Maxi Rodriguez hopes he can help spark Liverpool into life for the second-half of the season. The Argentinian winger completed his free transfer from Atletico Madrid on Wednesday and can't wait to make his debut.

"It's a good move in my career and I'm very happy to be stepping up to a club like Liverpool," he said. "The most important thing for me now is to get playing and I'm very keen to start.

"For any player it is a great honour to pull on the Liverpool shirt and I'd like to do that as soon as possible.

"I am looking forward to a successful time here. I want to help the institution that is Liverpool and contribute the best I can."

Rodriguez has been reunited with old pals Javier Mascherano and Fernando Torres at Anfield and says they advised him to come.

"I did speak with Javier when we were on international duty and he told me a lot," he said. "It will be excellent for me to have someone like him onside on a daily basis. He has such great experience, so I hope we can continue our friendship here at Liverpool and he can teach me the ropes.

"I also spoke with Fernando. We played together for two years at Madrid and he had very good things to tell me, so when this opportunity arose I was happy to take it. It's always been a pleasure to share a dressing room with these guys and play alongside them.

"It's great to have the opportunity to get back into their lives and play football together."