For new arrivals at Liverpool, there were two players in particular to impress.
Club legends Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher had high expectations of anyone who pulled on the famous red jersey and they wasted no time in putting newbies to the test.
Peter Crouch ended up scoring 42 goals for the Reds but the centre-forward initially struggled when Rafa Benitez signed him from Southampton in 2005.
With Gerrard favourite to take over at Rangers this summer, Crouch has been discussing his first experiences with the former midfielder and how much he wanted to win Gerrard over.
“During my first training session with Liverpool, there was one person who I was desperate to impress – and it wasn’t manager Rafa Benitez,” Crouch writes in his Daily Mail column.
“I am not being disrespectful to Rafa, as without him I wouldn’t have moved to Anfield, but that first session it was all about winning over Steven Gerrard.
“He and Jamie Carragher had a test where they would fire a ball into you and if your control was not good, you were on the back foot with them.
“The reputation Stevie had even then made me think he would go into management in later life, so I am not surprised that Rangers want him to revive their fortunes.
“Anyone who steps on to a training pitch with him will know instantly about the standards that he demands. His name will go a long way.
“When the standard of training is that high, the knock-on effect is improved performances but I just wonder how Stevie would find it in Glasgow. Rangers obviously have a huge reputation and a fantastic stadium but they are a long way behind Celtic.
“It is hard to see a point in the near future where Celtic will be knocked off their perch but I would imagine Stevie would get assurances from Rangers that he would be allowed to develop.
“I also think the experience he has had so far with Liverpool’s Under 18s will be invaluable.”
