BEFORE this season gets underway, footballers of 21 different nationalities have represented Liverpool Football Club.
But
Fabio Aurelio Rodrigues will be the first from Brazil.
And happily for Liverpool fans, he is keen to live up to the stereotype.
A set-piece expert, a gifted ball-player and possessor of an attacking mentality,the Reds' newsigning from Valencia was unveiled to the media at Melwood yesterday.
And he declared: "Yes, I think you could describe me as a typical Brazilian footballer.
"I like to think I possess a lot of technical skill on the ball, but you also have to bear in mind that I spent six years in Spain and that's obviously helped me adjust my game to a more European style of play.
"I think you need both these qualities in the English league, where you must have the capacity to get in and fight when necessary."
Those six seasons at The Mestalla have given Aurelio a cosmopolitan outlook to his football, and as a result he feels comfortable about making the switch from Spain to the Premiership.
"I don't think it's going to be a shock to the system because I've had the opportunity to see alot of Premier League games on the television," he added.
"Whenever a new player comes from abroad to the Premiership he has to adjust his ownstyle of play and then hopefully stamp his own authority on the game.
"That's what I will try to do."
Aurelio is already setting his sights high. A member of Rafael Benitez's successful La Liga winning line-up at Valencia, he instantly targeted a repeat performance in England as his priority.
"Obviously I have to look at things from a club perspective rather than personally, and we have alot to live up to having wonthe Champions League last year," he went on.
"But I think the main objective is that we would like to win the Premiership. It'sa long and difficult season we have to get to grips with, but that would be my main objective at Liverpool."
A left-back or left winger, Aurelio has been held back at international level by the long-term reign of Roberto Carlos in that role.
But with the Brazilian legend coming to the end of his international career, Aurelio hopes to finally forge a career for his country.
"I think you could best describe me as maybe a left wing-back, getting forward. But I can play many positions. One is left wing and the other is left-back," he said.
"First and foremost I want to get in to the Liverpool side and establish myself as a first team regular there.
"But obviously then, following on from that, I would like to get into the Brazilian national team and hopefully make that position my own."
Boss Benitez agrees. "If he has no problems with injuries, I think he will be a very good player for us down the left hand side," he warned.
The note of caution comes from Aurelio's experience at Valencia, where he suffered a broken legat the start of the 2001/02 season.
Further minor injuries - as well as lack of faith from the managers who followed Benitez on Valencia's bench - hampered his chances to establish himself in subsequent seasons with a number of appearances coming on the left of midfield rather than the left-back position he prefers.
Despite all this, he remained a sought after talent and Real Madrid, Villareal and Manchester United were all reported to be interested before he opted to join Liverpool.
He will offer not only ahigh quality alternative to
John Arne Riise at An-field, but he will also offer Benitez a greatsupply line from the left flank to complement
Peter Crouch's aerial threat.
With either
Harry Kewell or
Mark Gonzalez playing ahead of him, it is easy to envisage the wingers cutting inside and Aurelio moving forwardto exploit the space created.
"Fabio's a player with a lot of quality," added Benitez.
"Technically he is fantastic. He is also really good on set pieces. He is another player who can give us different things."
YES! Finally some decent cover at left back with some brazillian skills (apparently)!
Riise has been good for us but i do really get tired of his hoofing tactics. He hoofs the ball when under the slightest bit of pressure, and since rafa has put him at left back, we dont see as many of his rockets fire into the back of the net. He has some skill but only dsplays it from time to time, and worst of all he has traore and warnock for cover. Boy im glad thats over! Bring on the new right winger!
imported post -
"Mark is an exciting left winger who can cross good balls and beat defenders and he is a very good signing for us. He has a very good mentality as when I was talking with him he told me, 'I want to play for Liverpool'." 
