Liverpool signed Albert Riera for £8m from Espanyol in 2008. He went on to play for the Reds 56 times, scoring five goals.
Reira’s Liverpool career was very brief, but during it he showed glimpses of real class. However, there were large periods of games where he’d be pretty anonymous which could be very frustrating.
He did have the ability to stretch opposition defences and at times looked like an ideal wide man. Not only did he play the part, he looked like a typical winger too. He just looked like a classy player, – it was probably the white tape around the socks that made me think that – and when he was on form he looked like he’d cause problems to the opposition.
After making 33 starts in the 2008-09 season, Riera found himself as a bit part player in 2009-10. He started just 12 games and after complaining about this, and in particular manager Rafa Benitez, in an interview with Spanish radio station Radio Marca, he was suspended for two weeks, which pretty much sealed his exit from Anfield. Although there was a change of manager as Roy Hodgson took over from Benitez, Riera still departed to Greece and joined Olympiacos.
I chose to write about Riera as I can’t help but think “what could’ve been?” He seemed to be a talented yet temperamental player – illustrated by the radio interview above, and the fact that he was sacked by Udinese in 2014 for attending a poker tournament instead of reporting in to play for the club.
Like many other wide men in the 2000s, Riera showed promise but ultimately failed to deliver high quality performances on a consistent basis.
In previous versions of this series – Harry Kewell, Yossi Benayoun & John Arne Riise – I’ve listed the top five goals for each player. This will be fairly straight forward in this instance of Albert Riera only scored five times!
5. 26th December 2008 vs Bolton Wanderers
Liverpool comfortably beat Bolton 3-0 at Anfield, with Riera opening the scoring. Steven Gerrard’s corner was a neat one and Riera made a near post run and connected with a nice volley past Jussi Jaaskelainen. It was a very well worked, yet simple goal that set Liverpool off on the path to victory.
4. 18th October 2008 vs Wigan Athletic
A pretty eventful game at Anfield eventually finished with Liverpool beating Wigan 3-2, but it was far from a comforable win for The Reds. Dirk Kuyt had put the home side in the lead before a brace from Egyptian Amir Zaki put Wigan 2-1 up. Liverpool toiled away and finally got level in the 80th minute thanks to Riera. The ball was pulled back to him by Nabil El Zhar and from the edge of the box he drove a right foot effort low into the bottom corner.
3. 22nd March 2009 vs Aston Villa
Riera scored Liverpool’s second goal in a 5-0 rout of Aston Villa at Anfield. Although Gerrard’s hat-trick (his first in the Premier League) was the main talking point of the game, it’d be wrong to dismiss the contribution of the whole team. Riera’s goal was one made my Pepe Reina of all people. The Spanish goalkeeper easily saved a Gareth Barry free-kick and immediately released a long kick up towards Riera. The reported one time Liverpool transfer target Luke Young failed to deal with the ball and Riera was able to connect with a nice, looping half-volley past Brad Friedel.
2. 3rd January vs Preston North End
Third round FA Cup ties away from home against lower league opposition aren’t the easietst of games, but Liverpool put in a professional performane to beat Preston 2-0, with Riera scoring the first goal. It was a very good goal too. The ball was played to him by Gerrard after a bit of a scramble. Riera, situated on the right side of the penalty area cut inside and unleasehed a powerful shot past Andrew Lonergan. The shot was pretty central but the power behind it beat the Preston ‘keeper all ends up.
1. 9th December 2008 vs PSV Eindhoven
Liverpool found themselves drawing 1-1 away to PSV in a Champions League Group Stage game. It was a scrappy game as Liverpool were without a variety of first team players, but they managed to previal as winners to ensure they qualified for the knock out stages as group winners. This was deue in no small part to Riera’s wonderful goal to put The Reds (or The Greys on this occasion) ahead. Riera collected the ball about 30 yards from goal and unleashed a stunning left footed strike that ‘keeper Andreas Isaksson had no chance of stopping.
Comments.
Loading comments…