Past playersNeil Mellor

His father, Ian, made his name with Manchester City and his son dreamed about wearing the same blue. However, City felt his services were no longer needed and he moved to the Reds' Academy in the summer of 1999, though struggled with injuries the first year.

But rapid progress followed and Mellor become a goalscoring phenomenon at youth and reserves level for the club.

The striker achieved his senior debut in December 2002, starting a League Cup fourth-round tie against Ipswich Town at Anfield. Five more appearances and a first goal - away at Sheffield United in the League Cup semi-finals - followed in the remainder of that campaign.

Gerard Houllier sent Mellor out on loan to West Ham United for 2003-04 but he only appeared in 16 league matches during what should have been a season-long stay. He returned to Liverpool's reserves before the end of the campaign, being unable to play for the first team due to FA regulations.

He came back into the picture under Rafael Benitez during 2004-05 with 16 appearances and five goals, including a stunning long-range winner against Arsenal at Anfield before a goal and assist in the famous 3-1 comeback versus Olympiacos in the group stage of the Champions League.

A knee injury sustained in the League Cup semi-final against Watford ruled him out of the Reds' dramatic end to the season in Istanbul, though, and he had two operations that kept him out of action for a year.

Mellor then spent time on loan at Wigan Athletic before leaving Liverpool permanently to join Preston North End in 2006.