'Everything was perfect' - Rafa Benitez signing stunned Manchester United before shock Liverpool transfer return

Liverpool have been blessed with some real free-kick specialists over the years who could make the ball almost talk.

From the Brazilian-type brilliance of John Barnes’s curlers to the sheer blockbuster power of the ‘Huyton Hammer’ Steven Gerrard right up to modern-day hero Trent Alexander-Arnold's ability to combine the two, the Reds have been blessed with dead-ball experts in their ranks who would often have opponents fearing the worst when set-pieces were awarded within striking range of their goal.

Few however have ever managed to produce two such stunning strikes in quick succession as the club’s first actual Brazilian footballer managed within exactly a month of each other during one of Liverpool’s most promising yet ultimately unfulfilling seasons of the Premier League era.

Although Kenny Dalglish’s sublimely brilliant championship team of 1987/88 featuring the likes of Barnes, Peter Beardsley, John Aldridge and co were often described as being ‘better than the Brazilians’, Anfield did not welcome its first player from the home of the samba beat until well into the era when the top flight of English football had started to resemble a league of nations. Roberto Firmino, Alisson Becker and Fabinho have of course become key elements of the successful era currently being enjoyed under Jurgen Klopp and their triumphs have become a great source of pride to the man who has returned home to Brazil following the end of his playing career to try and advise the next generation of young stars looking to make their way in the game but was back on Merseyside recently for the LFC Legends match against Barcelona in support of the club’s Foundation.

“It’s really nice to see other Brazilian players now having success with the club