Liverpool's proud and illustrious history has seen many a great player grace the Anfield pitch, win trophies with the club and show off their skills to thousands of adoring fans.
Picking the very best of those over the course of more than a century of history is far from an easy feat, yet some still manage to stand out over and above the rest by way of their immense talent, heart and consistency.
It could almost be a who's who of the greatest, most accomplished players to have played the game in England—but it's just those who have been the best at Liverpool.1.King Kenny
The Liverpool support was initially had reservation about Kenny replacing Kevin Keegan.But he settled in fast.He scored 21 goals in his first season.Dalglish was an ever present in his first three league campaigns at Liverpool, his second campaign (1978–79) being his personal best at the club with 21 league goals. He did not miss a league game for Liverpool until the 1980–81 season, when he appeared in 34 out of 42 league games and scored just eight goals as Liverpool finished fifth in the league but still managed to win the European Cup and Football League Cup. He recovered his goalscoring form the following season and was ever-present once again, scoring 13 goals as Liverpool became league champions for the 13th time, and the third time since Dalglish's arrival. Dalglish was voted PFA Player of the Year for the 1982–83 season,[1] during which he scored 18 league goals as Liverpool retained their title; however, after this season his goalscoring record became less prolific, though he remained a regular player.
2.Captain Fantastic
In regards to his contract issues with Liverpool, Gerrard told the press after the final, "How can I leave after a night like this?"[23] But negotiations soon stalled and on 5 July 2005, after Liverpool turned down another lucrative offer from Chelsea, Gerrard rejected a club-record £100,000-a-week offer. Liverpool chief executive Rick Parry conceded the club had lost Gerrard, saying, "Now we have to move on.During a six-minute stretch in the secong half of the 2005 Champions League final against A.C Milan,Liverpool came back from three goal deficit ,with Gerard scoring one of it.Later that night he was named as Man Of the Match,and later received the UEFA Club Footballer Of The Year award.
3.Kevin Keegan
The following year Keegan was again a frequent scorer but Liverpool lost the League title to a Leeds United team who had gone unbeaten for a then-record 29 games at the start of the season. However, Liverpool progressed to the FA Cup final. Their campaign in the competition had started with a tie against the club which had rejected Keegan, Doncaster Rovers, and it was Keegan who scored both Liverpool goals in a 2–2 draw. Liverpool won the replay and Keegan scored twice more on the way to Wembley, including a lob-volley over the head of England colleague Peter Shilton in the semi-final against Leicester City at Villa Park. In the final, Keegan scored two as Liverpool beat Newcastle United 3–0.
4.Robbie Fowler
Stan Collymore, Fowler's strike partner from 1995 to 1997, said in his autobiography that Fowler was the best player he has ever played alongside. Fowler and Collymore were among the most prolific goal-scoring strike partnerships in England during the 1995–96 season. In the same season he scored twice in a 4–3 victory over Newcastle United, a match voted the best of the decade in a Premier League poll. The match helped prevent Newcastle from winning the league, but it was not enough for Liverpool to clinch the title; they finished third while Manchester United were crowned champions. Fowler also played in his first FA Cup final that season, but was on the losing side as Manchester United won 1–0. Throughout the mid and late 1990s, Fowler was widely considered to be the most natural finisher playing in England.[13] Fowler sealed this reputation as he scored more than 30 goals for three consecutive seasons, up to 1997. He remains the only player to have scored 30 plus goals in his first three full seasons in England scoring 98 goals with a total of 116 in 3 and a half years, something which has also yet to be beaten in La Liga, Seria A and the Bundesliga too. Fowler's partnership with Steve McManaman was largely described as the reason why Liverpool had become the club known for being the most potent attacking force in England at the time, and Fowler was renowned for scoring goals of all varieties, from every angle and distance, with McManaman describing him as the "greatest goalscorer of all time.
5.Xabi Alonso
Alonso arrived at Liverpool, along with Luis García from FC Barcelona, marked the beginning of a new era at Anfield. Liverpool's new coach Rafael Benítez sought to revolutionise the club and completely overhauled the squad, impressing his own management style and tactics upon the team.[16] The technical Spaniards were Benítez's first signings and he remarked that their emphasis of skill over strength offered something different to the team. Alonso made his Premiership debut for the Merseysiders against Bolton Wanderers at The Reebok Stadium on 29 August 2004. Liverpool lost the fixture 1–0 but Alonso was already receiving praise for his passing skills from the press.[18] A Premier League tie against Fulham displayed more of Alonso's talents. Liverpool were losing 2–0 at half-time and Benítez brought on Alonso as a substitute after the break. He revived a deflated Liverpool and the game finished 4–2 to the Merseyside team.Furthermore, Alonso scored his first goal for the team from a free kick to bring Liverpool ahead of the opposition.
Picking the very best of those over the course of more than a century of history is far from an easy feat, yet some still manage to stand out over and above the rest by way of their immense talent, heart and consistency.
It could almost be a who's who of the greatest, most accomplished players to have played the game in England—but it's just those who have been the best at Liverpool.1.King Kenny
The Liverpool support was initially had reservation about Kenny replacing Kevin Keegan.But he settled in fast.He scored 21 goals in his first season.Dalglish was an ever present in his first three league campaigns at Liverpool, his second campaign (1978–79) being his personal best at the club with 21 league goals. He did not miss a league game for Liverpool until the 1980–81 season, when he appeared in 34 out of 42 league games and scored just eight goals as Liverpool finished fifth in the league but still managed to win the European Cup and Football League Cup. He recovered his goalscoring form the following season and was ever-present once again, scoring 13 goals as Liverpool became league champions for the 13th time, and the third time since Dalglish's arrival. Dalglish was voted PFA Player of the Year for the 1982–83 season,[1] during which he scored 18 league goals as Liverpool retained their title; however, after this season his goalscoring record became less prolific, though he remained a regular player.
2.Captain Fantastic
In regards to his contract issues with Liverpool, Gerrard told the press after the final, "How can I leave after a night like this?"[23] But negotiations soon stalled and on 5 July 2005, after Liverpool turned down another lucrative offer from Chelsea, Gerrard rejected a club-record £100,000-a-week offer. Liverpool chief executive Rick Parry conceded the club had lost Gerrard, saying, "Now we have to move on.During a six-minute stretch in the secong half of the 2005 Champions League final against A.C Milan,Liverpool came back from three goal deficit ,with Gerard scoring one of it.Later that night he was named as Man Of the Match,and later received the UEFA Club Footballer Of The Year award.
3.Kevin Keegan
The following year Keegan was again a frequent scorer but Liverpool lost the League title to a Leeds United team who had gone unbeaten for a then-record 29 games at the start of the season. However, Liverpool progressed to the FA Cup final. Their campaign in the competition had started with a tie against the club which had rejected Keegan, Doncaster Rovers, and it was Keegan who scored both Liverpool goals in a 2–2 draw. Liverpool won the replay and Keegan scored twice more on the way to Wembley, including a lob-volley over the head of England colleague Peter Shilton in the semi-final against Leicester City at Villa Park. In the final, Keegan scored two as Liverpool beat Newcastle United 3–0.
4.Robbie Fowler
Stan Collymore, Fowler's strike partner from 1995 to 1997, said in his autobiography that Fowler was the best player he has ever played alongside. Fowler and Collymore were among the most prolific goal-scoring strike partnerships in England during the 1995–96 season. In the same season he scored twice in a 4–3 victory over Newcastle United, a match voted the best of the decade in a Premier League poll. The match helped prevent Newcastle from winning the league, but it was not enough for Liverpool to clinch the title; they finished third while Manchester United were crowned champions. Fowler also played in his first FA Cup final that season, but was on the losing side as Manchester United won 1–0. Throughout the mid and late 1990s, Fowler was widely considered to be the most natural finisher playing in England.[13] Fowler sealed this reputation as he scored more than 30 goals for three consecutive seasons, up to 1997. He remains the only player to have scored 30 plus goals in his first three full seasons in England scoring 98 goals with a total of 116 in 3 and a half years, something which has also yet to be beaten in La Liga, Seria A and the Bundesliga too. Fowler's partnership with Steve McManaman was largely described as the reason why Liverpool had become the club known for being the most potent attacking force in England at the time, and Fowler was renowned for scoring goals of all varieties, from every angle and distance, with McManaman describing him as the "greatest goalscorer of all time.
5.Xabi Alonso
Alonso arrived at Liverpool, along with Luis García from FC Barcelona, marked the beginning of a new era at Anfield. Liverpool's new coach Rafael Benítez sought to revolutionise the club and completely overhauled the squad, impressing his own management style and tactics upon the team.[16] The technical Spaniards were Benítez's first signings and he remarked that their emphasis of skill over strength offered something different to the team. Alonso made his Premiership debut for the Merseysiders against Bolton Wanderers at The Reebok Stadium on 29 August 2004. Liverpool lost the fixture 1–0 but Alonso was already receiving praise for his passing skills from the press.[18] A Premier League tie against Fulham displayed more of Alonso's talents. Liverpool were losing 2–0 at half-time and Benítez brought on Alonso as a substitute after the break. He revived a deflated Liverpool and the game finished 4–2 to the Merseyside team.Furthermore, Alonso scored his first goal for the team from a free kick to bring Liverpool ahead of the opposition.