| Rafa Benitez's appointment as Liverpool manager in the summer of 2004
was swiftly followed by the arrival of no fewer than four Spanish
players, as the new Red's boss set about reshaping his team with players
that he felt added technical skills over strength and power.
While
two of these signings bombed spectacularly - Antonio Nunez and Josemi -
and one, Luis Garcia, flattered to deceive on an all too regular basis,
the other remains one of the best signings made by Benitez during his
time at Anfield.
Having impressed during a brief cameo for Spain
in Euro 2004, in addition to having been a consistent performer in La
Liga for the previous three seasons, Benitez fought off competition from
Real Madrid to capture Real Soceidad's midfield playmaker Xabi Alonso
for a fee of £10.5 million.
While the Spaniard may not have been a
household name at the time, it didn't take the midfielder long to
establish his place in Liverpool's first XI. Alonso's class was clear
from the outset. He may have made his debut in a disappointing 1-0
defeat at Bolton, but the new signing's performance was considered one
of the few plus points to that match, with his sublime range of passing
skills, outrageous vision and seemingly telepathic reading of the game
instantly wowing Liverpool fans. Further proof of Xabi's talent was in
evidence in a 4-2 win away at Fulham, in which the Spaniard netted his
first Liverpool goal. Trailing 2-0 at half-time, substitute Alonso's
introduction changed the game. Suddenly it was evident that Xabi's role
at Liverpool was to be far more than just back-up to the established
midfield pairing of Steven Gerrard and Dietmar Hamann.
Over the
next few months Alonso continued to establish himself as a first team
regular. However, his momentum was interrupted on New Year's Day 2005
when he broke an ankle in a challenge with Chelsea's Frank Lampard. This
marked the start of a series of running battles between the Spaniard
and the Blue's midfielder, lasting for the remainder of Alonso's time at
Anfield. The midfielder retuned to the Red's line-up three months
later, in time to play in the second leg of the Champions League quarter
final match against Juventus, and help the Red's qualify for the
semi-finals courtesy of a 0-0 draw.
While Liverpool had endured
one of their worst league performances in many years in Alonso's
inaugural season, in Europe things had been different. Following the
morale-boosting quarter final victory over Juventus, Liverpool snuck
past Chelsea in the semi-finals thanks to Luis Garcia's infamous 'ghost'
goal. Liverpool, of course, would finish the season very much on a
high, coming back from 3-0 down to take Italian side AC Milan into
extra-time before beating them in a penalty shoot-out. It was here that
Alonso further cemented his growing reputation with Koppites, following
up on his own saved penalty (in normal time) to grab the all-important
equaliser.
Returning to England as a hero among Liverpool fans,
Xabi's performances continued to improve over the next two seasons.
Remaining a fairly regular starter, especially given Benitez's fondness
for squad rotation and the addition of another centre midfielder, Momo
Sissoko, to the Liverpool squad, Alonso appeared in all but three league
games in 2005/06, and missed only six the following season.
While
his pin-point passing, and steadfast discipline to go against his
natural attacking instincts and provide defensive cover for the more
attacking Gerrard, continued to impress both fans and pundits alike, in
January 2006 Alonso added another string to his bow - the ability to
score from inside his own half. Having already scored a scorching strike
from distance during Liverpool's 5-3 win over Luton in the third round
of the FA Cup (the Red's had been 3-1 down at one stage), Xabi then
scored an equally magnificent goal, lobbing the Luton goalkeeper, who
had been making his way back to the goal having gone up for a corner,
from inside Liverpool's own half. It was a trick Alonso would repeat the
following season, chipping the then Newcastle 'keeper Shay Given from a
similar position during a 2-0 victory at Anfield. The Luton strikes,
however, are remembered with particular fondness by Liverpool fans for
their importance as, having been faced with the threat of being
eliminated from the FA Cup at the first hurdle, Liverpool went on to win
the competition - again in a penalty shoot-out following a 3-3 draw,
this time with West Ham United. Although Alonso didn't get on the score
sheet this time around, he was involved in Steven Gerrard's breathtaking
injury time equaliser, taking the free kick which eventually found it's
way on to Stevie G's right boot. (David Fuller)
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