Liverpool Lore: Looking back at our own Nordic legend, John Arne Riise
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He was relentless in a time when we needed something to pin our hopes to.Riise’s ArrivalAs a part of a David Trezuguet lead Monaco team, Riise picked up his first major honour as a player by winning Ligue 1 in 2000. He had the choice of Leeds United, Fulham or Liverpool.In the end, Merseyside was his only choice, and he joined the Reds for £4 million that summer.Riise’s ImpactNow, unless you’d been following Ligue 1 extensively for the couple of seasons prior to his signing, you’d have no idea who John Arne Riise was.
This was long before the obsession with wingers, when left midfielder really meant the left side of midfield, and not ‘let’s see how often I can get to the opposing team's by-line’.23 minutes in, a ball is knocked over the top to Michael Owen, which, if you’re a defending team in the year 2001, is the last thing you want to see.Owen’s electric speed means he’s inside the box in a matter of seconds and squares a perfect ball over to the marauding Riise to tap in at the back post. It was barbaric to think that one of your biggest goal threats would be a left back, but that’s what he became for Liverpool.His ball striking was fantastic for crosses, but we rarely saw a huge return in assists.
The free kick was about 40 yards out, which never really made much of a difference to Riise.The ball is laid off, and Riise strikes it with the same ferocity he has done time and time before.Alan Smith was the brave man who jumped in front of the shot that day, and as he blocked it, the ball dislocated his ankle and broke part of his leg, something I don’t think has ever happened in world football, especially not on this stage.But there is a reason teams would try to close the space on a Riise free kick. Given when he played and the team he played in, that’s phenomenal.Whilst Riise is responsible for the fastest goal in League Cup final history and is well known for his free-kick winner against Manchester United in 2001 at Anfield, how he played the game and the excitement he brought is why I remember John Arne Riise.As a young lad growing up watching Liverpool, you attach yourself to certain players.