Another big money, unknown defender lands in Liverpool - is Benitez suffering from a false economy drive?
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Martin Skrtel signs for Liverpool in January 2008
He may be a regular in the Slovakian national side and have been compared favourably to Kop hero Jamie Carragher but can Martin Skrtel make the huge leap from a signing of great potential (a la Daniel Agger) to a mainstay of a trophy winning Liverpool defence like the aforementioned Carragher or Sami Hyppia?
His home debut blunders including an own goal against non-league Havant & Waterlooville may have been comedy gold for all non Red Scousers but it must be a worry mentally for both a new, young player in a foreign league especially one as highly pressurised and media driven as the English Premier League and for his beleaguered manager who still faces enemies from within Anfield as much as outside.
Skrtel has a lot to live up to - only time will show what he's really made of.
His home debut blunders including an own goal against non-league Havant & Waterlooville may have been comedy gold for all non Red Scousers but it must be a worry mentally for both a new, young player in a foreign league especially one as highly pressurised and media driven as the English Premier League and for his beleaguered manager who still faces enemies from within Anfield as much as outside.
Skrtel has a lot to live up to - only time will show what he's really made of.