English fans can be excused for never been quite sure what to expect when a striker swaps the Eredivisie for the Premier League. Will they be the next Robin van Persie or Ruud van Nistelrooy? Or are they being sold false goods? Think Ricky van Wolfswinkel. A star in Holland with Utrecht and then in Portugal with Sporting but the scorer of precisely one goal in England during a full season with Norwich.

Dirk Kuyt had plundered 71 goals in 101 games for Feyenoord before Liverpool pressed ‘buy’ in the summer of 2006. In theory, the Reds were getting a bargain at just £10million. A proven goalscorer and, those who had seen him in action, the very antithesis of a goal hanger. Yes, Kuyt ran around a lot. He worked for the team. He put in a shift. Ironically, that was part of the reason why his career at Liverpool will be remembered as that of honest pro rather than superstar.

Kuyt, with those solid legs and neat mop of blonde hair, made his debut in a 2-1 home win over West Ham on August 26, 2006, coming on as a substitute to replace Peter Crouch. Crouch brought something different to the mix and Craig Bellamy was a classy pest with a goal or two in him, while Robbie Fowler had come back for a second stint but was more nostalgia act than genuine first-teamer so there was a goalscoring void to be filled. Was Kuyt the man?

This, of course, was the Rafa Benitez era at Anfield. His tactical wizardry had guided a genuinely mixed bag of a Liverpool team to Champions League glory in 2005, but now there was the Holy Grail of trying to win the Premier League. Anyone and everyone can chip in on cup runs, but a title assault needs a genuine and regular goalscorer. A 20-goal haul from Kuyt and solid contributions from elsewhere could have been the winning formula.