Top 5 greatest Liverpool players of all time

Liverpool are steeped in history as one of the most successful clubs not just in England but in the entirety of Europe. Unsurprisingly, the Reds have had some legendary managers and players represent the club over the years.

The modern generation of fans have at times been starved of success. While the club did well in the Rafa Benitez era and won the Champions League, Premier League glory eluded them. In the last three years or so, Liverpool’s allure has grown further.

Here, we will take a look at the top five players to have ever played for Liverpool. The list comprises modern-day greats and iconic footballers from the past.

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#5 Mohamed Salah

Liverpool star Mohamed Salah scores against Manchester United

What Mohamed Salah has done at Liverpool since signing for the club simply cannot be overlooked. Despite several other legendary players like John Barnes and Steve Heighway turning out for the Reds, Salah’s incredible goal-scoring record and consistency warrants a place in the top five.

The Egyptian is also currently in the discussion of best player in the world, which is no mean feat considering world-class players like Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Kylian Mbappe are around.

Salah’s performances will perhaps be appreciated more when he eventually hangs up his boots. After playing an integral role in their Champions League winning run in 2019, Salah helped the Reds end their 30-year wait for the league title in 2020.

The Egyptian is in the prime of his career, and has already scored 141 goals across all competitions for Liverpool.

Should Salah extend his stay at Anfield, he could very well breach the 200-goal mark, a feat achieved by just four Liverpool players.

#4 Alan Hansen

Alan Sunderland of Arsenal and Alan Hansen of Liverpool (R)

A recent image of Virgil van Dijk alongside Alan Hansen went viral on social media. It had some of the older generation of fans reminiscing and possibly imagining how good a pairing the duo could have been!

What van Dijk has done since signing for Liverpool has been impressive to say the least. The Dutchman has been dominant at the back. He has a kind of aura about him that seasoned fans perhaps experienced when they saw Hansen don the famous red jersey.

Hansen joined Liverpool in 1977, and had a hugely successful spell at Anfield. The Scotsman helped the club win eight league titles, two FA Cups, four League Cups, and three European Cups.

Great teams are built on a strong defense, and with the likes of Mark Lawrenson and Bruce Grobbelaar, Hansen formed an often unbreakable Liverpool backline.

#3 Ian Rush

Ian Rush of Liverpool scores a goal

Ian Rush’s incredible records speak for themselves; the Welshman is still the club’s leading goal-scorer with an incredible 346 goals in 660 appearances.

Not only was Rush a player who could score goals, but he also worked tirelessly upfront and hassled defenses, something all too familiar in the current Liverpool setup under Jurgen Klopp.

Rush had everything you could ask for from a striker; speed, strength, and precision to tuck away goals. His goal-return will perhaps never be matched in the modern era.

#2 Kenny Dalglish

Kenny Dalglish and Sammy Lee of Liverpool

Kenny Dalglish and Ian Rush formed a lethal strike force up and helped Liverpool dominate the 1980s both domestically and in Europe.

Dalglish’s goal-return isn’t as prolific as Rush’s, and the Scotsman did not have the same physical attributes as the Welshman. But he more than made up for it with his footballing intelligence.

King Kenny was an elegant footballer, and had the technical brilliance that saw him unlock many a defense. Dalglish liked dropping deeper to collect the ball and play the final pass more than Rush.

Dalglish was part of a Liverpool team that won six league titles and three European Cups, and is perhaps the best player to have played for the club in the 20th century.

#1 Steven Gerrard

Steven Gerrard had the attributes of a complete midfielder, and he was so often the heartbeat of the Liverpool team in the 2000s.

Gerrard had the ability to adapt his game depending on the opposition as he could play a deeper role and do the dirty work, and also drive forward to score goals.

The former Liverpool skipper has scored in the Champions League, UEFA Cup, FA Cup and League Cup final, which shows he never shied away from the big occasion.

Despite being a midfielder, Gerrard has 186 goals to his name, and is fifth on the list of highest goal-scorers for Liverpool.

Although the Premier League crown eluded Gerrard, his aura and ability to dominate the midfield put him No. 1 on this list.