Fowler not gonna be here anytime soon!

[twinpeakes]

Liverpool make shock Fowler swoop

Fowler scored 171 goals during his first spell with Liverpool
Manchester City striker Robbie Fowler has made a surprise return to former club Liverpool on a free transfer.
The 30-year-old striker, who has joined Liverpool for the rest of the season, made his debut for the Reds as an 18-year-old in 1993.

He scored a total of 171 goals in 330 games for the Anfield side.

Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez told the club's website: "He's got a wealth of experience and he gives us more attacking options."

Benitez added: " He's a different kind of striker to what we have at the club.

"We have signed a player with so much passion for this football club and I think he will act as an example to every player here in how much he loves Liverpool.

"I'm not sure I've ever seen a player quite so happy to be joining a club before.

"He hasn't been signed because he loves the club; he's been signed because he's one of the best goalscorers ever to play in the Premiership and he can score goals for us right now.

"We have signed a player with a passion and a heart for this club that no amount of money can buy. We are close to a very high level right now but with Robbie we can go even higher."

City boss Stuart Pearce said he did not want to stand in the way of Fowler returning to Anfield.

"Liverpool are his dream club and he wanted to leave and rejoin them," Pearce told the Cityl website.

Archive: Fowler joins Leeds

Pearce added: "If I refused him this opportunity of fulfilling his ambition it would not be good for him or Manchester City Football Club. We wish him well for the future and thank him for his efforts."

Fowler moved to Leeds in 2001, before former City boss Kevin Keegan spent £6m to take him away from Elland Road in February 2003.

I'm absolutely delighted, can't wait to see him in a red shirt again

From AJC
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Injuries have hampered his career at Eastlands, but he recently scored a hat-trick against Scunthorpe in the third round of the FA Cup.

And he also scored against Manchester United in City's 3-1 derby victory.

In his autobiography Fowler claimed he was forced to leave Liverpool because of his treatment by Benitez's predecessor Gerard Houllier, while his Anfield career was marked by various disciplinary problems.

He had a training ground squabble with Liverpool assistant manager Phil Thompson as well as an argument with teammate Neil Ruddock left him with a nose injury.

Fowler also had an on-field fight with Chelsea's Graeme Le Saux after making obscene gestures towards the England international.

The striker is not eligible to play in Sunday's FA Cup tie against Portsmouth but could make his comeback in Wednesday's home game with Birmingham.

Whether Fowler is offered a contract extension will be reviewed at the end of the season.