'Why Assaidi can be LFC star'
Standard Liege boss Ron Jans, who coached Oussama Assaidi at Heerenveen and Luis Suarez at Groningen, has offered Reds fans an insight into the potential of their new Moroccan winger.
While Kopites are all too familiar with the trickery and guile of Suarez, they are still catching their first glimpses of Assaidi, who impressed against Young Boys in Switzerland before putting in a stand-out performance against West Brom in the Capital One Cup.
However, for Jans, a host of memories leap to mind when he is questioned about the 24-year-old's talents - not least the day Assaidi hit FC Twente for six with a hat-trick and three assists.
"When Oussama first played at Heerenveen he had three different managers in one year and the last of those didn't give him a real chance," he told LFC Magazine.
"But as soon as I became coach I knew he could be a good footballer.
"He's very good in one-against-one situations when he's attacking defenders. He turns them left and right and when he was full of confidence he was a really special player, scoring goals and making a lot of assists.
"He had a really good season in 2010-11 and last year there was lots of interest in him.
"He had some great moments such as the game against FC Twente. Sometimes in your life you play a perfect game. Oussama scored a hat-trick and gave three assists and we won 6-2 against one of the best teams in Holland."
Jans is confident the right-footer will reproduce his magic for Brendan Rodgers and Liverpool when he has fully adjusted to the unique demands of the Barclays Premier League.
And the 54-year-old, who has over two decades managerial experience, insists the Reds are the perfect club for Assaidi to play-out his peak years as a professional and has promised he will excite the Kop faithful in the process.
"It will take him time to get used to the Premier League," admitted Jans. "Defenders are likely to be quite physical against him but once he gets used to that he can be amazing.
"He knows there are areas that he can improve. But he is very keen to learn and is a player who always wants the ball.
"It was important that he went to the right club at this stage of his career and I think Liverpool is a good choice.
"Once he gets used to the club I'm sure he will excite supporters and I think that he and Luis can be two central figures for Liverpool."