10 Underwhelming Liverpool Signings Who Became Cult Heroes

10. Luis Garcia

Not many on the English shores knew of Luis Garcia when the sprightly, long-haired Spaniard turned up at Melwood in the summer of 2004, paraded alongside the newly-acquired Xabi Alonso. Signed as a replacement for the car crash that was El Hadji Diouf in a £6 million deal from Barcelona, the 26 year old had certainly not displayed anything particularly noteworthy in his career thus far. Having struggled to dislodge the likes of Ronaldinho and Javier Saviola from the Barcelona forward line, Garcia's career had been in danger of stagnating, having been shipped out on loan four times. It certainly looked to be a bit of a gamble to be splashing out £6 million on a player who had failed to establish himself at any club. Doubts about Garcia's talent remained unfounded, as he quickly endeared himself to the Kop through numerous long-range efforts, including a notable 25 yard screamer against Juventus in a Champions League encounter. Notching thirteen goals in his debut campaign, including a Merseyside derby winner against Everton, and that famous scrambled 'ghost goal' against Chelsea which propelled them to a Champions League final in Istanbul, Garcia was integral to Benitez' first season in the managerial hotseat. Five goals were plundered by the diminutive Spaniard during the knock-out rounds of their Champions League triumph, etching Garcia into Scouse folklore. Departing for Athletico Madrid in 2007, the former Barcelona man left with 30 goals having been notched in 121 appearances for the Merseyside outfit, having firmly endeared himself to the red half of the city through his vibrancy, exuberance and box of screamers.