Greatest XI of all time - Liverpool 

Liverpool FC v FC Sion - UEFA Europa League
"Liverpool was made for me and I was made for Liverpool."

125 years ago, a dispute between Everton committee and club president John Houlding, who owned the Anfield ground as well, led to the formation of Liverpool FC. Since then, the club had its share of highs and lows over the decades, gaining one of the biggest fan bases in world football.

The Reds are now second on the most-successful English clubs list behind Manchester United while being the most successful club in the country when it comes to European competitions. Although the club has not won the Premier League, there have been periods of success in the past two decades.

Over the course of these 125 years, several players graced the hallowed Anfield turf and a few of them have ensured they are remembered forever. Out of them, a select few are the reason Liverpool Football Club is what it is today. So, let's see how many of them make it into the greatest XI of all time.


Goalkeeper - Ray Clemence

Liverpool Goalkeeper Ray Clemence
Ray Clemence was a brick wall between the sticks

Despite the goalkeeping problems for the club in this decade, it is a fact that Liverpool has seen some top-notch keepers guard their goal. Pepe Reina and Bruce Grobbelaar are two of the likely contenders for the Reds' greatest ever keeper given their exploits in the 2000s and 1980s respectively. However, the crown deservedly goes to Ray Clemence.

The Englishman joined Bill Shankly's Liverpool from Scunthorpe United in 1967 for a meager £18,000 as an 18-year old. Initially, he spent over a year in the reserves before receiving his competitive debut in the League Cup against Swansea. Clemence finally upstaged the then incumbent, Tommy Lawrence, by 1970, and started his first league game against Nottingham Forest in January of that year.

From then on, the shot-stopper formed the final wall of defense as Liverpool became an unstoppable force in England as well as in Europe. In a team which controlled possession, Clemence's concentration was just as important as his razor-sharp reflexes and a commanding presence in the box. In a skill unheard of at the time, the 6ft tall goalkeeper was unafraid to rush out of goal in order to pressurize the attackers, something which is a norm in today's game.

His stupendous performances coupled with the team's led to Clemence winning five league titles and three European Cups among others. At a personal level, he missed just six league games between 1970-1981 as he racked up 665 appearances (332 clean sheets). No wonder, he was considered to be England great, Peter Shilton's equal and picked up 61 caps for his country.

His saves in the 1977 European Cup final followed by conceding just 16 goals in the 1978-79 season are career highlights while he signed off in style after winning the 1981 European Cup. In terms of sheer quality, Pepe Reina might be the better pick but overall, Ray Clemence is the greatest no.1 in Liverpool history.

Centre-Backs - Ron Yeats and Alan Hansen

Ron Yeats...
Ron Yeats was nicknamed "The Colossus"

Although the current centre-backs at the club do not evoke supreme confidence, the Reds have been blessed with some of the best defensive stalwarts over the decades. Among the lot, Ron Yeats deserves a place right at the top of the list. ‘Take a walk around my centre-half, gentlemen, he’s a colossus!’ remarked the revered Bill Shankly when announcing the Scot's arrival in 1961 and he indeed turned out to be so.

Yeats was more than just a centre-back. He was named captain right away and went to captain the side for a decade, a record broken by another player on this list later. Along with striker Ian St.John, he was the final piece of the jigsaw as Shankly built a side to rise from the Second Division and become a dominant force in England and Europe.

The former Dundee United defender clocked 454 games for the Merseyside club during his time at the club and became the first Liverpool captain to lift the FA Cup, an accomplishment he achieved in 1965. Prior to that, Yeats' arrival in 1961 became instrumental in the club securing promotion to the First Division in his first season, after spending eight years away from the top flight.

The Colossus then led the team to two league titles in the First Division. As the club became less successful in the late 1960s, Yeats was phased out at the club by Shankly and eventually left the club in 1971. One of Liverpool's greatest goalscorers, Roger Hunt, sums him up aptly.

"Big Ronny is the best centre-half I have ever seen. With him in the team and at his best, we used to think we were unbeatable."
A ball-playing centre-back of the highest order
A ball-playing centre-back of the highest order

Partnering him in the heart of the defense is Alan Hansen, a player who was deemed as not good enough for Liverpool at sixteen years of age during the Shankly era. However, Bob Paisley rectified the mistake and brought in 22-year old Hansen to Anfield in 1977 and from then on, he became the prototype of a classy ball-playing centre-back at the Merseyside club.

The Scot could tackle but rarely needed to given his excellent reading of the game. Further, he had a calming influence on the backline and his brilliant technique meant he could play the ball from the back as good as any midfielder, a rare sight in English football at that point.

In a Liverpool career spanning over 14 years, Hansen was pivotal in the club winning 8 league titles, 3 European Cups, 4 League Cups and 2 FA Cups. Knee injuries troubled the centre-back in the late 1980s and he eventually retired in 1991.

Despite not being as wildly popular as the fellow Scot who joined Liverpool along with him, Kenny Dalglish, Hansen was just as important at the back as Dalglish was up front. No wonder, Liverpool are yet to lift the league title since Hansen retired, highlighting his impact and quality.

Full-backs - Phil Neal and Alan Kennedy

Phil Neal was an epitome of consistency for the Reds
Phil Neal was an epitome of consistency for the Reds

Whenever there is a discussion for which player deserves a statue outside Anfield, Phil Neal is a name not many would expect. However, it does not take away from the fact that the Englishman was instrumental in the club's success and deservedly, is the most decorated player in Liverpool history.

Initially signed to play at left-back by Bob Paisley in his first season as manager back in 1974, Neal changed his gaffer's mind eventually and made the right-back spot his own. An astute reader of the game and making up for the lack of pace with game intelligence, the former Northampton Town full-back did not miss a single league game between 14 December 1974 and 24 September 1983, a club-record 365 consecutive games.

While Paisley's team boasted of stars with quite a few names in this list, Neal was the ever-reliable and ever-consistent player who made the team tick. However, he did have his moments of glory as he scored a penalty in the Reds' first ever European Cup victory against Borussia Monchengladbach in 1977 and again in the 1984 European Cup final against AS Roma.

Thus, Neal remains the only Liverpool player to play in all four European Cup wins in the 1970s and 1980s, which justify why France magazine, L'Equipe, rated him as the 6th greatest footballer in the history of the European Cup. Adding to his European glory, the Englishman won 8 league titles and 4 League Cups in a wonderful career at Anfield.

Alan Kennedy
Alan Kennedy is the greatest-ever Liverpool left-back

Talking of statues and glory, how often do you see a defender put the ball in the back of the net to win a couple of European Cups? Not often and that is exactly what Alan Kennedy did, scoring the winner against Real Madrid in 1981 and dispatching the final spot-kick against AS Roma in their own backyard in 1984. His crucial goals in those European Cup victories are the highlights of a wonderful career and he deservedly fills the left-back spot in Liverpool's greatest XI.

The Englishman played for Newcastle United before Paisley snapped him up in 1978 to increase competition for places. A speedy full-back with a never-say-die attitude, Kennedy was the no.1 left-back at the club for most of his time until he left in 1986. During his time, he picked up 5 League winners' medals and 4 League Cups along with the two European Cups.

While Liverpool have seen a few decent left-backs since Kennedy's departure, the latter's attitude and contribution to the club's success trumps them all by a mile.

Central Midfield - Graeme Souness and Steven Gerrard

Souness was the perfect midfield general for Liverpool
Souness was the perfect midfield general for Liverpool

Although the managerial career tarnished his reputation to quite an extent, there is no doubt that Graeme Souness was one of the greatest captains Liverpool ever had. The Scot was exactly the tough-tackling and aggressive leader in the middle of the park which the Reds fans would love to see today. Souness joined Paisley's Reds in 1978 and had a memorable first season where he won the BBC Goal of the Season with his first goal for the club and assisted the winning goal in the European Cup final.

His ability to read the game while being disciplined in midfield played a crucial role in the club's league victories in 1979 and 1980 and naturally, he captained the team during the glory period of the 1980s, leading the team from 1981 until he left the club in 1984 to join Italian side Sampdoria. The Scot was that rare player who could outfox opponents with guile and intelligence with the same ease as those who loved a physical tussle.

One fine example is the second leg of the European Cup semi-final against Dinamo Bucharest in 1984 when the opposition players attacked Souness verbally and physically for breaking their team-mate's jaw in the first leg. The Liverpool captain gave a disciplined performance to win the tie and went on to score in the penalty shootout against AS Roma in the final to win his third European Cup.

In short, Souness was the midfield general who could dominate games and shield the defence with equal aplomb. While he is ideal for being the captain of this team as well, that honour, however, goes to the local lad partnering him in the middle of the park.

Liverpool v Everton - Premier League
Captain Fantastic

If there is one player who epitomized what Liverpool Football Club is all about in this century, then every football-related individual will have only one name on their lips, Steven Gerrard. Possibly the least talented player on this list, the Whiston-born truly showcased the world how sheer passion, desire and work ethic can not only lift the individual but also teams to great heights.

If Souness was the midfield general, Gerrard was the all-action midfielder who could pass, cross, score and tackle with equal effect. The biggest attribute of Gerrard apart from his ability to score screamers was the regularity with which he could step up in big games, which led to Zinedine Zidane once stating that the Liverpool captain was the best midfielder in world football.

He really came into his own under Rafa Benitez and truly led by example as a captain, carrying not so good teams on his own several times during his 17 years with the club. He scored the first goal and won the penalty in Liverpool's unbelievable comeback from 0-3 down against AC Milan in the 2005 Champions League final. In 2006, he single-handedly kept his team in the FA Cup final against West Ham, including scoring an absolute thunderbolt to equalize towards the end of the match.

While the pain of not winning a league title remains for the local boy, he did win 2 FA Cups, 3 League Cups, 1 UEFA Cup and 1 UEFA Super Cup apart from the UEFA Champions League. Further, he etched his name into the PFA Team of the Year a record 8 times and can fight with another player on this list for the mantle of being Liverpool's greatest player of all time. Thus, Gerrard is not only on the list but also will captain the greatest XI.

Wide Forwards - Billy Liddle and Luis Suarez

Liverpool used to be referred as Liddellpool in the 1950s
Liverpool used to be referred as Liddellpool in the 1950s

It is not often that a player's name becomes a part of the moniker for summarizing the club. In the case of Billy Liddell, that is exactly what happened as Liverpool were often referred to as "Liddellpool", predominantly in the 1950s.

The Scot played his entire playing career at Anfield from 1946 to1961 scoring 228 goals in 534 appearances for the club. However, it would not have been the case if not for a certain Sir Matt Busby, who tipped off the then Liverpool manager George Kay about the 16-year old. Primarily a left-winger, he could play anywhere in attack and was the singular shining light in a poor phase for the club.

He retired just when the Shankly revolution was about to start and in the latter's own words:

"Liddell was some player... He had everything. He was fast, powerful, shot with either foot and his headers were like blasts from a gun. On top of all that he was as hard as granite. What a player! He was so strong – and he took a nineteen-inch collar shirt!"

Thus, Liddell occupies the left side of the attack in the greatest XI.

Tottenham Hotspur v Liverpool - Premier League
Suarez was one of the most talented players to don the Liverpool red

On the opposite side, he is joined by Luis Suarez who spent the least amount of time at the club compared to the rest on this list and has a solitary League Cup win in 2012 as his achievement. However, greatness is not limited to winning trophies and the Uruguayan ensured that in just three-and-a-half seasons at the club.

Suarez's transfer in the January of 2011 got lost amidst the turmoil surrounding fan-favourite Fernando Torres' move to Chelsea for a league record fee then and his replacement in a young Andy Carroll for a club-record fee. However, slowly but surely the brilliance came to the fore as the world stood up and took notice.

Donning the legendary no.7 jersey, Suarez scored on debut in front of the Kop and he continued to showcase his genius with simply unbelievable goals from every angle and in every way irrespective of the opponent and occasion. While he missed games due to bans from time to time for alleged racial abuse and biting, it all came together in the 2013/14 season.

Despite missing the first 5 games due to a ban, Suarez came back to score a whopping 31 goals in the remaining 33 league games. It was not just the goals but the nature of them as he single-handedly inspired a team with problems everywhere on the pitch to the brink of Premier League glory, a statement hardly any other player can make. The fact that he outscored the two best players of this generation, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, speaks volumes about his ability coupled with a relentless desire to win.

The image of an inconsolable Suarez after a 3-3 draw at Crystal Palace in May 2014 which ended title hopes will remain etched in every Reds' fan's memory. Such was his talent and impact that he is considered among the absolute best to not only play for Liverpool but also in the Premier League by several experts and pundits.

He did go on to win everything at the club level with Barcelona, making a name of his own beside the magical Messi. Meanwhile, for Liverpool, he has done just about enough to see out his competition and get into the greatest XI.

Trequartista - Kenny Dalglish

All hail King Kenny
All hail King Kenny

Kenny Dalglish was named the best post-war British striker by FourFourTwo and topped a Liverpool fans' poll of "100 Players Who Shook the Kop". Those accolades do not do justice to a player who was expected to fail, given he had to fill the giant boots of Kevin Keegan in 1977. As they say, the rest is history.

Dalglish went on to make history throughout his career and inscribed himself into club lore over the decades. He was the star of Bob Paisley's unstoppable Reds as they were untouchable in the league and dominated Europe. His ability to score goals (172 of them), intelligence to create more and the courage to take on any opponent set him apart as he broke records and won accolades season after season.

He was crucial to the club's success from 1977 through 1985 when he became the player-manager. He went on to win four more league titles by 1990 to cement his status at the club further. However, it is his compassion that earned him the moniker of "King Kenny" with the way he handled the Hillsborough disaster in 1989 where 96 fans lost their lives. He attended several funerals and helped fight for justice throughout, sealing his place among the upper echelons of the greatest humans to have graced Liverpool Football Club and deservedly has the Main Stand at Anfield named after him.

As Bob Paisley put it:

"Of all the players I have played alongside, managed and coached in more than forty years at Anfield, he is the most talented. When Kenny shines, the whole team is illuminated."

Centre-Forward - Ian Rush

Ian Rush
Ian Rush is the greatest Liverpool goalscorer of all time

Talking about Liverpool strikers, there is only one player who outshines them all and he is Dalglish's partner-in-crime, Ian Rush. Incidentally, he outscores them all too with a whopping 346 goals for the club across two spells spanning 15 years.

The Welshman joined in 1980 and won 5 league titles, 3 FA Cups, 5 League Cups and a European Cup during his entire Liverpool career. A quick runner with a thinking mind, Rush was famous for sneaking behind defenders. On adding his work ethic to it as the team's first defender, he was every manager's dream.

Goalscoring records tumbled every time he set foot on the pitch as he holds several Liverpool records along with being the top scorer for Wales as well. A huge factor in endearing himself to the Liverpool fans is his stunning record against Merseyside rivals, Everton, who have seen the great striker score 25 goals past them.

For a club with a history of great forwards, Rush's talent and achievements make him the greatest of them all and a benchmark for every striker who will don the fabled no.9 jersey at Anfield.

<p>Liverpool's greatest-ever XI</p><p>L
Liverpool's greatest-ever XI

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Edited by Abhijit Raghunathan