A few eyebrows were raised when the playmaker first arrived at Anfield but by the end of the 2007/08 campaign Benayoun, who was not an automatic first choice, had scored 11 goals during his debut season.
Benayoun made his Reds bow in a Champions League qualifier against Toulouse in August 2007 and scored his first Liverpool goal in a 4-2 Carling Cup victory at Reading.
Benayoun joined West Ham United ahead of a host of other suitors, including Champions League qualifiers Everton, in July 2005. The Premier League newcomers paid Racing Santander £2.5million to bring him to Upton Park on a four-year contract.
The Israel international had been tipped to move away from Santander as the debt-ridden club looked to ease their financial woes by cashing in on the rising star.
Nicknamed 'The Diamond' in his home nation of Israel, Benayoun's arrived in the Primera Liga from Maccabi Haifa in 2003 and played 35 league games for Santander in 2004/05, scoring nine goals.
He is seen as one of the most exciting prospects in Israeli football and added flair and attacking impetus to the Hammers side.
Benayoun revealed he took the advice of fellow Israeli and former Hammers favourite Eyal Berkovic before sealing his transfer.
His career at West Ham took off almost immediately, albeit amidst controversy surrounding his perceived shunning of Bolton Wanderers.
His flair, creativity and originality improved the West Ham squad and he proved to be a valuable member of the side that reached the FA Cup final and enjoyed such success in the 2005/06 season.
Surprisingly strong, despite his slight appearance, Benayoun has established himself as one of the best creative players in the Premier League.
He agreed a new five-year deal with West Ham in May 2007 but two months later signed a four-year contract with Liverpool.
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