Gone are the poor excuses for strikers such as the quick but technically deficient Djibril Cisse who was further handicapped by the lack of any real sense of a football brain. It is even touted that Benitez was frustrated by the Frenchman's inability to pick up new ideas which played a big part in his eventual departure. The flaws in his game were exposed both in the Premiership and on Europe's biggest stage.
Gone too is the sullen-faced Adam Sandler look-a-like who seemed to play the game as if he was pushed into it every single week at gunpoint. I speak of course of Milan Baros, the Czech sulker, a striker who blew more one-on-ones with the keeper during the last two years of his time at Liverpool than just about any Liverpool front man that springs to mind. Despite being a golden boot winner in Euro 2004, which possibly hinted at Baros'potential, it was soon evident that that was all it was ‘potential' – the guy just couldn't cut it at Liverpool.
Although Benitez' first proper foray into the transfer market for a forward was with the signing of Spanish international Fernando Morientes, I don't believe he was really ever seen by Rafa as being part of his long-term plans for his team's attacking vision. Undoubtedly, Morrientes was regarded as a significant scoop for Liverpool as he had just had a magnificent season for Monaco. But at 28, it's more likely that the Liverpool boss saw him as a striker that could get a decent amount of goals for a few seasons until the money and players were available for him to begin the strike force rebuilding in earnest.
However, no one could have foreseen how ineffective Morrientes would have been in the hustle and bustle of the English game and this consequently nullified Liverpool's attacking threat during his year and a half at the club.
This and the equally ineffective Cisse, necessitated Benitez to look elsewhere for a temporary alternative – the masterstroke of getting Robbie Fowler back onboard - but then that's another story, for another time.
The rebuilding of course was really set into motion at the beginning of last season, when Benitez bought much-criticised Peter Crouch – the first part of what the Spaniard saw as the compliment of strikers to take Liverpool forward. Part of his grand plan.
The media seemed slightly dumb-founded at the £7m purchase of Crouch, while fans were split right down the middle on the merits of buying the giant striker. To be fair Crouch had had a pretty good second half to the season at Southampton the previous campaign, yet apart from that he had proved something of an ungainly young striker that managers seemed unsure what to do with.
Many fans held their hands up (me in particular) and said: “Well Rafa, we are not too sure about this one, especially at £7m, but we'll just have to go with you on it.” In Rafa we trust, and all that.
However, it was quite clear within the first few games of Crouch's debut season that the guy had good feet, lovely technique and, most importantly, everyone could see that he played with his heart and that he really cared about Liverpool and the red jersey – that for many was enough. He quickly warmed himself to the Anfield faithful because of his mixture of talent, work rate and attitude. The fact he was still only 24-years-old also meant that he had time to continue his development and for Benitez to work with him.
Within those first few games Liverpool fans quickly decided they were willing to give Crouchy a year to score his first goal, if that's what he needed (ok, maybe that's pushing it a tad). Thankfully however, he achieved it in four months.
Many within football, the media as well as Liverpool fans were still criticising his lack of goals and that Crouch, although capable of linking play and getting many assets with knock-downs and headers, he wouldn't be a 20-goal a season striker. Which was clearly what Liverpool had needed since the departure of Michael Owen two years ago.
Indeed, although Crouch will come close in the future, the idea that he's not a prolific out-and-out 20+ goals a season player, consistently year in, year out is true, to be frank. (Although the big man's goal ratio over the past 10 months for England makes a mockery of that claim.)
The real crux of the matter, the thing that the media and the rival fans had missed is, as I've mentioned before in previous LFC Online articles, that Peter Crouch was never bought as this revered 20-goal type of player. The accomplished Crouch was brought in because of all his obvious attributes, but seen as an important piece to a much bigger striking jigsaw – a puzzle that Benitez was slowly placing together. Another option and another dimension – the plan ‘B' if you will.
Benitez was always looking to add pace and power to his striking options, and with the acquisitions of Craig Bellamy and Dirk Kuyt he has done just that. Add the sale of Neil Mellor, the shipping out on loan of Pongolle, and the fact we have Robbie Fowler among the ranks (no doubt an inspiration to up-coming Anfield strikers like Craig Lindfield) he has finally completed his attacking line-up.
And the player crowned with being the spearhead of Benitez' new-look Liverpool attack is King Kuyt – the real deal and potentially one of the most complete all-round strikers the Reds have had for nearly 20 years. Quite a claim indeed, especially with it being very early days, but one just can't fail to see the Dutchman's quality.
Fans have been comparing the all-action Dutchman with former Kop idol, Kevin Keegan over the last few weeks, while former Liverpool player and super-sub Chris Fairclough agreed there are similarities with Keegan, but likened him more with a former Old Trafford hero.
“I have to confess I don't see the likeness yet. Kevin was certainly all action and wanted to be at the centre of things, often dropping in to the midfield areas to prompt attacks but I don't think Kuyt falls into the similar mould,” said Fairclough. “The Dutchman is a striker pure and simple, It's only early days but Dirk does look suited to the more English style of football and if anything reminds me more Mark Hughes.
While Liverpoolfc.tv scribe Paul Tomkins compared him to a hybrid cross of Kevin Keegan and Mark Hughes.
I completely agree, the first time I saw Kuyt play, when he came on as sub against West Ham a few weeks ago I had one thought – Keegan. Take the permed one, add a dollop of Mark Hughes and garnish with just a small dash of a young Alan Shearer, then I think you might just have what Dirk Kuyt is all about.
He has a knack for getting goals as his record in Holland and his fledgling Liverpool career so far testify. He has the hunger and passion coupled with an aggression and an unfaltering engine to make him a real handful for any defence in the land and Europe.
Something tells me that Liverpool's hallowed hall of fame of legendary strikers which features such greats as Rush, Keegan, Beardsley, Dalglish, Fowler et all is about to get another fully paid-up member.
So all bow before King Kuyt – let's hope he can make some in-roads on his 29-goal season career best by knocking a few past Bolton this weekend.