SHOOT would like to wish former Norway international defender John Arne Riise many happy returns as he celebrates his 38th birthday this evening.

The Liverpool legend, who joined The Reds from Ligue 1 outfit AS Monaco back in the summer of 2001, went on to make 348 appearances in all competitions for the Premier League side, scoring 31 goals, including some absolute rockets!

Riise got his hands on the UEFA Champions League, the FA Cup, the League Cup, two UEFA Super Cups and two FA Community Shields during his seven-year spell at Anfield.

The Norwegian left-back had a blistering left foot, which opened the scoring for Liverpool inside just 45 seconds during their 2005 League Cup final defeat against Chelsea – the fastest goal in the fixture’s history.

Riise also played a key role in The Reds’ remarkable comeback a few months later during the Champions League final against AC Milan in Istanbul.

The defender provided the cross for captain Steven Gerrard to head home in the 54th minute, inspiring a miraculous turnaround in Turkey, with Rafael Benitez’s men coming back from 3-0 down at half-time, to defeat the Italian giants 3-2 on penalties (AET 3-2).

Riise left Merseyside in June 2008, agreeing a four-year contract with Serie A side AS Roma, before returning to English football with Fulham in July 2011, where he made a further 101 appearances in all competitions.

So, to celebrate the Liverpool hero’s latest milestone, SHOOT has put together five of Riise’s most defining moments of his Reds Career in Pictures. Enjoy!

Manchester United Magic

Ranked as Riise’s best goal in a Reds shirt, the Norwegian sent Anfield into raptures with a devastating free-kick against rivals Manchester United back in November 2001.

The full-back had only been playing for the Premier League side for a few months, following his summer switch from Monaco, but he hit the ground running on Merseyside, with his third league goal of the season against The Red Devils being a thunderous strike.

Watch below to witness Riise’s ridiculously powerful set-piece against United, which sealed a memorable 3-1 league victory over their rivals.

European Euphoria

THAT night in Istanbul.

Three-nil down at half-time to AC Milan in the 2005 UEFA Champions League, Liverpool pulled off one of, if not the greatest comebacks, in European football history.

It all kick started with a cross from Riise, who assisted Steven Gerrard’s header nine minutes after the break, before further strikes from Vladimir Smicer and Xabi Alonso in the following six minutes brought the English side level in Turkey.

Rafa Bentiez’s men stunningly went on to defeat the Italians 3-2 on penalties after extra-time, although Riise’s spot-kick was the only Liverpool effort to be saved.

Ah well, it didn’t matter in the end!

Cup final in Cardiff

The following season, after Liverpool’s incredible European Cup final, Riise played his part in helping The Reds win the 2005-06 FA Cup.

The full-back opened the scoring against Chelsea in the FA Cup semi-final, before the Norwegian tucked away the decisive spot-kick in a victorious penalty shootout (3-1) against West Ham United in the final at the Millennium Stadium (3-3 AET).

Beating The Blues

Riise really did love scoring against Chelsea!

The defender returned to the Millennium Stadium a few months after the 2006 FA Cup final to open the scoring during Liverpool’s FA Community Shield victory over The Blues.

Riise ran with the ball from the edge of his own penalty area, dribbling unchallenged until he was around 30 yards out from Carlo Cudicini’s goal, before unleashing a powerful low drive past the Chelsea goalkeeper in the ninth minute.

Peter Crouch headed home the winning goal (2-1) in the 80th minute in Cardiff, with Riise getting his hands on his last piece of silverware with Liverpool that Sunday afternoon.

Champions League Clanger

I mean, he did love netting against Chelsea, but certainly not for The Blues…

Unfortunately for him, Riise’s last notable performance in a Reds shirt came against the London outfit in the UEFA Champions League semi-finals in April 2008.

During the first leg fixture at Anfield, Dirk Kuyt gave Liverpool the lead in the 43rd minute, before Riise dropped an absolute bombshell in stoppage time, heading past his own goalkeeper in the 95th minute to gift Chelsea a priceless away goal.

Heading into the second leg at Stamford Bridge, Riise kept his place in Benitez’s starting XI, but extra-time strikes from Frank Lampard (penalty) and Didier Drogba saw Chelsea advance to the 2008 Champions League final, where they eventually lost to fellow Premier League side Manchester United on penalties in Moscow, Russia.

Riise was sold to Roma that summer, after 348 appearances for Liverpool.