Zuiverloon has been close friends with Babel since helping Holland to retain the European Under-21 Championships on home soil last summer.

He sought his guidance before agreeing to move to the Hawthorns in a £3.2million deal from Heerenveen.

Now Zuiverloon is relishing the prospect of doing battle with Babel at Anfield in November and in the return next May.

Zuiverloon said: "Before I signed for Albion, I spoke to Ryan and he said this was a big step for me - but I will be all right.

"I played against him in the Dutch League and I always said I was going to play against him in the Premier League one day.

"I hope I can adapt to the Premier League as well as he has and make a big impression with West Brom."

Zuiverloon is Baggies boss Tony Mowbray's fifth capture of the summer but looks set to miss the start of the new campaign.

He is set to compete for his country at the Beijing Olympics in August.