Number 20 Steve Finnan

Finnan Factfile
Position - Defender
DOB - 24/4/1976
Nationality - Irish
Debut - Chelsea (17 August 2003)
Games for Liverpool - 217 (145 League Games)
Goals - 1
Achievements - Uefa Champions League, Uefa Super Cup, FA Cup, Fa Community Shield

Steve Finnan is the first name on the count down of the best Liverpool players to have played in the Premier League. The Irish man made his debut for the reds in 2003 against Chelsea. However injuries held Finnan back in his first year with Liverpool. It wasn't until the 2004 - 05 season when Liverpool fans really saw the talents of the Irish man. He scored his only goal for the club in a 3-0 win over West Brom and was first choice right back for the whole season. He played his part in a team that made it to the FA League Cup final and Uefa Champions League final and gave every Liverpool fan a night to remember in the 2005 UEFA Champions League final in Istanbul. Finnan continued to be Liverpools first choice right back in the 2005 - 06 season. He helped Liverpool reach their highest points total in the Premier League (82). The solid full back also won the FA Cup that year with the reds in a dramatic penalty shoot out against West Ham United. Finnan was ever present in the next season despite the signing of Spanish defender Alvaro Arbeloa. Liverpool and Finnan again reached the 2007 Uefa Champions League final. History looked to repeat itself as Liverpool's opponents that night where AC Milan. The same side the reds had beaten back in 2005. However the football gods favoured the Italians that night and Liverpool lost the game 2-1. Finnan played 88 minutes before being subbed off. The 2007 -08 season was another positive one for Liverpool, however there where highs and lows for Steve Finnan. That year Finnan took his total appearances in a red shirt past the 200 mark, but manager Rafael Benitez began to favour the Spaniard Alvaro Arbeloa at right back. In the summer of 2007 another right back Philip Degan arrived at Anfield. The end of Steve Finnan's Liverpool career was in sight. The man who had played 217 games for Liverpool and was in the top 100 capped players to ever play for the club was surplus to requirements. Finnan was offered to Aston Villa as part of a deal for Gareth Barry, however the two clubs couldn't decide a fee. On September 1 2008 Steve Finnan signed for Espanyol for an undisclosed fee.

Why I put Steve Finnan in.
My playing career lasted 10 years. It started when i was seven and ended when i was 17. I played everywhere but finished by days as a full back, so i feel its a position i know well. As full backs go Steve Finnan has it all. Hes a solid, honest, dependable players and a module professional. That why i like him so much, he was an old style footballer you didn't here about him going on benders or beating anyone up. He was a footballer that loves the game and deserved his chance to wear the famous red shirt. He could get forward on put a quality ball into the box. He was capable of playing on either side of the pitch and could always make a world class winger look nothing more than a sunday league amateur. I honestly think you could put him in any generations Liverpool team. He could do it all. Defenders that you don't here about are often the best. They do their jon and they do it well. That's exactly what Finnan did. I still think we sold him to early he had a few more seasons left in his legs. I know he could of done a solid job for Liverpool.

This clip demonstrates the work rate and class and Steve Finnan. He was one of Liverpool's unsung heroes who worked non stop and that is why he makes it at number 20 in the Kop Heroes Top 20 Players to play for Liverpool in the Premier League.