Fat Ronaldo's

1. XABI ALONSO

It goes without saying at this point that losing Xabi Alonso to Real Madrid in the summer was the most crippling loss to any Premier League team this season. While many speculated that in fact, the losses of Christiano Ronaldo and Emmanuel Adebayor from United and Arsenal respectively would damage the title hopes of said teams more, both sit in leading positions in the league early on. Xabi’s awesome passing, tireless work-rate and a reputation for raising his game when Fergie’s men are in opposition will be sorely missed this weekend. When you consider that he was already an Arsenal player in everything but contract the season before his departure you really do have to question the logic of Benitez. This entry could just as easily have been Gareth Barry though, who Benitez didn’t even gesture towards this summer as his fruitless attempt to convince Alonso to stay backfired.

2. MOMO SISSOKO

Rafa’s ace up the sleeve in his early Liverpool days, most Premier League fans counted Sissoko as their secret crush, as much of a threat going forward as tracking back, it was probably right that behind Gerrard, Mascherano and Alonso he would be fourth choice but with the subsequent shift of Gerrard to striker and the loss of Alonso, I don’t truly believe that Alberto Aquilani is any better a player than the dynamic and committed Malian and with Aquilani injured until next week at least (next manager?) he’s not a factor.

3. STEPHEN WARNOCK

Liverpool’s defensive frailties this season have been pinned on the generally overrated Jamie Carragher and the potentially brilliant Martin Skrtel (who appears to have lost a touch of class and borrowed a pair of Carra’s lead-boots) not unfairly, but Rafa’s obsession with buying full-backs has never lead to him finding a player at left-back who’s genuinely made that position his own. Meanwhile, local-lad Stephen Warnock (their last Academy player to show anything like Premier League quality) has gone from strength-to-strength since leaving Anfield, first at Blackburn where the fans counted him as one of their most important players and now at Aston Villa who forked-out a healthy £8Million for his services this summer. Warnock’s solid, no-nonsense approach to Villa’s ever-changing back-line has supplied the metal and experience to support Young and Gabby from the front and Dunne or Collins at the back.

4. MICHAEL OWEN

Something of a novelty on this list, I don’t believe Owen’s gone on to prove his worth to Rafa Bentiez since leaving, an undeniably impressive record for Newcastle (when fit) aside, the sparkle in the corner of Owen’s eye has diminished year-on-year since being sold by Liverpool. Still, he’s a star and he’s a big game player and going into Sunday’s game, a potential lack of leaders would easily be remedied by the once (and maybe again) World Class striker who will instead line-up for the opposition. Benitez will be praying for another off day for the striker who still seems to be finding his range slowly in a United shirt (he’s missing and mishitting the ball a lot at the moment. Anybody noticed that?). A winner late (after the game) against City earlier in the season could prove an ominous sign for Liverpool on Sunday.

5. ROBBIE KEANE

The details surrounding Robbie Keane’s time at Liverpool remain unclear, did Rafa ever want him? Did he ever want to play him? Did he facilitate his speedy return to Spurs? There’s no doubting that Keane failed to match his almost £20Million transfer fee but there’s also no doubting that in six months he was never given the chance. Seven goals in that short-time, including a crucial equaliser against Arsenal at The Emirates was an acceptable return, with the season panning out as it was for Liverpool Keane would have provided at least another seven and probably more, the difference come May? Very possibly. With the weight of Liverpool’s goal-threat balancing uniquely on Fernando Torres’ shoulders, a second goal scorer and one with the awesome football brain of the Irish international would come in very handy. Lord knows David N’Gog and Stone Cold Steve Voronin don’t have what it takes.

HONOURABLE MENTIONS

1. Peter Crouch, always did a job for Benitez.

2. Craig Bellamy, proving this season that he really does have the potential we saw under Bobby Robson at Newcastle.

3. Jermaine Pennant, the perennial under-achiever Pennant crosses the ball like very few in the game, another player blocked by Benitez despite the Spaniard signing him.