‘Hugo Ekitike next’: The best Liverpool number nines of the Premier League era
Liverpool appear close to signing Hugo Ekitike from Eintracht Frankfurt in yet another blockbuster deal at Anfield.
Ekitike is likely to replace Darwin Nunez as Liverpool’s main striker, and in doing so, could take his number nine shirt.
Nunez has had a mixed spell at Anfield, as despite scoring some vital goals, he has never found consistent form and is often frustrating in the final third.
The Reds have had mixed luck when it comes to their number nine shirt, and Liverpool News have now ranked every forward who wore it in the Premier League era.
12. El Hadji-Diouf
Forget number nines, El Hadji-Diouf is widely renowned as one of Liverpool’s worst players in the Premier League era.
With six goals in 80 appearances, finishing was clearly a weak point for the Senegal international, who never really got going at Liverpool.
He did leave with a trophy, though, as he won the 2003 League Cup with the Reds, and started the game as Liverpool beat Manchester United.
11. Iago Aspas
Iago Aspas only had one season at Liverpool, but the only standout moment came as he hit an absurdly bad corner kick in injury time against Chelsea.
Aspas has since become a legend in La Liga for Celta Vigo, as well as a Spain international, and has built a very respectable career since departing Liverpool in 2014.
10. Rickie Lambert
Liverpool lost Luis Suarez in the summer of 2014, and one of his replacements was Southampton veteran Rickie Lambert.
In an ill-thought-out move, Lambert lasted just one year at Liverpool, scoring three goals in 36 appearances, with it clear that he was not a suitable replacement for the Premier League’s best player.
9. Andy Carroll
When Suarez joined Liverpool, he was the cheaper addition as Andy Carroll also moved to Anfield for a club-record fee from Newcastle.
The England international did not live up to the hype, as he scored just 11 goals in 58 appearances before joining West Ham, where he went on to become a cult hero.
8. Christian Benteke
Brendan Rodgers was under pressure heading into his final season, and splashed the cash on Aston Villa powerhouse Christian Benteke.
Despite an outstanding overhead kick goal against Manchester United early on, Benteke could not find his best form at Liverpool, lasting just one year with 10 goals in 42 games.
7. Nicolas Anelka
Nicolas Anelka was one of the best attacking talents in the world at Arsenal when he departed for Real Madrid in 1999, but he returned to the Premier League on loan at Liverpool for six months in 2002.
Anelka scored just five times in 22 games, but these included some important strikes, including a Merseyside derby goal, but the Reds elected not to keep him following his loan from Paris Saint-Germain.
6. Djibril Cisse
Djibril Cisse spent three years at Liverpool and was part of the side which won the 2005 Champions League, but he brought more chaos than quality to Anfield.
Cisse was a direct replacement for Anelka and played his part as he scored a penalty in the shootout in Istanbul.
The Frenchman scored 24 goals in 79 games for Liverpool and is considered something of a cult hero given his contributions in the Champions League.
5. Darwin Nunez
Nunez arrived with much fanfare in a club-record deal from Benfica in 2022, but did not have the impact at Anfield he expected to.
The Uruguayan’s temperamental finishing has caused issues, and despite 40 goals and several last-minute winners, he is now set to leave with his reputation lower than when he arrived.
4. Michael Thomas
Michael Thomas was well known at Liverpool before his move in 1991, as he scored a last-minute goal to win Arsenal the First Division title against the Reds in 1989.
Although injuries prevented him from hitting his best form, Thomas showed his class at Anfield at times in a seven-year spell, and impressed in midfield despite wearing the number nine shirt in the 1995-96 season.
3. Roberto Firmino
Roberto Firmino is probably the most popular player on this list, and some may argue that he deserves a higher spot.
Although he wore the number nine shirt, Firmino was more of a false striker under Jurgen Klopp, and helped facilitate an iconic front three alongside Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah.
With 111 goals in 362 games, Firmino was one of the best forwards Liverpool have had in the Premier League era.
2. Fernando Torres
Fernando Torres was one of the best strikers in the world when he made a controversial move to Chelsea in 2012, but he was a truly remarkable number nine.
Torres scored 81 goals in 142 games for Liverpool, but established himself as one of the best natural finishers Anfield has seen.
The Spaniard was outstanding until his exit, but never quite hit the same form he did at his absolute best.
1. Robbie Fowler
Firmino and Torres could both have been number one, but Robbie Fowler’s two stints at Liverpool makes him the best number nine at the club in the Premier League era.
With 183 goals for the club, Fowler is one of the best goalscorers Liverpool has seen, and his ability to finish from any angle was second to none.
Fowler wore the number nine shirt in both his spells at Liverpool and even earned the nickname “God” from the Anfield faithful.
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