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Liverpool have had numerous footballers with exceptional talent over the decades. The club have a rich history over the 129 years since its foundation. It owes the trophies and success it has had to the many footballing geniuses that have come and gone.
The Merseyside-based outfit are one of the most decorated clubs in the English first division, and they are currently one of the best teams in the world. After a somewhat tumultuous start to the Premier League era, Jurgen Klopp’s men have established themselves as serious title contenders in recent years.
Liverpool have some excellent foreign players in their ranks
Liverpool’s recruitment and transfer market activity has been brilliant over the past few years. They have had their fair share of talented foreign players, ranging from the likes of Virgil van Dijk, Alisson, Mohamed Salah and many more.
Several other top-notch foreign players have graced the pitch for them in the past as well. Here we take a look at five foreign Liverpool players who should have retired at Anfield:
#5 Daniel Agger
Daniel Agger served Liverpool for over eight years. The centre-back was a key figure in Liverpool's defense under Rafa Benitez. To this day, Agger remains a popular face among the Anfield faithful. He appeared 175 times for the Reds before moving back to his boyhood club Brondby IF.
His love for the club was there for everyone to see when he got "YNWA" forever inked on his knuckles. The Danish international was made vice-captain of the club after Jamie Carragher's retirement in 2013.
However, his days on Merseyside were numbered. He was severely under-utilised by Brendan Rodgers, despite being one of the best centre-backs at the club.
During his stay at Anfield, Agger scored 14 goals and recorded 11 assists. He was an intelligent ball-playing defender and had the ability to score long-range goals.
His commitment to the cause and love for the badge earned him plaudits in the Kop. Although Agger didn't win many trophies, he will always maintain his cult-hero status at Liverpool.
#4 Pepe Reina
Pepe Reina was signed by Rafa Benitez from Villareal in 2005. Replacing Jerzy Dudek, the hero of Istanbul, came with a lot of pressure. However, the charismatic goalkeeper proved his doubters wrong with his performances for Liverpool. Since his arrival at Anfield in 2005, Reina kept 134 clean sheets in 285 Premier League appearances.
Reina won the Premier League Golden Glove in his first three seasons in the Premier League. He was also Liverpool’s player of the 2009-10 season. The Anfield faithful will fondly remember the three crucial penalty saves he made in the 2006 FA Cup against West Ham, which led to Liverpool winning the trophy.
He was with Liverpool for eight years and has won the FA Cup, League Cup, UEFA Super Cup and the Community Shield.
Reina joined Napoli on loan in 2013 and then signed permanently for Bayern Munich in 2014. The 39-year-old currently plies his trade for Lazio in Serie A. The enigmatic goalkeeper spent a considerable amount of his career playing for Liverpool and will always be cherished by the fans.
#3 Jan Molby
Jan Molby was a highly influential midfielder for Liverpool since his arrival from Ajax in 1984. Molby made 277 appearances for the Reds, during which he scored 56 goals and had 31 assists to his name.
The Great Dane won three English League titles, two FA Cups, and three Community Shields (then known as Charity Shield) with Liverpool.
He was renowned for his passing ability and pinpoint precision. A spell of injuries and lack of fitness made it difficult for him in the latter part of his career, but he was still an exceptional talent to have in midfield.
Molby was a penalty specialist, having scored 42 times from the spot, including 18 that he scored in a row. He had a series of loan spells at clubs such as Barnsley and Norwich before signing for Swansea in 1996 on a free transfer. The Danish midfielder retired in 1997 after playing for the Swans.
#2 Sami Hyypia
Sami Hyypia was signed for just £2.6 million from the Dutch side Willem II Tilburg in 1999. Based on his performances for Liverpool, he has been one of their best bargain buys. The centre-back was a highly influential addition to the Liverpool back-line and fought duels with a hunger to win.
He was part of the Liverpool squad for 10 seasons and has won pretty much every trophy with the Reds except the Premier League title. He won the treble in 2001 and the Champions League in 2005. The Finn made 464 appearances for Liverpool, scoring 35 goals and assisting 12.
Hyypia also had a tremendous presence on the field and regularly captained the team until Steven Gerrard took over.
The Big Finn, as he was fondly christened, achieved heroic status at the club and was the solution to Liverpool’s defensive problems. He left the club in 2009 and joined Bayern Leverkusen, where he retired in 2011.
#1 Bruce Grobbelaar
A goalkeeper for the ages, Bruce Grobbelaar, is one of the most eccentric yet exceptionally talented players between the sticks at Anfield. Grobbelaar was a Zimbabwean born in South Africa and joined Liverpool in 1981 from the Vancouver Whitecaps.
In a career spanning almost 20 years, he spent 13 of those at Anfield, making 610 appearances for Liverpool and keeping 261 clean sheets. Grobbelaar won six league titles, three FA Cups, three League Cups, and the 1984 European Cup.
His "spaghetti legs" gimmick in the European Cup penalty shoot-out against Roma is one of the most iconic moments in Liverpool’s goalkeeping history.
Grobbelaar joined Stoke City on loan and then signed for Southampton in 1994 for free. The amount of success he has tasted with Liverpool makes him arguably the greatest keeper to have played for the club in its rich history.
