10 Players Nobody Expected Liverpool To Sign

2. Robbie Fowler

It was a transfer that simply did not make sense. Robbie Fowler, or 'God' as he was affectionately known by the Reds brigade, was a sensation for the Reds in his first spell at the club, banging in 171 goals during an eight-year spell in the first-team. One of the 'Spice Boys' at Anfield, Fowler was a celebrity at the club, heralded, worshipped and adored by the Kop. However, the former prolific hit-man has always maintained that he was forced out of the club by then-boss Gerard Houllier, who he accused of pressurising the local newspaper to use its' influence in swaying opinion of the local hero. Leaving the club in the summer of 2001 in a deal worth £12 million, the 26 year old would spend the next few years failing to replicate his blistering Anfield goal-scoring form at both Elland Road and then the City of Manchester Stadium. Having made just four Premier League appearances, and found the back of the net once before Christmas, it looked like the 30 year old's career was petering out in Manchester during the 05/06 season. Enter Rafa Benitez to make one local lad's dreams come true. ''Since I have left, deep down I have always wanted to come back and it has been a long time but I'm glad to say I'm back now. Leaving was probably one of my biggest regrets I have had in football. I'm chuffed to bits. I mean, I can't really believe it's happened again so I'm ecstatic to be honest.'' - Robbie Fowler, January 2006. The ageing forward wasn't the only one who had to rub their eyes in disbelief when news broke, with hundreds of Liverpudlian jaws hitting the floor when they learned of the Second Coming. The passionate Toxteth-born forward seemed to get a bit of urgency back into his play, finding the back of the net 12 more times over the next 18 months.