio in 2012 before a series of injuries forced him to announce his retirement last April.
Sotiris Kyrgiakos: The Greek international never really established himself at Liverpool. He has been a similarly peripheral presence at Wolfsburg, Sunderland and Sydney Olympic since then.
Jamie Carragher: Carragher retired at the end of the 2012-13 season having become a club legend, and is now similarly appreciated as a regular pundit for Sky Sports.
Jay Spearing: After failing to break into the Liverpool first team despite making 30 appearances over a number of seasons for the club, Spearing joined Bolton, where he currently plays, earning the captaincy there and appearing 41 times in the league last season.
Daniel Pacheco: The 23-year-old currently plies his trade at Real Betis in the Spanish second division, after being sold by Liverpool to Alcorcón in 2013.
Where are they now? The starting XI the last time Liverpool played in the Champions League
WITH LIVERPOOL IN action in the Champions League tonight, it inevitably invites recollections of the last time they played in the competition during the 2009-2010 season.
Having already been eliminated, their campaign ended with a whimper as Rafa Benitez’s side were beaten 2-1 at Anfield by Fiorentina. Yossi Benayoun had opened the scoring just before half-time, but second-half strikes from Martin Jorgensen and Alberto Gilardino handed the visitors a win.
Consequently, below we have listed the Liverpool team that lined out on that less-than-memorable night, replete with an explanation of what became of each player…
Diego Cavalieri: Ultimately failed to establish himself as the club’s number one goalkeeper with Pepe Reina consistently chosen ahead of him. Cavalieri was then sold to Italian side Cesena where he similarly struggled for first-team football. Now 31, he has impressed since joining Fluminense — so much so that he has won three caps for Brazil as a result.
Stephen Darby: The Liverpool-born star never managed to establish himself in the first team. After loan spells at Swindon, Notts County and Rochdale, he signed for Bradford in 2012 and has been a regular at right-back for the League One side ever since.
Daniel Agger: The defender continued to be a regular in the Liverpool team thereafter, but some indifferent displays at the heart of Brendan Rodgers’ side’s defence last year prompted his recent £3 million move to Brøndby, with the Danish centre-back agreeing to take a considerable pay cut in the process.
Martin Skrtel: One of only two players mentioned in this starting XI that are still with Liverpool, Skrtel recently featured in the Reds’ 2-1 win over Southampton, but the defender is currently out of action with a knee injury
Emiliano Insua: After 46 appearances for Liverpool, the Argentinian left-back went to Galatasaray on loan, before signing for Sporting Lisbon in 2011. He then joined Atlético Madrid, where he again struggled for first-team football, making just six appearances in their title-winning campaign last year. Now 25, he was recently sent on loan to Rayo Vallecano.
Javier Mascherano: Arguably one of the few players mentioned here to have improved since 2009, Mascherano has made over 100 appearances for Barcelona since signing for them in 2010, in addition to playing a starring role as part of Argentina’s run to the 2014 World Cup final.
Alberto Aquilani: After loan spells at Juventus and Milan, Liverpool eventually sold Aquilani to Fiorentina following his unsuccessful spell at Anfield. He finally seems to have settled in Florence, appearing 31 times for the club last season and subsequently earning a place in Italy’s 2014 World Cup squad.
Yossi Benayoun: After arguably enjoying the best spell of his career at Liverpool with 18 goals in 92 appearances, Benayoun moved to Chelsea where he received little first-team football. Benayoun then had further unmemorable stints at Arsenal, QPR and West Ham, before joining Maccabi Haifa last June.
Steven Gerrard: Still one of the first names on the teamsheet at Liverpool, Gerrard has reverted to a more defensive role since 2009. Nevertheless, he still managed 13 goals and 13 assists last year, and came agonisingly close to winning his first-ever Premier League winners’ medal in the process.
(Former Liverpool star Andrea Dossena is currently a free agent)
Andrea Dossena: Dossena was sold to Napoli in 2010 having made just 18 appearances for Liverpool. He rejuvenated his career at the Italian side for a period before eventually being sold to Sunderland last year. And following a disappointing season at the Stadium of Light, he was released on a free transfer. The 33-year-old is now a free agent.
Dirk Kuyt: Kuyt ultimately made over 200 appearances for Liverpool before making a €1 million move to Fenerbahce where he has gone on to be a success. The 34-year-old also featured prominently for the Netherlands at the 2014 World Cup, with the team ultimately finishing third.
And the subs…
Pepe Reina: Was eventually displaced by Simon Mignolet as Liverpool’s number one. Reina spent a season on loan at Napoli before joining Bayern Munich last August.
Fernando Torres: Despite winning the Champions League since moving there, Torres was widely perceived to have flopped after joining Chelsea from Liverpool. Accordingly, he recently went on loan to Milan, after being deemed surplus to requirements at Stamford Bridge.
Fabio Aurelio: Having made 87 appearances for Liverpool, the Brazilian signed for Gremio in 2012 before a series of injuries forced him to announce his retirement last April.
Sotiris Kyrgiakos: The Greek international never really established himself at Liverpool. He has been a similarly peripheral presence at Wolfsburg, Sunderland and Sydney Olympic since then.
Jamie Carragher: Carragher retired at the end of the 2012-13 season having become a club legend, and is now similarly appreciated as a regular pundit for Sky Sports.
Jay Spearing: After failing to break into the Liverpool first team despite making 30 appearances over a number of seasons for the club, Spearing joined Bolton, where he currently plays, earning the captaincy there and appearing 41 times in the league last season.
Daniel Pacheco: The 23-year-old currently plies his trade at Real Betis in the Spanish second division, after being sold by Liverpool to Alcorcón in 2013.
h/t Reddit and Uefa.com for the lineup
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UEFA Champions League Jamie Carragher Jay Spearing Looking Back Starting XI Stephen Darby Steven Gerrard Fiorentina Liverpool