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Liverpool have always signed players from all across the world – and they’ve recruited some great talents from South America.
Anfield has been the home to an influx of South American players over the last 17 years and some have become cult heroes at Anfield.
We’ve ranked every South American player to play in the Premier League for Liverpool from worst to best.
Note: Arthur Melo joined Liverpool in the summer of 2022 but hadn’t played a Premier League game for Liverpool at the time of publication.
16. Doni
Doni signed for Liverpool on a free transfer in 2011 and mainly served as the back-up goalkeeper to Pepe Reina.
The Brazilian managed just four Premier League games for the club, receiving a red card and conceding a penalty against Blackburn Rovers on his second appearance.
He left the Reds in 2013 and later revealed that he had suffered a heart attack during a routine medical in the summer of 2012.
“I almost ended up on the other side. I had a heart attack for about 25 seconds,” Doni told CalcioMercato.com in 2013.
“I always had an arrhythmia and during some tests in Liverpool suffered a cardiac arrest. I’ve been to one of the best doctors in Europe who looked at me carefully.”
15. Gabriel Paletta
Paletta moved to Anfield for £2million in 2006 after playing a significant role in Argentina’s victory in the 2005 World Youth Cup.
The centre-back made just four Premier League appearances for Liverpool before returning to Argentina with Boca Juniors in 2007.
14. Mauricio Pellegrino
Pellegrino became the first South American to play for Liverpool when he joined the club on a six-month deal in January 2005.
He was cup-tied for the Champions League and made 12 Premier League appearances, but his performances were not enough to secure a longer contract.
The former Argentina international later returned to Anfield as a first-team coach before later turning to management.
13. Sebastian Coates
Coates joined Liverpool from Nacional in 2011 and was tipped for a bright future at Anfield.
The centre-back scored a memorable scissor kick against QPR, but his path into the first team was blocked by Daniel Agger and Martin Skrtel.
After making just 12 Premier League appearances for the Reds, Coates was sold to Sunderland in 2015.
For some reason I thought of this Sebastian Coates banger against QPR 🚀 pic.twitter.com/k1laqIKg5z
— Couch Nish (@CouchNish) November 4, 2021
12. Mark Gonzalez
Liverpool had to wait a year to secure the Chilean’s work permit, but he really wasn’t worth all the hassle.
Injury problems limited Gonzalez to 25 Premier League appearances and the winger left for Real Betis after just one season in England.
11. Emiliano Insua
Insua joined Liverpool from Boca Juniors in 2007 and finally had his breakthrough season in 2009-10, making 31 Premier League appearances.
But the left-back was deemed surplus to requirements by Roy Hodgson and was eventually sold to Sporting Lisbon in 2011.
“It was sad for me to leave because I was feeling really well at Liverpool,” Insua told the Guardian in 2019. “I wanted to stay but Hodgson told me I will not play [under him].
“I was young and I wanted to play, so I left. Hodgson then signed Paul Konchesky to be the left-back but Konchesky did not do well for Liverpool … maybe I should have stayed.”
10. Fabio Aurelio
Having won two La Liga titles under Rafa Benitez at Valencia, Aurelio reunited with his former manager and joined Liverpool on a free transfer in 2006.
The Brazilian established himself as the first-choice left-back at Anfield but injury problems would plague his six years with the Reds.
He’ll always have that goal against Manchester United though.
Pinpoint precision!💥🎯 Fabio Aurelio with a stunner against this weekend’s opponents… #ThrowbackThursday pic.twitter.com/zUw4Y7mqup
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) February 21, 2019
9. Maxi Rodriquez
Rodriguez arrived on a free transfer from Atletico Madrid in January 2010 and instantly became a fan favourite at Anfield.
The winger came to prominence towards the end of the 2010-11 season, scoring two Premier League hat-tricks in the space of a fortnight against Birmingham City and Fulham.
He then fell out of favour under Kenny Dalglish and returned home to Argentina to sign for Newell’s Old Boys in 2012.
READ: Maxi Rodríguez: Liverpool cult hero & the man who made time stand still
8. Philippe Coutinho
Liverpool signed Coutinho from Inter Milan for just £8.5million in 2013 and that proved to be an astute piece of business.
The Brazilian developed into one of the best midfielders in the world during his five-year stint at Anfield, scoring 41 goals in 152 Premier League appearances.
He was eventually sold for £142million in January 2018 and the Reds used that money to sign Virgil van Dijk and Allison.
7. Darwin Nunez
Love him or hate him, just don’t try and understand the Uruguayan nutter that’s made a huge impression on the Premier League since his summer move from Benfica.
READ: Darwin Nunez’s no-sense dummy proved he’s the ‘Chaos GOAT’
6. Lucas Leiva
Lucas was a incredible servant to the club, racking up 247 Premier League appearances during his 10 years at Liverpool.
The midfielder had a difficult start to his Liverpool career but eventually won the fans over, picking up the club’s Player of the Year award in 2010-11.
After falling down the pecking order under Jurgen Klopp, Lucas decided to join Serie A giants Lazio in 2017.
READ: Seven reasons why Lucas will always be loved by Liverpool fans and players
5. Javier Mascherano
Mascherano originally joined Liverpool on loan from West Ham in January 2007 and that was turned into a permanent deal in 2008.
The Argentine formed a sensational midfield trio alongside Steven Gerrard and Xabi Alonso at Anfield and helped the Reds finish second in 2008-09.
However, he moved to Barcelona in 2010 in dramatic circumstances after refusing to play for the club.
“It was very sad for me to leave Liverpool in the way that I did because being with them was one of the best moments in my life,” Macherano told the Times in 2014.
“The people treated me really well and I would never want to let them down. I wanted to leave in another way, but they didn’t give me the chance to.”
4. Fabinho
After a slow start to his Liverpool career, Fabinho has become one of the best defensive midfielders in the world.
He also proved to be one of the final pieces of the puzzle for Jurgen Klopp’s side and has helped them win the Premier League, FA Cup, Champions League, League Cup, UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup during his first four years in England.
3. Alisson
Liverpool spent £67million on Alisson in 2018 and Brazil’s No.1 has more than lived up to his price tag.
The goalkeeper replaced Loris Karius at Anfield and has transformed the Reds rear guard into one of the best in Europe.
At the time of writing, he’s kept 64 clean sheets in 136 Premier League appearances and has won two Golden Glove awards. But more importantly, he’s one of just six goalkeepers who have scored in the competition.
Seeing as Alisson has just signed a new contract, here is his goal against West Brom that got us into the top four. pic.twitter.com/fRRnB2Ui2Z
— – (@AnfieldRd96) August 4, 2021
2. Roberto Firmino
Firmino arrived at Liverpool in 2015, but they didn’t see the best of him until Klopp arrived at Anfield a few months later.
The striker became the perfect embodiment of Klopp’s football and has managed to combine his eye for goal with outrageous skill and a remarkable work rate.
While Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane often stole the spotlight with their incredible goal record, Firmino has played a key role in their recent success.
1. Luis Suarez
There was only going to be one winner…
Suarez only spent three-and-a-half seasons at Anfield, but he was nothing short of sensational.
The striker scored 69 goals in 110 Premier League appearances and came so close to inspiring the side to the 2013-14 title.
He then signed for Barcelona in 2014 and went on to win the lot in Spain.
READ NEXT: Remembering Fabio Aurelio at Liverpool and his subtle touch of class
TRY A QUIZ: Can you name every goalkeeper to play for Liverpool in the Premier League?
