When Liverpool first welcomed Atletico Madrid to Anfield, back in November 2008, it was a match littered with narratives.

And none was bigger than Fernando Torres.

Having signed from Atleti the previous year, and gone on to establish himself as one of the planet’s best strikers during his first season on Merseyside, a reunion with his boyhood club was the main talking point when the Champions League group stage draw was made.

Alas, the Spaniard would miss the encounter with the same injury that had ruled him out of the first game between the sides at the Vicente Calderon two weeks earlier.

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Meanwhile, Madrid's ranks included former Reds Luis Garcia and Florent Sinama-Pongolle, as the duo made their Anfield returns, Manchester United old-boy and Liverpool tormentor Diego Forlan, as well as previous Rafa Benitez targets Simao Sarbrosa, Sergio Aguero and Tomas Ujfalusi.

Reds boss Benitez had famously tried to sign Simao, who scored in the first meeting between the two sides in the Spanish capital, in the summer of 2005, only for Benfica to pull the plug at the 11th hour when the Portuguese winger was at the airport, despite having already agreed an £8m fee, in fear of supporter backlash.

Liverpool had also been in talks to sign Aguero from Independiente in 2006, only for Benitez to decide against buying the then-18-year-old, believing it was too big a risk spending a significant figure on the teenager at the time.

As for Ujfalusi, he would later claim he rejected the Reds' advances in the summer of 2008 in favour of a move to Atleti.

But for all the former players, foes and targets involved in the 1-1 draw at Anfield, that night perhaps started to sow seeds in minds and open the door to one future Liverpool transfer.

Atletico captain Maxi Rodriguez had opened the scoring in front of a vocal Kop, as he experienced Anfield for the first time, with his first touch taking him past a static Jamie Carragher with ease before he fired across goal, beyond Pepe Reina, into the bottom corner.

The La Liga outfit would have to settle for a share of the spoils, however, and could perhaps feel aggrieved at having to do so after a controversial last-minute Steven Gerrard penalty earned Liverpool a draw.

Fourteen months later and Maxi would be playing at Anfield again, this time alongside Gerrard and Co as he became Benitez’s final senior signing.

With funds low on the red side of Merseyside as Liverpool navigated the final year of Tom Hicks and George Gillett’s doomed ownership of the club, the Argentine joined on a free transfer in January 2010, with one eye on preserving his place in the national squad ahead of the 2010 World Cup having found his game-time suddenly limited at the Atleti.

His signing was seen as something of a coup, especially given Liverpool’s financial plight at the time, with Benitez delighted to be able to strengthen his squad with a player of such quality during what was a disappointing season.

“We were looking for players with character and a good mentality,” the Spaniard said at the time.

Unfortunately for Benitez, it would come after poor performances cost him his job.

Featuring 17 times in his first-half season at Anfield, Maxi registered one goal and three assists as Liverpool finished a disappointing seventh, while he was cup-tied as the Reds suffered a Europa League semi-final defeat at the hands of his former club Atletico.

Still securing his place in the Argentina squad for the World Cup, and featuring in all five of their matches as they suffered a quarter-final defeat at the hands of Germany, Maxi would secure cult hero status back at Anfield under new managers Roy Hodgson and later Kenny Dalglish.

He famously scored hat-tricks against Fulham and Birmingham City - the former on this day 13 years ago - in the final weeks of the 2010/11 season to finish the campaign with 10 goals from 35 appearances and earn his own chant on the Kop in the process.

Game time admittedly became somewhat limited in his final season at Anfield, but he still scored two memorable strikes in away victories over Chelsea and played his part in Liverpool’s League Cup success and run to the FA Cup final.

Allowed to return to Argentina and his first club Newell's Old Boys following Brendan Rodgers’ appointment as Reds manager, despite having a year left on his contract, Maxi departed Anfield with 17 goals from 73 appearances and the one winner’s medal.

He sent an open letter to fans following his Reds exit as he shared his honour at being able to play for the club.

“After my time here I can confirm that this is not just a great club but also a great family.

“I have tried to give everything every day that I was wearing the LFC crest.
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