Liverpool has been home to some wonderful right wingers during the Premier League era – we preview a selection of Anfield’s finest.
Yossi Benayoun: The Israeli international was signed from West Ham United in 2007 and proved himself to be a key player for Liverpool during his three seasons at Anfield. Benayoun was a regular starter under boss Rafael Benitez and made more than 130 appearances for the Reds before joining Chelsea in 2010.
Dirk Kuyt – Initially signed as a centre forward after a prolific start to his career in Dutch football, the tireless Dirk Kuyt was transformed into a superb right winger under Benitez’s tutelage. Kuyt soon became an Anfield cult hero following his 2006 move from Feyenoord due to his all-action, never-say-die approach to being a Liverpool player.
Kuyt featured on more than 200 occasions for the club – but only has the 2012 League Cup success to show for his six years on Anfield.
Luis Garcia – The scorer of the infamous ‘ghost goal’ against Chelsea as part of Liverpool’s triumphant Champions League campaign in 2005, Spanish winger Luis Garcia was a popular figure on the Kop – where his quality and technical abilities prevailed amid occasional frustrations regarding the diminutive Garcia’s lack of physicality in English football.
Alongside Xabi Alonso, Garcia was a huge part of Benitez’s early Liverpool evolution and played more than 120 times for the Reds before departing for Atletico Madrid in 2007.
Steve McManaman – The first few years of the Premier League saw wing wizards such as Ryan Giggs and Steve McManaman excite as two of the league’s best young talents. McManaman, in tandem with pal Robbie Fowler, was Liverpool’s biggest prospect for much of the 1990s before a controversial free transfer to Real Madrid materialised in 1999.
Despite the circumstances that ended his Anfield time, it is worth remembering that ‘Macca’ was, for a period in the mid 90s, arguably the League’s best player – including playing a major part in England’s Euro 96 side, having a Cup Final unofficially named after him and being named in the 1996/97 PFA Team of the Year.
Raheem Sterling – Another, like McManaman, who departed Anfield on less than ideal terms. Current Manchester city winger Raheem Sterling emerged as a Premier League starlet under the guidance of Brendan Rodgers and was a vital contributor to the all-so-near title push of 2013/14, as part of an impressive front line alongside Daniel Sturridge and Luis Suarez.
Before City spent close to £50m on the wide man in 2015, Sterling had made more than 120 appearances for the club and was named Liverpool’s young player of the year in both 2013/14 and 2014/15.
Vladimir Smicer – Gerard Houllier brought Smicer to replace McManaman as part of a new wave of signings that included Sami Hyypia, Stephane Henchoz and Dietmar Hamann. Smicer spent six years at Anfield and left Liverpool with his final kick being the game-winning penalty of the 2005 Champions League final – a feat that will see Smicer remain a legendary figure on the Kop.
Jermaine Pennant – Perhaps somewhat of a left-field pick for our selection of Liverpool’s best Premier League right-wingers, but it is worth noting that Jermaine Pennant’s performances during the 2007-08 campaign was a huge contributor to Liverpool’s table-topping form.
Pennant, who was a key part of Liverpool’s run to the Champions League final in 2007, eventually saw playing time at Anfield diminish before a 2009 transfer to Real Zaragoza.
Sadio Mane – Despite only signing for Liverpool at the start of the current campaign, Sadio Mane has already established himself as one of Jurgen Klopp’s main threats – with his powerful trickery a major source of outlets for Liverpool’s attacks. Mane can already be considered as one of Liverpool’s best right wingers of their Premier League history.
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