Top 10 Best Liverpool Players of All Time

Liverpool F.C. is one of the most successful English clubs in the history of soccer and is one of the most well-known clubs in the world. Founded in 1892, the team has had several legendary players wear the red kit throughout the years. In this article, we’ll take a look at the top 10 greatest Liverpool players of all time.

Who Are the Best Liverpool FC Soccer Players of All Time?

1. Steven Gerrard
2. Kenny Dalglish
3. Ian Rush
4. John Barnes
5. Mohamed Salah
6. Alan Hansen
7. Kevin Keegan
8. Micheal Owen
9. Graeme Souness
10. Ray Clemence

1. Steven Gerrard

• 2004-05 UEFA Champions League Winner
• Two-time FA Cup winner
• Three-time League Cup winner

Steven Gerrard was one of those rare types of players that personally embodies a team. A hometown kid from Merseyside, Gerrard began playing for the Liverpool youth squad at the age of nine years old. Eight years later, Gerrard signed a professional contract with the club, and the rest is history. Gerrard won nine major titles in his 17 years at Liverpool and became the only player in history to score in a League Cup Final, FA Cup Final, UEFA Cup Final, and UEFA Champions League Final.

The skipper’s most legendary moment is undoubtedly his performance in the 2005 Champions League Final against a formidable A.C. Milan side. After going down 3-0 by the end of the first half, Gerrard kickstarted a Liverpool comeback with a goal in the 54th minute and drew a penalty seven minutes later. Liverpool took the game to extra time and won on penalties, hoisting the trophy for the first time since 1984. Although Gerrard never won a Premier League title with the Reds, the legacy he left at Anfield on and off the pitch makes him worthy of the top spot on the list.

2. Kenny Dalglish

• FA Cup winner
• Four-time League Cup winner
• Three-time European Cup winner

Before there was Steven Gerrard, “King Kenny” was the hero of the city of Liverpool. Knighted by Queen Elizabeth in 2018 for “services to football,” Sir Kenneth Dalglish was signed by Liverpool in 1977 to replace Kevin Keegan, but Dalglish did more than just replace him. He had an immediate impact on the team from his first appearance, scoring in his league debut against Middlesbrough. Dalglish capped off his first season with the club by scoring the game-winning goal in the European Cup to usher in an era of European and English dominance by the Reds.

Perhaps most importantly, however, Dalglish is also remembered for his upstanding conduct as manager of Liverpool F.C. after the Hillsborough disaster in 1989, which claimed the lives of 97 people. Dalglish consoled the victims’ families and attended several funerals, doing what he could to help those affected by the tragedy.

3. Ian Rush

• Five-time League Cup winner
• Three-time FA Cup winner
• 1984 European Golden Boot winner

One of the greatest scorers in the history of English football, Ian Rush was one of the main factors in Liverpool’s dominance during the 1980s. The Welsh striker tallied a club record 346 goals in 660 appearances during his 16 years as a player for Liverpool and has the 14th most goals in English top-flight history. Rush made his debut for the Reds in 1980 and played at Anfield for the next decade and a half, aside from a brief stint at Juventus in 1987.

In his first six seasons at Liverpool, Rush scored 30 or more goals in all but one. Rush was known for his stellar performances against Liverpool rival Everton F.C., amassing 25 goals against the club. The talented forward left Liverpool in 1996, and retired from the game four years later. His goalscoring record has stood for the past 30 years, and it doesn’t seem as though it will be broken anytime soon.

4. John Barnes

• Two-time First Division winner
• Two-time FA Cup winner
• 1994-95 League Cup winner

The Jamaican-born John Barnes moved to London in 1976 at the age of 12 and was signed by Watford four years later to begin his brilliant football career. In 1987, Barnes decided to leave Watford, who gave Manchester United’s manager Sir Alex Ferguson a chance to sign the youngster. Ferguson passed up the opportunity and allowed Liverpool to sign Barnes. It was one of Ferguson’s rare mistakes.

For the next 10 years, Barnes became a force to be reckoned with for the Reds, first playing at winger, then shifting to midfield later on in his career. He was exceptional at both positions and scored 108 goals in his 407 appearances with the club. In addition, Barnes faced numerous racially charged jeers and taunts while playing for Liverpool, yet he never let the abuse affect his performance. His performance on the pitch paved the way for other black players to succeed at Anfield.

5. Mohammed Salah

• Three-time Premier League Golden Boot winner
• 2017-18 Premier League Player of the Season
• 2018-19 UEFA Champions League winner

The only player featured on this list who currently plays for Liverpool, Mohamed Salah has become a fan favorite at Anfield ever since his arrival from Roma in 2017. His popularity has, of course, been helped by his incredible performances on the pitch. In his first season with the club, Salah tallied a then Premier League record 32 goals in 38 games, only recently broken this season by Manchester City’s Erling Haaland. Although he couldn't lead Liverpool to a Premier League title that year, Salah was instrumental in the club winning the UEFA Champions League title. On top of that, Salah also won the Puskas Award that year for his goal against Liverpool rival Everton F.C.

In a few years’ time, Salah may deserve a higher spot on this list. Just this year, Salah eclipsed Kenny Dalglish for sixth place on the Liverpool career goal-scoring record list. His contract will expire with the club in 2025, giving him plenty of time to surpass more Liverpool legends with his magic boot.

6. Alan Hansen

• Eight-time First Division winner
• Two-time FA Cup winner
• Three-time League Cup winner

Another Scot who had a terrific career with Liverpool, Hansen was the cornerstone of the club’s defense during its dominant run in the 80s. Hansen arrived at the club in 1977, winning Man of the Match in his debut with the Reds. It was a sign of things to come. Hansen won 22 trophies in all competitions during his time at Anfield and has gone down as arguably the club's most talented defender.

In the 1978-79 season, Hansen anchored the Liverpool defense which gave up just 16 goals in 42 games. He appeared in 620 games for Liverpool in 14 seasons, coming in at 10th all-time in appearances for the club. While Liverpool’s dominance in the 1980s is mostly attributed to the goal-scoring prowess of Kenny Dalglish and Ian Rush, the stout defending of Alan Hansen cannot be underscored in terms of its importance to the team’s success.

7. Kevin Keegan

• Three-time First Division winner
• Two-time UEFA Cup winner
• 1976-77 European Cup winner

If not for Liverpool’s incredible forwards duo of Ian Rush and Kenny Dalglish in the 1980s, Kevin Keegan might have gone down as the greatest striker in Liverpool history. Keegan was signed by Liverpool from Scunthorpe United in 1971 and scored 12 minutes into his debut with the Reds. He scored 99 more times in six years with the club for a total of 100 goals in 323 appearances.

In 1973, Keegan led Liverpool to its first European title by scoring a brace in the first leg of the UEFA Cup Final against Borussia Monchengladbach. Keegan led the Reds to another UEFA Cup and one European Cup victory as well. In 1977, Keegan left Liverpool for Hamburg, where he won the Ballon d’Or twice, providing further evidence of his dazzling talent on the pitch.

8. Michael Owen

• 2001 Ballon d’Or winner
• 1997-98 Premier League Player of the Season
• 2000-01 UEFA Cup winner

It seems that players who score in their debut matches tend to achieve great things at Anfield, and Michael Owen is no exception. Owen tapped in a goal at 17 years old in his first appearance with the Reds against Wimbledon, and couldn’t stop scoring after that. Owen finished his first season tied for the most goals in the Premier League at 18, and achieved the same feat the following year. Owen led Liverpool in goals in every season from 1997-2004.

In 2001, Owen led Liverpool to a domestic treble of the FA Cup, League Cup, and UEFA Cup. That same year, Owen won the Ballon d’Or, becoming the first Englishman to have that honor since Kevin Keegan. The striker is one of only ten players to score at least 150 goals in the Premier League. Owen left Liverpool just before the club won the UEFA Champions League in 2005 but notched a ratio of one goal every two games for the Reds during his time in Merseyside.

9. Graeme Souness

• Five-time First Division winner
• Three-time League Cup winner
• Three-time European Cup winner

Souness was the third and final piece of the Scottish triumvirate brought in by Liverpool manager Bob Paisley in 1978. Like his fellow countrymen Kenny Dalglish and Alan Hansen, Souness achieved his greatest success while playing at Anfield. Always a strong force in the midfield, Souness won five First Division titles in his six seasons at Liverpool.

Aside from his 55 goals in 359 games, Souness lifted a ton of silverware, amassing a total of 12 trophies, including three European Cups. In fact, Souness played his best when the lights were brightest. In the 1978 European Cup Final against Club Brugge, Souness provided the assist to Scottish teammate Kenny Dalglish’s game-winning goal. He was named captain in 1981, and his presence was instrumental in the club’s success throughout the next few years. Souness left the club in 1984 to join Sampdoria but fully deserves his spot on this list as a Liverpool legend.

10. Ray Clemence

• Five-time First Division winner
• Three-time European Cup winner
• 1973-74 FA Cup winner

The only goalkeeper on this list, Ray Clemence was signed by Liverpool for £18,000 in 1967 from Scunthorpe United. It was a steal for the type of player he’d become at Anfield. One of the most reliable and durable netminders of all time, Clemence missed just six league matches between 1970 and 1981. In the 1978-79 season, he gave up just 16 goals en route to winning the English First Division.

All told, Clemence won 10 trophies at Anfield, including three European Cups, two UEFA Cups, and five League titles. But perhaps most incredible are the other records Clemence set. Clemence is third place in official career appearances in the history of football and holds the record for most clean sheets of all time.

Honorable Mentions

• Alisson Becker
• Ian Callaghan
• Jamie Carragher
• Virgil Van Dijk
• Robbie Fowler
• Roger Hunt
• Billy Lidell
• Sadio Mane
• Phil Neal
• Fernando Torres

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