Harry KEWELL

Having reportedly turned down a slew of big-money contracts from the likes of Manchester United, Chelsea, AC Milan and Barcelona, the Aussie winger signed for Liverpool in July 2003 for a cut-price fee thought to be in the region of 5 million pounds.

While in hindsight Kewell's five-year spell at Anfield is viewed far more negatively than it is positively, the truth is that were it not for a string of niggling injuries at inappropriate times - Harry was withdrawn early from three major finals for the Reds; the 2005 Carling Cup and Champions League finals, and the 2006 FA Cup Final - then one can't help but feel he really could have made a lasting impact for the club.

The Aussie actually made a storming start to his Liverpool career, grabbing his first league goal in only his fourth game for the Reds against none other than local rivals Everton in a 3-0 win. He repeated the feat in the next game against Blackburn (a 3-1 victory) and by Christmas 2003 had netted five times in 14 games.

His first season at Anfield was to be his most productive. Kewell played in all but two league games, scoring seven goals - only Michael Owen scored more for the Reds that season - while he also scored four in other competitions.

However, the following season was all too indicative of his time at Anfield as injuries seriously curtailed his involvement in the team. Struggling with an ankle injury - as he had towards the latter stage of the previous campaign - Kewell was in and out of the team in the early weeks of the season before starting eight games in a row between November and December  scoring his only league goal that season in a 1-1 draw with Aston Villa.

However, an injury sustained against Newcastle on 19 December 2004 was to have a major bearing on the rest of Harry's Liverpool career. The Aussie was rushed back to play in the 2005 Carling Cup final, but lasted less than an hour as the Reds lost 3-2 to Chelsea after extra time.

Another lengthy spell on the sidelines followed, but the winger did feature in LiverpoolÕs last three league matches of the season and was then selected by Rafa Benitez to start in the ultimately successful Champions League final ahead of the more defensively minded Dietmar Hamann. However, Kewell's cameo lasted less than half-an-hour due to a torn abductor muscle. The Aussie then had to suffer the ignominy of being booed off by his own supporters, who felt that he could have played on. Yet the fact that Benitez twice chose to gamble on Kewell in major finals that season was a clear indication of just how highly the Spaniard rated the winger. (David Fuller)

Determined to repay his manager for the faith shown in him, Harry Kewell showed glimpses of his best form in the latter stages of the 2005/06 season in which he was arguably Liverpool's best player, Steven Gerrard aside. A vintage Kewell performance in that season's FA Cup semi-final, in which he continually tormented the Chelsea defence, showed the Liverpool faithful just why the club had been so keen to sign the Aussie back in 2003. Kewell, it seemed, was back to his best. However, yet another final brought yet another injury - this time a groin strain in the FA Cup final. Kewell had lasted just 48 minutes.

Although the Aussie returned from that injury in time to represent his country at the 2006 World Cup it was obvious that the Socceroo's talisman was far from 100 per cent fit. He started just two of Australia's four games in Germany having contracted septic arthritis in his left foot. It was the injury that arguably hammered the final nail in the coffin of Kewell's Liverpool career.

Harry missed most of the 2006/07 season, and didn't appear for the first team until the penultimate game of the league campaign. The Aussie scored what would prove to be his last league goal for Liverpool in the final match of that season against Charlton - a penalty which would have surely been taken by Liverpool legend Robbie Fowler playing in his last game for the club, had he not been brought off to a heroes welcome just moments before. Without Kewell Liverpool had once again performed well in Europe, reaching their second Champions League final in three years, and again taking on AC Milan in a repeat of the 2005 final. Speculation was rife that Benitez would again select his star winger for the big stage, but Kewell ultimately had to settle for a place on the bench. Although he did come on as a second-half substitute for Boudewijn Zenden, he couldn't help the Reds lift the trophy, as they lost 2-1.

With Kewell's contract set to expire at the end of the 2007/08 season, Benitez had made it known that if the Aussie could stay injury free he would likely be offered a new contract. Unfortunately, Harry started the season injured, didn't play in his first match until October and eventually only managed 15 games in all.

In July 2008, Kewell signed for Turkish side Galatasaray, bringing to an end a highly frustrating (for player, manager and fans) injury hit five-year spell at Liverpool. While the Aussie's time at the Merseyside club can in no way, shape or form be described as a success, to label it an abject failure as some have is equally unfair. (David Fuller)