Ranking the 16 South Americans who will play for Liverpool in the Premier League

Liverpool have always recruited players from all over the world and brought in great talent from South America.

Anfield has seen an influx of South American players over the past 17 years and some have become cult heroes at Anfield.

We've ranked every South American player who will play in the Premier League for Liverpool, from worst to best.

Note: Arthur Melo joined Liverpool in the summer of 2022, but had not played any Premier League games for Liverpool at the time of publication.

16. Doni

Doni signed for Liverpool on a free transfer in 2011 and mainly acted as backup goalkeeper for Pepe Reina.

The Brazilian managed just four Premier League appearances for the club, receiving a red card and conceding a penalty against Blackburn Rovers in his second appearance.

He left the Reds in 2013 and later revealed he suffered a heart attack during a routine medical in the summer of 2012.

"I almost ended up on the other side. I had a heart attack for about 25 seconds," Doni told CalcioMercato.com in 2013.

“I always had an arrhythmia and during some tests in Liverpool I went into cardiac arrest. I saw one of the best doctors in Europe who examined me carefully.” 15. Gabriel Paletta

Paletta moved to Anfield for £2million in 2006 after playing an important role in Argentina's 2005 Junior World Cup victory.

The centre-back made just four Premier League appearances for Liverpool before returning to Argentina with Boca Juniors in 2007.

14. Mauricio Pellegrino

Pellegrino became the first South American to play for Liverpool when he joined the club on a six-month contract in January 2005.

He was cup-tying for the Champions League and made 12 Premier League appearances, but his performances weren't enough to secure a longer contract.

The former Argentina international then returned to Anfield as a first-team coach before later turning his attention to management.

13. Sebastien Coates

Coates joined Liverpool from Nacional in 2011 and has been tipped for a bright future at Anfield.

The centre-back scored a memorable scissor kick against QPR but his way to the first team was blocked by Daniel Agger and Martin Skrtel.

After making just 12 Premier League appearances for the Reds, Coates was sold to Sunderland in 2015.

12. Marc González

Liverpool had to wait a year to get the Chilean's work permit, but it really wasn't worth all the hassle.

Injury issues limited Gonzalez to 25 Premier League appearances and the winger left for Real Betis after just one season in England.

11. Emiliano Insua

Insua joined Liverpool from Boca Juniors in 2007 and eventually had his breakthrough season in 2009-10, making 31 Premier League appearances.

But the left-back was deemed surplus by Roy Hodgson and eventually sold to Sporting Lisbon in 2011.

"It was sad for me to leave because I felt really good at Liverpool," Insua told the Guardian in 2019. "I wanted to stay but Hodgson told me I wouldn't play [under him] .

"I was young and wanted to play so I left. Hodgson then signed Paul Konchesky to be left-back but Konchesky didn't do well for Liverpool... maybe I should have stayed .

10. Fabio Aurelio

After winning two La Liga titles under Rafa Benitez at Valencia, Aurelio reunited with his former manager and joined Liverpool on a free transfer in 2006.

The Brazilian established himself as the first-choice left-back at Anfield but injury problems weighed on his six years with the Reds.

He will always have that goal against Manchester United.

9. Maxi Rodriquez

Rodriguez arrived on a free transfer from Atletico Madrid in January 2010 and instantly became a fan favorite at Anfield.

The winger rose to prominence towards the end of the 2010-11 season, scoring two Premier League hat-tricks in the space of a fortnight against Birmingham City and Fulham.

He then fell out of favor under Kenny Dalglish and returned home to Argentina to sign for Newell's Old Boys in 2012.