Álvaro Arbeloa
From Liverpool FC Wiki
On January 31, 2007, Arbeloa signed for English FA Premier League club Liverpool F.C., for a fee of around £2.5 million, with Real Madrid receiving 50% of the fee. He made his Premiership debut on February 10 against Newcastle United, coming as a substitute for Jermaine Pennant. He made his full debut against Barcelona in the UEFA Champions League at the Nou Camp, where he was employed as a left-back. This was done by coach Rafael Benitez for tactical reasons, as his stronger right foot could stop Ronaldinho, as he had done in the past when playing for Deportivo la Coruna. His part in keeping Ronaldinho quiet helped Liverpool to a 2-1 win over the defending champions. He scored his first goal for Liverpool against Reading on April 7, 2007, becoming both the first Liverpool number 2 to score in a competitive match since Mike Marsh scored in a League Cup 4th Round replay against Crystal Palace on December 16, 1992 and the first Liverpool number 2 to score in the Premier League since Mike Marsh scored against Crystal Palace on November 28, 1992.
Arbeloa's squad number changed from 2 to 17 as a personal preference for the 2007–08 season. This number had previously been occupied by Craig Bellamy.
On February 1 2008 he was called up to the full Spanish national team squad for the first time, to play France in a friendly in Malaga on February 6, although he was forced to pull out because of injury.
| Liverpool F.C. – current squad |
|---|
| 3 Finnan • 4 Hyypia • 5 Agger • 6 Riise • 7 Kewell • 8 Gerrard • 9 Torres • 10 Voronin • 11 Benayoun • 12 F. Aurelio • 14 Alonso • 15 Crouch • 16 Pennant • 17 Arbeloa • 18 Kuyt • 19 Babel • 20 Mascherano • 21 Lucas • 23 Carragher • 25 Reina • 30 Itandje • 33 Leto • 34 Spearing • 35 Putterill • 36 Flynn • 37 Skrtel • 39 Darby • 40 Martin • 42 El Zhar • 48 Insua • Manager: Benitez |
