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Former Liverpool striker Djibril Cisse was once rated as the best young player in the world

Liverpool’s academy has produced some incredible players during the Premier League era.

However, injuries would ultimately derail his time at Anfield.

Jerzy Dudek and Chris Kirkland sign for Liverpool

Making 45 appearances in five years, he was part of the side that won the Champions League in 2005 and had actually ousted Jerzy Dudek as first-choice under Benitez earlier that season.



In 2001 they had already been signed by Liverpool after starring at the FIFA Under-17s World Cup, but remained on loan at Le Havre for two more years.

Officially moving to Anfield in 2003, both would play their part in the Reds’ run to winning the Champions League in 2005 but ultimately never lived up to early expectations.

Then of Arsenal, the winger joined Liverpool from relegated Birmingham City in a £6.7m deal in July 2006, little over a year after serving 30 days in prison for drink-driving, driving while disqualified and driving without insurance.

Making 81 appearances, recording three goals and 17 assists, in two and a half seasons, he initially impressed at Anfield and was the Reds' star player when they lost the 2007 Champions League final to AC Milan.

For those keeping track, you’ll have realised it’s a future Liverpool player too.

And a Reds record signing too, no less.

But while he’d win the Champions League, FA Cup, and European Super Cup with the Reds, having been signed by Gerard Houllier, he struggled to ever fully convince Benitez, with his first of two broken legs, suffered against Blackburn Rovers in October 2004, derailing him before he’d even had a chance to truly begin at Anfield.

Recovering in time to score in the penalty shoot-out win against AC Milan in the 2005 Champions League final, he also scored in the FA Cup final win over West Ham United to take his Reds total to 24 goals from 82 games.
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