The word 'legend' can often be handed out rather frivolously in the modern age.
Many players have certainly lived up to that billing on the red half of Merseyside in years gone by - think Steven Gerrard, John Barnes, Ian Rush, Robbie Fowler. Yet with Liverpool's legends side set to face off against those of fierce rivals Manchester United on Saturday, there aren't many of the usual suspects involved for the Reds.
Some modern heroes have been named in the squad, from Istanbul icons Jerzy Dudek and Xabi Alonso, to 'treble' winners Sander Westerveld and Stephane Henchoz. As ever, there is also the selection of players who pulled on a red shirt once upon a time without ever really setting Anfield alight - your Salif Diaos and your Andriy Voronins - cult figures in their own... unique way.
But taking a glance at the Reds' squad for the 'Legends of the North' clash this weekend, there are also a handful of stars you may have actually forgot played for Liverpool at all...
Bjorn Tore Kvarme
They say the best things in life are free, although that didn't really prove to be the case with Bosman signing Kvarme, who arrived from Rosenborg in January 1997 on the recommendation of one Stig-Inge Bjornebye.
Signed by Roy Evans to help bolster Liverpool's defence, Kvarme filled in at centre-back and at right-back, but was equally as bad in both positions. It was hardly an era where Liverpool were known for their defensive solidity, but even attack-minded Evans eventually lost interest in picking Kvarme.
He made just 54 appearances in all competitions before being sent packing to French side Saint-Etienne.
Gregory Vignal
Another one to file on the failed transfer pile, promising left-back Vignal was picked up for the modest sum of half a million from Montpellier back in 2000 by fellow French compatriot Gerard Houllier.
Vignal was already up against it to get in the starting XI, with John Arne-Riise and Jamie Carragher often selected ahead of him on the left side of defence. The competition for places meant Vignal only managed to muster 20 appearances for Liverpool in his time at the club, which culminated with no fewer than four loan spells before a permanent switch to Portsmouth.
Did make the bench in the 2001 FA Cup and UEFA Cup final triumphs, however, which does give him some kind of legendary status... sort of. Now coaches at Dundee.
Anthony Le Tallec
In fairness to Le Tallec, Houllier didn't exactly make it easy for him when he dubbed him 'the next Zidane' as he walked through the doors at Anfield.
One half of the exciting double act signed from Le Havre, along with fellow legends player Florent Sinama-Pongolle, Liverpool fans were keen to see what the promising duo could do. Very little, as it turned out (although Pongolle did score in THAT Olympiakos comeback).
Le Tallec racked up 32 appearances in seven years (yes seven) as a Liverpool player, though many of those seasons were spent out on loan, everywhere from Sochaux to Sunderland.
Despite barely featuring under Houllier, he later blamed Rafa Benitez's arrival for hampering his development, although it was under the Spaniard that he had his finest moment in a Liverpool shirt - assisting Luis Garcia's delicious volley against Juventus in the 2005 Champions League quarter-final. Failed to make the bench in Istanbul, though.
Mohamed Sissoko
Swiftly improving in ability and impact, 'Momo' Sissoko does at least have an argument to say he was quite good in a Liverpool shirt. The towering midfielder with incredibly long legs was very much in the Patrick Vieira-mould and followed Benitez from Valencia, eventually making 87 appearances during his Reds career.
Sissoko was often used in a solid midfield pairing with Alonso, giving more freedom for talisman Gerrard to get forward, though sometimes at a cost as Liverpool's captain was frequently shunted out to the right wing. However, it was that system which helped Liverpool win the FA Cup final in 2006, though that proved to be the peak of Sissoko's powers.
A difficult campaign followed, before Javier Mascherano's arrival essentially ended Sissoko's spell as a regular starter. He left Liverpool for Juventus in January 2008 before a spell at Paris Saint-Germain, and his career eventually took on a journeyman-like status, with stints in Spain, Italy, China, India, Indonesia and Hong Kong, before he retired in France following a brief spell at Sochaux.
Albert Riera
Another player who can lay claim to pulling up a few trees at Anfield, tricky Spanish winger Riera looked to be the man to complete Benitez's side when he joined from Espanyol on the day before the transfer deadline of summer 2008.
Despite having a failed loan stint at Manchester City on his CV, Riera slotted in perfectly on the left wing and complimented Fernando Torres' style superbly. It was his debut campaign where Liverpool ran Manchester United close in the title race, finishing just four points off behind their rivals having lost just twice all season.
Riera made 40 appearances in all competitions that term and scored a beautiful half volley in the 5-0 thumping of Aston Villa. However, things quickly turned sour as Riera made just 16 more appearances at the club after falling out of favour with Benitez and later criticising his manager publicly.
He was then sent on loan to Olympiakos by Benitez's successor Roy Hodgson before moving to Galatasaray permanently the following year.
Robbie Keane
He was the man Benitez wanted - but only if he got Gareth Barry first.
The Tottenham legend was a boyhood Liverpool fan and jumped at the chance to move to Anfield, with Benitez keen for him to link up with Torres. But Benitez is said to have only wanted that arrangement if he could land Aston Villa star Barry as well - and was even prepared to sell Alonso to raise funds.
“The plan was for Barry to play on the left and feed the ball to Robbie Keane, who would play up front with Fernando Torres,” Benitez said in The Times . “The blueprint had to be scrapped. The collateral damage was Keane, who signed from Tottenham Hotspur before the Barry deal had been done.
“When we wanted to sign Barry, we were sure we were signing a good player with a very good mentality and the quality to play in the Premier League. The priority was Barry, then Keane."
In one of the more bizarre Liverpool transfer tales, that of course did not prove to be the case, as club chiefs still forked out for Keane anyway, leaving no cash in the pot for a move for Barry, who stayed at Villa, while Benitez left his £20m striker largely on the bench.
As Keane recalled: "When I spoke to the club and Rafa, the idea was for me and Torres to play together. But then I soon realised a few games in that wasn't the case."
Benitez later told The Athletic : “It was clear that the understanding between Keane and Torres was not ideal and we needed to change that quickly because it was a very expensive signing for us that was not working."
Steven Gerrard offered his thoughts on Keane's failed move, explaining to RTE Radio 1 (via Joe ): "It was more down to Rafa trying to change the way Robbie played and, for me, the reason we bought Robbie was for him to play off a front man and cause damage between defence and midfield.
"Rafa was trying to change that and change his game and I don't think Robbie was too happy with that, I think that's where the clash came."
Keane didn't do too badly when he was on the field, scoring seven times in 28 appearances, including a cracker away at Arsenal, but he was sold back to Spurs six months after signing, with Liverpool taking a £7million hit on their gamble.
Liverpool's squad to face Man Utd legends: Jerzy Dudek, Sander Westerveld; Alvaro Arbeloa, Fabio Aurelio, Stephane Henchoz, Glen Johnson, Bjorn Kvarme, Martin Skrtel, Djimi Traore, Gregory Vignal; Xabi Alonso, Salif Diao, Luis Garcia, Mark Gonzalez, Anthony Le Tallec, Albert Riera, Momo Sissoko; Stewart Downing, Robbie Keane, Maxi Rodriguez, Florent Sinama-Pongolle, Andriy Voronin.
