He lifted the League Cup in 2003 and two seasons later scored the fastest goal ever in the competition’s final – another humdinger in an eventual defeat by Chelsea.
That 2004-05 campaign did deliver glory in the Champions League, though, and Riise played every game on the road to European Cup No.5.
In the final itself, he had a supporting role in one of football’s greatest comebacks, by delivering the cross Steven Gerrard headed in to kick-start the Reds’ recovery from three goals down against AC Milan in Istanbul.
Riise would miss his penalty in the shootout – without consequence – but avenged that personal disappointment the following year in the FA Cup.
When that showpiece with West Ham United went to penalties, Riise stepped up to convert his team’s fourth effort, preceding Pepe Reina’s save from Anton Ferdinand that clinched the trophy.
Battling with Fabius Aurelius for the left-back berth in his last two seasons, Riise added a further 92 appearances to his total before joining AS Roma in the summer of 2008.
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