The most successful English club in Europe, Liverpool have won the UEFA Champions League 5 times, the latest coming in 2005 in that oh so dramatic final against an impressive AC Milan team. Liverpool are one of the most decorated clubs in England and the world although their recent trials at winning an elusive Premier League crown has come up short more often than not, leading to arch rivals Manchester United picking up the lead in winning the most English First division titles.
There was a time in the 80’s when the Liverpool team was the best in the world, they were tremendous in the league and an impressive force in Europe as well, with players like Ian Rush, Kenny Dalglish, Steven Gerrard, Robbie Fowler, John Barnes, Michael Owen, Jan Molby, Ian Callaghan, Phil Neal and Jamie Carragher to name a few, it was always going to be hard to name an all-time Liverpool XI. With a lot of tough decisions to make, we present the greatest Liverpool XI, till date.
Goalkeeper: Ray Clemence (1967-1981)
Liverpool have never been blessed with a great goalkeeper than the Ray Clemence days, their recent problems could probably be solved if Ray plays in between the sticks again, and he was that good during his time at Liverpool. Clemence was bought from Scunthorpe in 1967 for a fee of around £18,000, which seems like peanuts in this day and age.
In his time at the club, Clemence won 5 league titles, 3 European Cups, 2 UEFA Cups, a league cup, an FA Cup and 5 Charity shields. The Liverpool FC website stated that “Clemence is without a doubt the greatest goalkeeper ever to play for Liverpool” and rightly so, no one has been able to reach the heights he did during his tenure at the club.
Right Back: Phil Neal (1974-85)
It isn’t always easy to play for a big club like Liverpool, with so much competition for honours and places in the team; the greatest stat that anyone could put about Phil Neal is that he has won the most number of titles and medals as a Liverpool player. The right back won 8 league titles, 4 league cups, 5 charity shields, 4 European Cups, one UEFA cup and one UEFA Super cup during his 11 year stint at Anfield.
He was known to score some really important goals for the club and was known for his energy and fitness, during his spell at Liverpool, he played a consecutive 365 league games without missing one league game between 1975 to 1983, he was nicknamed as Zico in the dressing room as a reference to the Brazilian playmaker.
Centre Back: Alan Hansen (1977-1991)
You might have overheard Alan on the television now that he is a pundit on various television shows but Hansen was one of the best Liverpool defenders, especially during their glory days.
The Scottish player moved from Patrick Thistle in 1977 and never looked back, he is considered as the best Liverpool centre back ever and his return of 8 league titles, 3 European cups, 2 FA Cups and 4 League cups is a testament to his ability.
Hansen was part of one of the greatest Liverpool sides and after his retirement there were offers for him to become club manager but Hansen has always said no to the job and continues to enjoy his time on the television.
Centre Back: Jamie Carragher (1996-2013)
A Liverpool player throughout his senior career, Jamie Carragher is not called “Mr. Liverpool for nothing”. Jamie always gave his all for the club even though they didn’t really win much during his time at Liverpool. Strong & brave while defending, although he wasn’t gifted with a lot of pace he was always making the right tackles to ensure the opposition did not score.
He made 737 appearances for the Reds with his greatest achievement in winning the UEFA Champions League in 2005. He did win 2 FA Cups, 3 League Cups, 1 UEFA Cup and a couple of UEFA Super cups during his time at Liverpool and his love for Liverpool has not died down as he continues his career as a pundit.
Left Back: Alan Kennedy (1978-86)
Alan Kennedy was brought in from Newcastle in 1978 by another legendary manager for the club Bob Paisley and it was a good investment for the club. Kennedy wasn’t known for brilliant performances but was a solid, strong and reliable defender who got the job done. Liverpool really didn’t have great left backs playing for the squad until Kennedy came about.
He became the first player to score in 2 European Cup finals, doing it in 1981 and 1984, although he never was flashy and rarely made an appearance for the English team, yet he was ever present for he first team at Liverpool.
Kennedy won 5 league titles, 4 league cups, 3 Charity shields and 2 European cups during his tenure at Liverpool.
Right Winger: Ian Callaghan (1960-78)
The most capped player in Liverpool history that should be enough to tell you about why Callaghan would be in the list. He joined the club when they were in the second division of English football and after a couple of seasons they were promoted to the first division. The Legendary coach Bill Shankly had belief in the “Toxteth Terror” as he came to be known during his later years.
Callaghan was also part of the 1966 World Cup winning team for England and during his illustrious time at Liverpool, the Englishman won 5 league titles, 2 FA Cups, 2 European Cups, 2 UEFA cups, 6 Charity shields and one Super cup.
He made 856 appearances for Liverpool and scored 69 goals in the many wonderful years he spent playing for his boyhood club.
Central Midfield: Jan Molby (1984-96)
The Danish Midfielder was brought in from the Dutch club Ajax; Molby was one of the greatest passers of the ball during his day at Liverpool. The Dane was exceptional in his vision when playing in the midfield and although he didn’t score as many goals as the other midfielders, he was an important clog in the Liverpool team and often took penalties for the club.
Molby won 3 league titles 3 FA Cups, a league cup and 4 Charity shields during his time at Liverpool. His vision and awareness about the game are still talked about around the grounds. Molby finished his playing career at Swansea and was made an Honorary Scouser by the Lord Mayor of Liverpool in 2009.
Central Midfield: Steven Gerrard (1998-2015)
A tear was shed when Steven Gerrard announced that he would be leaving Liverpool at the end of the season to join the L.A. Galaxy. Gerrard has been at the heart of the Liverpool team since the 2000’s. Known for his great shooting ability and passing range, Gerrard will probably be remembered during his playing time under Rafa Benitez when he led Liverpool from 3-0 down in the UEFA Champions League final in 2005 to win 4-3 over AC Milan.
Gerrard is one of the greatest midfielders, if not the greatest midfielder ever to play for Liverpool, he is considered a legend at the club, not only for giving it his all while playing but often having to say not to other clubs, he was often tapped by Chelsea but always remained at Liverpool. The only sad fact about his time at Liverpool would be that he never won the League title.
You know you are one of the best ever when Zinedine Zidane says that the player was the best in the world (in 2009), till date Gerrard is the only player to have scored in a UEFA Champions League final, FA Cup final, League Cup final and a UEFA Cup final.
Left winger: John Barnes (1987-97)
The English winger was signed from Watford in 1987 by Kenny Dalglish and is often considered as the best winger that has ever played for the club. He was voted at number 5 by Liverpool fans in their 2006 poll of the 100 players who shook the Kop.
Barnes was tricky down the left wing for Liverpool and often caused a lot of problems to the opposition but he had to deal with even bigger issues as he was targeted with racist chants during his playing time in England. He didn’t win a lot during his time at Liverpool with 2 league titles, 2 FA Cups and a league cup but he will be remembered for his part in the greatest Premier League game as Liverpool beat Newcastle 4-3.
Jamie Carragher had this to say about Barnes: “Technically, he’s the best player I’ve ever trained or played with, he was great with both feet, and they were both exactly the same. I’d say he’s the best finisher I’ve ever played with (including Torres, Fowler, Owen). “
Striker: Ian Rush (1980-87 & 1988-96)
During his two stints at Liverpool, Ian Rush broke many goal scoring records for the club. The Welsh forward is considered as one of the best strikers ever to play for the club and his tally of 346 goals for the club is the most ever by any Liverpool player, probably a record which will not be broken anytime soon.
He made 660 appearances for the club, so his goals to games ratio are a pretty decent one which is close to a goal every other game. Some of his records include having scored the most number of goals in FA Cup finals with 5, record Merseyside derby scorer with 25 goals, Record Welsh international scorer with 28 goals & the first player to pick up 5 League cup winners medals.
He won 5 league titles, 5 league cups, 3 FA Cups and 2 European cups amongst the other trophies during his time at Liverpool which were also glittered with personal honours, which included being the top goal scorer for the club for 9 seasons.
Striker: Kenny Dalglish (1977-1990)
King Kenny as he is frequently called was voted as the greatest player to wear the Liverpool shirt, not only for his ability to score goals and do some rather crazy things with the ball at his feet but his love for the club and his record as a manager for the club, especially during the dark days of the Hillsborough disaster.
Dalglish was brought in from the Scottish team Celtic and it wasn’t long before he started repaying the faith with some great performances. He won 6 league titles, 7 charity shields, 3 European cups and an FA cup during his time as a player while as a manager for the Liverpool team he led them to 3 league titles, 2 FA cups, a league cup and a Super cup.
Currently he serves as a Non-executive director at the club and continues to be seen at various Liverpool games.
So here we have the “Greatest Liverpool XI of All-Time”
Captain: Steven Gerrard
Manager: Bill Shankly
It’s not easy to create a title winning squad. It is harder when the club is in the second division. If you are to ask any liverpool supporter about the greatest manager they ever had they would say, without a doubt Bill Shankly. Shanks as he was called was obsessive about football and took over Liverpool when they were in the second division. He got them to the first division and made them a force to be reckoned with.
Picture courtesy: Empire of the kop, Liverpool Echo,Liverpool FC, The Guardian, Daily Mail & The Express