Kop flops: Rafael Benítez's failed signings

Josemi £2m For his first signing as Liverpool manager Benítez turned to a market he knew well, but this right-back from Málaga made just 16 starts in 18 months at Anfield before being sent to Villarreal as part of an exchange deal Photograph: Martin Rickett/PA

Antonio Nunez swap After arriving at Anfield as part of the deal that took Michael Owen to the Bernabéu, the often-injured midfielder gave no hint as to why Real Madrid had signed him but plenty of clues as to why they let him go. Sold to Celta Vigo Photograph: Tom Jenkins/Guardian

Fernando Morientes £6.3m The Spaniard’s capture in January 2005 was hailed as a coup but his form soon led to puzzlement over the deterioration of a player who was once one of Europe’s leading strikers Photograph: John Sibley/Action Images

Jan Kromkamp swap The Dutch replacement for Josemi looked no more at ease than his predecessor and was unable to shift right-back Steve Finnan. He moved on after half a season, returning to his native Netherlands at PSV Eindhoven Photograph: Darren Staples/Reuters

Mark González £4.5m Yet another signing from La Liga who failed to find any consistency in England and even had trouble entering the country: the Chilean spent a season on loan at Real Sociedad before moving to Liverpool for just one season Photograph: Adam Davy/Empics

Craig Bellamy £6m After less than a year, only a handful of decent performances and a much-publicised clash with team-mate John Arne Riise, the Welshman was sold to West Ham, though at least the £7.5m meant Benítez made a profit Photograph: Peter Byrne/PA

Ryan Babel £11.5m One of the brightest prospects in Europe when signed from Ajax in 2007 but the erratic Dutch winger has yet to fulfil his potential since his arrival at Anfield Photograph: Mike Egerton/Empics

Jermaine Pennant £6.7m That he was not considered good enough for Arsenal did not dissuade Benítez from imagining the wayward winger as the solution to Liverpool’s problems out wide. Now playing for Real Zaragoza Photograph: Miguel Riopa/AFP

Robbie Keane £20.3m Intended as the final piece in a title-winning jigsaw, the hitherto prolific marksman became a misfit and was ditched after half a season Photograph: Eddie Keogh/Reuters

Charles Itandje undisclosed The French goalkeeper has never come close to breaking into the Liverpool first-team and is available to offers after laughing during April's ceremony to mark the 20th anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster Photograph: Adrian Dennis/guardian.co.uk

Gabriel Paletta £2m Bought from Banfield in Argentina in 2006 the 21-year-old central defender made three appearances for Liverpool and looked shaky at best. The 6-3 defeat by Arsenal in the Carling Cup highlighted his weaknesses and he was sold to Boca Juniors in 2007 Photograph: Shaun Botterill/Getty Images

Philipp Degen Free Arguably the worst injury record in Liverpool's history has seen the Swiss full-back make just four appearances in 15 months for the club Photograph: Clive Brunskill/guardian.co.uk

Andrea Dossena £7m Brought in as a replacement for John-Arne Riise at left-back in the summer of 2008 the Italian was soon found out for his lack of pace and clumsy first touch. Now behind Emiliano Insua and Fabio Aurelio in the Anfield pecking order Photograph: Glyn Kirk/guardian.co.uk

Mauricio Pellegrino free The veteran centre back joined Liverpool from Benítez's former club Valencia in 2005. He made 12 undistinguished appearances in which he looked unable to handle the pace of Premier League football. Now a coach at Anfield Photograph: Andrew Couldridge/guardian.co.uk

Andriy Voronin free The Ukraine striker joined Liverpool in 2007 from Bayer Leverkusen with a view to playing in the hole behind Fernando Torres, but he soon found himself on the outskirts of the squad after making little impact Photograph: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images

Alberto Riera £8m Played well on the left wing in his first season at the club after his arrival in September 2008 as part of the team that nearly won the league, but fell out of favour in his second season and his outspoken comments against Benítez did little for the manager's job security Photograph: John Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images

Alberto Aquilani £18m The Italian midfielder was bought for a large fee last summer as a replacement for Xabi Alonso, but injuries meant he did not start a league game until Boxing Day and failed to make an impression all season Football Soccer Photograph: John Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images