10 Underwhelming Liverpool Signings Who Became Cult Heroes

6. Yossi Benayoun

What had Yossi Benayoun achieved by the time he had arrived at Anfield in the summer of 2006? Liverpool supporters will have noted his tricks, skills and low centre of gravity shown on Match of the Day every week, as he strutted his stuff for Alan Pardew's West Ham, but was the Israeli playmaker really good enough for a side aspiring for European glory? He was hardly a prolific finisher, with a paltry return of eight goals in 63 appearances for the Hammers, so when Benitez lured him away from his recently-signed four-year contract at Upton Park, thousands didn't exactly congregate in the town square upon his arrival. The former Maccabi Tel Aviv playmaker was a revelation at Anfield. Scoring 11 goals in 48 appearances in his first season, including hat-tricks against Besiktas and Havant & Waterlooville, he had certainly done enough to dampen the words of the critics and sceptics. A further highlight would arrive in February 2009, when Benayoun stooped to nod home a late winner to grant Liverpool a famous 1-0 win at the Santiago Bernabeu in a Champions League clash. 29 goals in 134 appearances is certainly a better strike record than the pitiful efforts he managed at Upton Park, and Benayoun remains to this day the only player to score Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup hat-tricks. A fan's favourite, he always had the knack of popping up in the right place at the right time, and despite forays at both Chelsea and Arsenal since, he will always be welcomed back with open arms at Anfield.