Liverpool's worst signings ever: 20-16

18. Rigobert Song

With World Cup 2014 just around the corner, we can all look forward to some silly stereotypes being bandied around by the “experts” across various terrestrial TV channels. You´ll never be able to “count out the Germans”, Brazil will be critcised for lacking the flair of the great 1970´s side (until they win it), Messi will be unfavorably compared to Maradona (until he wins the Golden Boot) and England´s “penalty jinx” is sure to rear its ugly head again. And of course, all African teams will be described as naïve whenever they concede a goal.

There can be little more irritating than listening to a pundit in sympathetic tones of condescension, telling us how the uncultured, undisciplined African sides need to develop further if they are to compete on such a stage. Forget for a moment, that the vast majority now play in Europe´s elite leagues. African players have always been, and will remain, “naïve”. It has become football´s N word.

While such offensive stereotypes are clearly the work of pundits somewhat adrift from reality, perhaps Rigobert Song should shoulder some of the blame. Song became the poster boy for the hot-headed African defenders during his career.

A player who could arguably have patented his own version of the two-footed lunge, Song had the dubious distinction of being the first ever player to be sent of at two different World Cups.

Signed in the summer of 1999 by Gerard Houllier, Song´s arrival coincided with a period when the team looked considerably vulnerable at the back. Well actually, there wasn´t much coincidence involved at all. Song´s defending during his time at Anfield could politely be described as “wretched”.

Song´s all action style had endeared him to the ´Reds faithful for a time, but it quickly became apparent that he was too much of a liability to warrant a regular starting berth.

He was sold to West Ham in 2000 as a rather underwhelming replacement for Rio Ferdinand.

On another note, Song once had the temerity to laugh at Jamie Carragher´s technique in training. The Reds legend soon floored him with a crunching tackle, remarking “You´re not f***ing laughing now, are you, you soft c***.” Ouch!