Why Feyenoord-Bound Dirk Kuyt Will Forever Be a Liverpool Legend

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Dirk Kuyt is to return to Feyenoord nine years after he left the Dutch club to join Liverpool, per the Guardian.

The versatile Dutchman turns 35 this summer, but he can still offer the Eredivisie side plenty—just as he did in over 200 games for Liverpool from 2006 to 2012.

How Liverpool could benefit from having a player like Kuyt in their squad now.

Kuyt’s departure from the club in 2012 was one in the line of many experienced players who left Anfield and arguably, three years on, are still yet to be replaced.

Arriving at the club as a £10 million centre-forward, Kuyt eventually found a place in Rafael Benitez’s side on the right of the three attackers behind the main striker, Fernando Torres.

His adaptation to the role wasn’t without frustrations, but Kuyt’s tireless play, tactical awareness and ability to arrive in the box to assist Torres proved invaluable to Liverpool.

Kuyt was the man for the big occasion and despite being much maligned among some supporters, his goalscoring record at the club was in fact admirable—only in his final season did he score less than 10 goals in a campaign. He twice hit 15. For context, Liverpool’s top goalscorers this season are Steven Gerrard and Raheem Sterling with 10.

When you think of the big games around 2007 to 2010, Kuyt features among them all and frequently hit winning goals, most often from the penalty spot. He had nerves of steel.

It was Kuyt’s penalty in the Champions League semi-final in 2007 that sent the Reds to Athens (he also scored the consolation against AC Milan in the final).

The next season he scored two dramatic penalties in the Merseyside derby, a season that saw him on target 11 times—seven of them in the Champions League, including against Inter Milan, Arsenal and Chelsea again.

He then hit another crucial winner in the Champions League qualifier against Standard Liege, two minutes before the end of extra-time. Two more late winners followed in the league, against Wigan Athletic and Manchester City. The next season saw a hat-trick against Manchester United.

His final and perhaps most memorable goal though was the superb equaliser against Cardiff City in his final season, in extra-time of the League Cup final. Trailing 2-1 at the time, Kuyt came off the bench to equalise and send the game to penalties. The victory was his first and only trophy at the club.

 

 

 

Ultimately, Kuyt, left the club seeking more first-team football, having been marginalised under Kenny Dalglish. The then-Liverpool boss shunned both Kuyt and another experienced and in-form winger, Maxi Rodriguez, to play new signing Jordan Henderson out of position on the right-hand side of a midfield four. Henderson struggled, while Kuyt and Maxi watched on frustrated.

Never did he complain, always instead offering 100 percent for the team whenever called upon either from the bench or up front, a position he’d now shown wasn’t his strongest in the Premier League.

Kuyt’s industry and effort made him the ideal player in Benitez’s side, allowing the attacking talents of Torres and Steven Gerrard to take the plaudits but offering crucial goals when required.

A banner at that League Cup final read “Dirk Kuyt: Working class hero”—a perfect tribute to the player.

As Aaron Cutler, writing for This Is Anfield when Kuyt departed Anfield, remarked: “That flag, in that instant, captured the fans sheer adoration for a man they nicknamed the Duracell Bunny. A cult figure, finally with a medal to show for his exemplary service.”

“What he lacked in technique he more than made up for with his incredible work-rate.”

Kuyt was a player who understood what it meant to play for Liverpool Football Club. One of a dying breed of footballer. 

from Bleacher Report – Front Page http://ift.tt/1GwDOEQ
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