10 Underwhelming Liverpool Signings Who Became Cult Heroes

9. Kolo Toure

It speaks volumes about how far former Arsenal stalwart Kolo Toure has regressed that Liverpool's defensive deficiencies were exposed time and time again last season, and yet the Ivory Coast centre-half was barely afforded a look-in during the business end of the season, as the title race heated up. There were moments of sheer buffoonery which had Liverpool supporters' clutching their heads in despair, such as nonchalantly rolling the ball across his own area for West Brom's Victor Anichebe to gleefully equalise at the Hawthorns in February, or a comically scythed own-goal into his own net a week later at Craven Cottage. Despite these shortcomings, however, Toure's first season at Anfield fared better than had been expected of him. Having been cast into the wilderness at Manchester City, expectations were low when he was acquired on a free transfer by Brendan Rodgers in May 2013. Seen as a fourth-choice centre-half who surely wouldn't get a look-in, Liverpool supporters might have felt that his unveiling was the only time they would see him in that famous red kit. As injuries would dictate, however, Toure would step in and be entrusted with starting the season at centre-back, playing the full 90 minutes in 9 of the opening 13 league games of the season. Looking calm and composed, he used his wealth of experience to marshal a frail defensive, as they began the season with successive clean sheets. He would have to wait until December for another run of games, as he completed six matches in a row, with the Anfield side winning four of them as their title rampage heated up. All in all, the Ivorian international made 20 appearances for the Reds last season, and while that won't be enough to earn him top billing in the Toure household, his commitment, passion and leadership qualities endeared him to Liverpool supporters the length and breadth of the country. It's just a pity that slip-up at the Hawthorns damaged his confidence to an almost irreparable state.