OF all the new recruits that arrived at Anfield during the summer, there is one who, in terms of impact, stands head and shoulders above the rest. And no, it's not Peter Crouch.
While the striker has started to grow towards the stature required at Liverpool, Pepe Reina has broken records in goal and Boudewijn Zenden began to impress before injury cut short his campaign, it is Mohamed Sissoko who has proven the greatest revelation.
Of course, had matters transpired differently close season, the 20-year-old may well have been stepping out at Goodison Park for this evening's 202nd Merseyside derby in Everton blue.
A late intervention by Rafael Benitez put paid to David Moyes's hopes of signing the Mali international. But it was by pure chance that the Spaniard helped transform the rangy, energetic former Valencia player into the all-action midfielder so impressing the Kop.
For Sissoko had been bought by the La Liga side as a forward. Fifty goals in two seasons playing for Auxerre's youth team, having been spotted at the age of 14 by the wily Guy Roux, prompted the club to move when he moved out of contract in France.
Benitez was persuaded to take the then 18-year-old on Valencia's pre-season tour to ensure his signature. And it was during a friendly against St Gallen of Switzerland that the Liverpool manager stumbled upon a remarkable discovery.
"I was told to take the player on pre-season with the first team, because he might not sign if he didn't think he'd be with the first team," recalls Benitez.. "The technical manager at Valencia knew about the player, he was playing at Auxerre when (Djibril) Cisse was there, and was a good second striker.
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