Liverpool’s Greatest: The 5 Best Players in Liverpool History
The 5 Greatest Liverpool FC Players of All-Time
Liverpool are an institution and a way of life on Merseyside.
Founded in 1892, Liverpool became one of the top football clubs in the world by the late 20th century, thanks to a combination of great managers and incredible players.
Liverpool great Ian Rush
Much of Liverpool’s illustrious history was written before the Premier League era, and they have had some amazing players in that period, but in this article, we’ve put together the top 5 greatest players to ever wear the famous red shirt!
5. Steven Gerrard (1998-2015)
Steven Gerrard’s status as a Liverpool great goes deeper than the goals and assists he tallied.
The former Liverpool captain joined Liverpool at the tender age of 9 years old after being spotted by scouts while playing for local club Whiston Juniors.
The midfielder could do it all as a youngster: score goals, make passes, tackle and run for hours without tiring.
Gerrard used those same attributes as an academy player, helping him advance through the ranks while some of his contemporaries fell by the wayside.
Those characteristics of Gerrard’s game would become the hallmarks of his legendary career.
Gerrard will be remembered for some of the most remarkable goals and moments in Liverpool's history.
His long-range effort in the 2006 FA Cup final forced extra time and penalties against West Ham, as the Reds lifted the trophy.
The season before Gerrard was integral in Liverpool’s incredible come-from-behind win in the Champions League final against AC Milan, as they dramatically won on penalties having trailed 3-0 at halftime.
The only trophy to elude Gerrard was the Premier League title.
Even without winning the Premier League trophy, Gerrard remains one of Liverpool’s greatest players, thanks in part to scoring 186 goals and 154 assists in 710 matches.
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4. Kenny Dalglish (1977-1990)
Kenny Dalglish is one of the greatest servants Liverpool Football Club have ever had.
Not only was Dalglish a top player, but he went on to manage the club through one of its most difficult and darkest times.
Liverpool signed Dalglish from Celtic in August 1977 for £440,000.
He was already a star before arriving at Anfield and was a player other big clubs wanted to sign, including Manchester United.
Dalglish arrived at Liverpool to replace the talismanic Kevin Keegan after his departure to Hamburg SV. Fears were high that Keegan couldn’t be replaced.
However, it didn’t take Dalglish long to rest those fears and show just why Liverpool paid so much for him.
The Scotsman went on to score 172 goals in 515 matches.
However, Dalglish wasn’t just a goalscorer, he was a creator of goals too. He tallied 167 assists and created many of the goals teammates like Ian Rush scored.
Dalglish became Liverpool’s first-ever player-manager in 1985. He had to deal with Liverpool’s European ban of the 1980s, along with the Hillsborough Disaster.
No Liverpool manager has had to deal with the same issues Dalglish did, and unfortunately, it would force him to step away from the club in 1991 due to burnout.
As both a player and manager, Dalglish won eight First Division titles.
3. Roger Hunt (1958-1969)
Roger Hunt is a name forgotten to time and he is an unknown Liverpool legend for many modern-day football fans.
Hunt was a pure No. 9 for Bill Shankly’s Liverpool.
He scored 285 goals in 381 matches for the Reds in all competitions. Hunt bagged 244 of those goals in the league, making him Liverpool’s all-time top goalscorer in league football.
The Liverpool striker was the team’s top goalscorer in eight consecutive campaigns from 1962 to 1969.
While playing for Liverpool, Hunt won two First Division championships, one Second Division title, and an FA Cup. In total, Hunt played 10 seasons for Liverpool after debuting in 1958.
Liverpool were a Second Division team when Hunt arrived at Anfield from Stockton Heath. Hunt would help propel Liverpool into the First Division under Shankly in 1961-62.
Liverpool didn’t look back after gaining promotion, as they would go on to be England’s team of the 1970s and 1980s.
2. Billy Liddell (1938-1961)
If you aren’t familiar with Billy Liddell, then don’t worry, as the former Liverpool great played for the Anfielders from 1946 to 1961.
Liddell’s time at Liverpool was a lifetime ago, and unfortunately, the striker passed away more than 20 years ago.
Liddell joined Liverpool in 1938 and signed a professional contract nine months later.
Due to World War II, it wasn’t until January 5, 1946 that Liddel made his official debut for the club. Goals flowed from Liddell whether they came from his right foot, left foot or head.
The striker scored 228 goals, becoming one of the Merseysiders’ greatest players of all time.
After 22 years of service to Liverpool Football Club, Liddell retired shortly after turning 38 years old, becoming Liverpool’s all-time appearance leader upon departing the club in 1960 with 534.
Although his record has been broken, Liddell is still No. 12 on Liverpool’s all-time appearance list.
1. Ian Rush (1980-1987; 1988-1996)
Ian Rush is Liverpool’s all-time leading goalscorer with 346 career goals.
It is a number that may never be topped. Rush scored goals for Liverpool across 15 seasons at Anfield. In five of those campaigns, Rush scored 30 or more goals in all competitions.
The striker signed for Liverpool in April 1980 after making a name for himself with Chester.
Rush didn’t make his first-team debut until December 1980, after playing in Liverpool’s reserves.
Unhappy he wasn’t getting a run in the first team, Rush declared he wanted to depart Anfield if manager Bob Paisley didn’t play him.
Paisley agreed to sell Rush, hoping it would inspire the striker to score goals.
The manager’s psychology worked, as Rush scored five goals in four reserve matches, and earned a first-team debut.
Rush departed Liverpool in 1987 for Serie A’s Juventus.
With English football starved for money due to a European competition ban, Liverpool sold Rush to the Bianconeri for £3.2 million.
Rush would return to Anfield one season later after scoring 13 goals for the Italians and having a difficult time adapting to life on the Peninsula.
After returning to the club, Rush went on to do what he did before leaving, which was scoring goals.
At one point Liverpool achieved an incredible record of 145 matches without a loss when Rush scored.
The striker finally left Liverpool for good in 1996. Rush was a part of five title-winning teams and helped Liverpool lift a clutch of cups.
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