NewsLiverpool's Greatest - No.63: John Arne Riise
Years: 2001-2008
Appearances: 348
Goals: 31
Trophies: UEFA Super Cup (2001, 2005), League Cup (2003), Champions League (2005), FA Cup (2006)
John Arne Riise’s left foot repeatedly had Liverpool supporters’ jaws on the floor, wondering just how he had scored that goal.
The Norwegian’s compilation for the Reds will stand up against that of greats in the club’s history.
Riise may have only netted 31 times across seven seasons but it was his quality, rather than quantity, that left an impression on the Kop.
He was a reliable regular for Gerard Houllier and then Rafael Benitez on the left flank, equally comfortable attacking as he was in the back line.
His career on Merseyside got off to a blistering start, lifting the UEFA Super Cup after opening his account in that clash with Bayern Munich – a matter of weeks after arriving from AS Monaco.
Riise then endeared himself to Liverpool fans even more with goals against Everton and Manchester United, the latter a free-kick fired into the top corner at a speed of more than 70 miles per hour.
He lifted the League Cup in 2003 and two seasons later scored the fastest goal ever in the competition’s final – another humdinger in an eventual defeat by Chelsea.
That 2004-05 campaign did deliver glory in the Champions League, though, and Riise played every game on the road to European Cup No.5.
In the final itself, he had a supporting role in one of football’s greatest comebacks, by delivering the cross Steven Gerrard headed in to kick-start the Reds’ recovery from three goals down against AC Milan in Istanbul.
Riise would miss his penalty in the shootout – without consequence – but avenged that personal disappointment the following year in the FA Cup.
When that showpiece with West Ham United went to penalties, Riise stepped up to convert his team’s fourth effort, preceding Pepe Reina’s save from Anton Ferdinand that clinched the trophy.
Battling with Fabio Aurelio for the left-back berth in his last two seasons, Riise added a further 92 appearances to his total before joining AS Roma in the summer of 2008.
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