January, it is often said, is no time to bring in new players. Anyone who comes available at that time of year is either going to have his price inflated or else will be someone who causes more trouble than he is worth. Or both. Unless you’re getting some player you want to slowly bring through in the coming four months, the advice goes, it is better to forget making any changes.

Yet, as always, there are exceptions and Maxi Rodriguez is proving to be one of them.
Strangely out of favour at Atletico Madrid, the ₤1.5 million paid to get him is a ridiculously low amount for a player of his abilities with the fee being largely dictated by the absence of a contract tying him to the Madrid side beyond next June.

Whatever the reason, no one is complaining.

Early impressions, however, weren’t that favourable. Indeed, Rodriguez initially looked shocked at the physical nature of the English game and often he failed to hide his amazement when no action was taken after what to him seemed like an obvious foul.

As the games in which he has played have increased, so too has his ability to deal with such situations. The same goes for every aspect of his game. Not a typical winger, he seems to work just as hard as Dirk Kuyt on the right hand side of midfield but with added technique and vision of the game. That he can give the side plenty of options – seeing that he is capable of playing across all midfield – increases his utility in the squad.

Then there is the ability to score goals. Bad luck has so far hindered him opening up his account but he showed what he can do last season when Liverpool played Atletico Madrid in the Champions league and he scored the opener at Anfield.

More goals like that would be welcome, particularly given Liverpool’s paucity from midfield.

Rodriguez’s success is also a significant one for Rafa Benitez. Faith in his ability in the transfer market has slipped since the costly mistakes that saw Andrea Dossena and Robbie Keane arrive, and then quickly depart, from Anfield.

Rodriguez, a low budget transfer but quickly becoming a big success, slightly re-addresses the balance in the manager’s favour.