Maxi's Arrival, Background Info & Liverpool's Starting XI v. Reading

Argentina international Maxi Rodriguez arrived at Liverpool's training facilities this morning for his medical. It is said Liverpool have signed Maxi on a "free" to a 3.5 year contract. Assuming everything goes well, (and why shouldn't it, I mean we signed a "bum" Alberto Aquilani for £17million this past summer) Rodriguez could possibly be on our team-sheet as early as this weekend @ Stoke.

I've read that the winger will watch tonight's FA Cup third-round replay against Reading at Anfield before returning to Spain to put the finishing touches on his departure from Atletico Madrid.

I'm hoping Maxi's arrival will boost the confidence of his friend and international team-mate Javier Mascherano. Hell, I'm hoping he'll boost our entire side's morale! He's also familiar with our ace striker Fernando Torres as the two were teammates at Atletico Madrid. Rodriguez is capable of playing on either wing, he prefers to be a right-sided player from what I've read. This makes things interesting when it comes to Dirk Kuyt or Yossi Benayoun. Should be interesting to see how Rafa handles this situation.

I have to believe that Ryan Babel's next on the departure list. Good luck to him, he just never found his feet at Liverpool.

Here's your essential need-to-know on Maxi Rodriguez...(via Mirrorfootball.co.uk):

1) Maximiliano Ruben Rodriguez was born on January 2, 1981, in Rosario, Argentina. Premier League defenders beware: he is nicknamed 'La Fiera' - or, in English, the beast.

2) A product of the youth system at local club Newell's Old Boys, he broke into the first team as an 18 year-old and scored an impressive 20 goals in 56 league appearances in his first three seasons

3) In 2001 he spent six months on loan in the Spanish second tier at Real Oviedo, and made a permanent move to Europe a year later when he signed for Espanyol.

4) He made his La Liga debut in September 2002, coming on as a sub in a 2-0 defeat to Real Madrid. Rodriguez really came to prominence in his third season, though, when he scored 15 times in 37 appearances - including the Catalonians' 2000th league goal.

5) He signed for Atletico Madrid in the summer of 2005 for for €7million and lined-up in a midfield that also included current Manchester City star Martin Petrov. After an impressive start that saw Rodriguez bag a11 goals from 33 starts, his second season was curtailed by a serious anterior cruciate ligament injury.

6) He's scored a total of 42 goals for Atletico - including one at Anfield in the Champions League - but his greatest moment arguably came in November 2009 when Rodriguez put four past Marbella in a Copa del Rey tie. And here's a rather tasteful montage of Rodriguez' 'rompia':

7) He made his name internationally as part of the Argentinean Under-20's 2001 FIFA World Youth Championship winning side. Rodriguez finished top scorer at the tournament with four goals from seven matches.

8) He made his senior debut for Argentina in a friendly against Japan in 2003, and scored his first goal against Hungary two years later. He's gone on to play 35 times for the national side and scored 10 goals - including three at the 2006 World Cup finals. One of which was this unforgettable stunner against Mexico:

9) He ended the tournament in disgrace, however, when he was sent off for punching Bastian Schweinsteiger in the back following Argentina's quarter-final defeat to Germany. Handbags at the ready, chaps:

10) Given the long and illustrious association between Liverpool FC and musicians (who could forget the Anfield Rap?), it's fitting that Rodriguez has apparently appeared in a music video himself, lending support to Rosario rocker Coti - alongside Atletico team-mate Diego Forlan.

----------------------------------------------------------------

Liverpool FC v. Reading (Starting XI): Cavalieri, Degen, Carragher, Agger, Insua, Aquilani, Lucas, Benayoun, Kuyt, Gerrard, Torres. Subs: Aurelio, Babel, Ngog, Spearing, Skrtel, Gulacsi, Pacheco...COME ON YOU FOOKING SCOUSE!!!