Liverpool FC: 4 Goal Poachers from the Past Who Are Sorely Missed

After a goal-soaked Champions League mid-week, Liverpool fans can't help but be a little frustrated at their team's surgical short-sightedness in front of the net.

Andy Carroll scored for England and Luis Suarez will continue progressing, but goals are quite valuable at this stage in the season.

Manchester United's own Javier Hernandez has enjoyed a seamless integration into life in the English Premier league because of his poaching prowess.

Liverpool have enjoyed the rewards of having this kind of player on their team in the past and they are remembered fondly.

Who are Liverpool's best goal-poachers of the past?

A true goal poacher is fortunate to be remembered for their goals, as they usually are not particularly blessed in every other capability.

A player like Robbie Fowler would find today's Premier League too fast and rough for his liking, but during his peak there were none better at scoring.

Robbie Fowler wasn't fast. He certainly wasn't the biggest striker ever to step out onto a soccer pitch. No step-overs, fancy heel drags or 40-yard screamers for this Liverpool youth product.

But Robbie Fowler somehow scored goals. He is the fourth-highest goalscorer in Premier League history, and he was instrumental for Liverpool in the 1990s.

Fowler loves scoring goals so much he still plays professionally. Last year Fowler notched 9 goals for the Perth Glory in the Australian A-League.

Ian Rush still has a mustache and still plays the game.

He is one among others in an the elite pantheon of gods worshiped at Anfield.

Putting away chances is what a finisher does, and Liverpool may not have one at the moment but they had quite a master in days gone by.

An upbringing at Liverpool in the days of Rush was one with a clear master and apprentice environment.

His mantle was passed on to young Robbie Fowler in the end, but Ian Rush will always be cherished at Liverpool for his instinct in front of the net.

Ian Rush plays for a team of Liverpool "Masters" of the past that have done charity tournaments around the world.

No this isn't an error. John Aldridge didn't just have Rush's mustache and stare but his efficiency at scoring.

Good ratio? Aldridge boasted a record of a goal every 1.65 games. Pele got one every 1.06 games, but the former Liverpool striker's value at Anfield left many admirers.

Aldridge criticized Fernando Torres for his conduct after the Spaniard's abrupt move to London. Fans may very well hold the Liverpool-born striker in higher esteem than Torres in 25 years.

Speed, slick moves and technique were hallmarks of the club's former No. 9, not the pure art of scoring goals.

He was shipped out of Anfield after the swift return of Ian Rush from Europe and managed to continue scoring, but there's another reason why Aldridge will be remembered in Liverpool.

He was a predictable penalty-taker, famously having a penalty saved against Wimbledon in the FA Cup Final of 1987-88.

Back from a time when we have very little video footage of soccer indeed, it was often the one that could react the fastest and shoot with instinct that scored the goals.

That is the essence of the goal-poacher, and Roger Hunt was Liverpool's main man from 1958 to 1969 in this regard.

Legendary Liverpool manager Bill Shankly made good use of Hunt and his ability to set the foundations to most of what the club has accomplished.

He scored all kinds of goals and many were match-winners in the FA Cup or in European competition.

Liverpool are looking to Luis Suarez to maximize his goal scoring rate at Anfield, and although he has many skills to offer and not solely a poacher the signs have been good.