Kop 10 South Americans

From Leto to Lucas and Paletta to Pellegrino, Reds from that part of the world have had varying degrees of success during their time on Merseyside.

Here we take a wander down memory lane with a look at some of their best moments.

1) Luis Suarez - Uruguay

Suarez has come a long, long way since his days playing football on the streets of Montevideo. It must be difficult for even him to believe that the boy who had to turn down the offer to train with the Uruguayan youth team, because he couldn't afford a pair of football boots, is now a Liverpool player setting the Barclays Premier League alight. Indeed, Coates has even admitted in previous interviews that it his fellow countryman's success in England that helped persuade him to join Liverpool. Let's hope the duo can go on to emulate the success they enjoyed at international level with Uruguay this summer...

2) Lucas Leiva - Brazil

Much has changed at Anfield since the Brazilian signed for Liverpool in July 2007. Four years on and Lucas is a different person and Liverpool are a different club. Not only is Lucas now one of the first names on the team sheet for both Brazil and Liverpool, last year he was voted player of the season by Kopites.

3) Javier Mascherano - Argentina

Javier Mascherano, or El Jefecito as he's known in Argentina, takes his place in our Kop 10 South American heroes for his monstrous performances at the heart of midfield for Liverpool for three seasons. The Argentine, nicknamed 'Monster Mash' by Kopites, may have hurt a few Liverpool fans with the nature of his exit last year but any upset was surely allayed by Mascherano immediately seeking to dedicate Barcelona's Champions League final triumph over Manchester United to them.

4) Maxi Rodriguez - Argentina

Born in Argentina, Maxi arrived at Anfield from Spain in January 2010, where he had enjoyed successful spells with both Espanyol and Atletico Madrid. Bought by Rafa Benitez to help provide service from the wings for Fernando Torres, Maxi quickly proved to fans that he could find the net on his own, scoring 10 league goals during his first full season at Liverpool. Seven goals in three games, including two hat-tricks a game apart against Birmingham and Fulham, made him a firm favourite with the fans during what was to be a difficult season for everyone connected with the club. 

5) Fabio Aurelio - Brazil

As any Liverpool fan will tell you, Fabio Aurelio is one of the most gifted defenders in the country - unfortunately, he's also one of the unluckiest too. Having become the first Brazilian to sign for Liverpool in July 2006, Fabio quickly established himself on the team sheet and struck a very special free-kick against Manchester United in our 4-1 win back in March 2009. However, injuries have hampered his time on Merseyside and denied him the chance to cement his place as a regular.

6) Emiliano Insua - Argentina

Insua left Liverpool for Sporting Lisbon in the summer transfer window after just over four years at Anfield. The Argentine youngster was a star performer with the club's second-string and went on to make regular appearances under Rafael Benitez. However, mixed fortunes meant he never quite convinced supporters he was the long-term answer at left-back and a spectacular strike in a Carling Cup tie at Arsenal proved to be the highlight of his time here.

7) Mauricio Pellegrino - Argentina

Pellegrino arrived at Anfield as back-up to Sami Hyypia but never quite made the grade in L4. The Valencia hero joined in the twilight of his career but rarely looked capable of coping with the fast pace of the English league. His influence off the pitch proved to be more important, however, and he would later go on to assume a place in Rafael Benitez's backroom staff.

8) Mark Gonzales - Chile

Okay, the speedy winger is actually South African born but it was a move to Chile in Gonzales' early childhood that means we can still include him in this Kop 10. Gonzales signed for Liverpool back in the summer of 2006 and immediately impressed when he came off the bench to score on his debut against Maccabi Haifa. Just a couple of weeks later, the winger repeated the trick when he notched on his Barclays Premier League bow against Tottenham. Unfortunately though, as the season went on, Gonzales was unable to recreate his previous good form and was sold to Real Betis the following summer.

9) Gabriel Paletta - Argentina

Gabriel Paletta has the distinction of joining an elite group of Reds that managed to score on their debut. The goal was a pretty good one too,  a towering header from a Steven Gerrard corner in a Carling Cup tie against Reading. Paletta's performance even saw him named man of the match by some pundits, with some even going as far as to label him 'the next Sami Hyypia'.  Unfortunately for Paletta though, and for Liverpool, the goals and the performances stopped there and by the end of the year Paletta was sold to Boca Juniors.

10) Alexander Doni - Brazil

This summer Doni became the second Brazilian 'keeper to play for Liverpool after Diego Cavalieri signed for the Reds in July 2008. At a towering 6ft 5in Doni may be the only player who might be able to see eye-to-eye with Sebastian Coates who himself stands at the same height.