Who are the best Liverpool players of all time? One of the most successful clubs in English football Liverpool is up there with the most iconic and illustrious clubs, as well as being one of the most popular teams in the world.
Best Liverpool Players
Some of the greatest players of all time have called Anfield home. We take a look at the players that have had the biggest impact at the club and are the 10 best Liverpool players in history.
10. Luis Suarez
Luis Suarez’s time in England was controversial at times but he’s one of the best Liverpool players of all time as well as one of the greatest Premier League strikers ever. In four seasons at Anfield he scored 69 goals.
His 31 goals in 33 games in 2013-14 goes down as one of the greatest ever seasons by any Liverpool player. Suarez had the pace, skill and finishing that elevated him to icon status but it’s the tenacity and passion that he played with that cements his status as a Liverpool legend.
9. Graeme Souness
Graeme Souness only needed seven seasons at Liverpool to become one of the clubs greatest icons. The midfield general had the ability to dictate the tempo and take complete control of games. A commanding presence, he was a strong tackler and a creative maestro.
Souness won five league titles and three European Cups at Liverpool, and he returned as manager in 1991 and led the club to FA Cup success in his first season in charge.
8. Jamie Carragher
Jamie Carragher may have been playing in the wrong era, but his old-fashioned approach to defending worked as he had an impressive workrate, was strong and versatile. Carragher had a no-nonsense approach and is arguably the most loyal Liverpool player of all time.
A one-club player, a rarity in modern football, he played 737 times for Liverpool and he won the Champions League in 2005, the UEFA Cup in 2001 and the FA Cup in 2001 and 2006.
7. Alan Hansen
Technically gifted and extremely intelligent, Alan Hansen dominated during his 13 years at Liverpool and was a major part of the club’s success during the 1980s. Jamie Carragher himself even recognised Hansen as the best centre-back to play for the club.
Hansen was able to read the game almost telepathically and was able to anticipate plays and shutdown attacks. He won 8 league titles and three European Cups with the club and will be remembered as one of the best Liverpool players in history.
6. John Barnes
John Barnes played 314 league games and scored 84 times for Liverpool. He had speed, agility and power which made him one of the most devastating left wingers to contend with. He also shifted to central midfield with success later on in his career.
So impactful was Barnes during his 10-year spell at the club he was Steven Gerrard’s greatest Liverpool hero growing up as is the case for many other supporters.
5. Virgil Van Dijk
Virgil Van Dijk joined Liverpool for £75 million in January 2018, a then-world record for a defender. Through his leadership, aerial prowess and ability to distribute the ball from the back, Van Dijk established himself quickly as one of the club’s best defenders ever.
Van Dijk helped guide Liverpool to a Champions League title in 2019, the same year he earned Ballon d’Or runner-up. He also won the Premier League in 2020 helping to end a 30-year league title drought.
4. Ian Rush
Ian Rush enjoyed multiple spells at Liverpool and was a goal-scoring machine. In all competitions Rush is the leading scorer in the club’s history with 346 goals from 660 appearances.
Rush had predatory instincts as a striker. Naturally he could finish, had the power, speed, a great touch and intelligent positioning. While at Liverpool he helped guide the club to five league titles and the European Cup twice.
3. Mohamed Salah
Mohamed Salah is both an Egyptian and Liverpool icon and is one of the clubs best players ever. Signing from Roma for a then-club record fee of £36.9 million, Salah has excelled at Liverpool with his generational combination of dribbling, finishing and speed.
Salah’s 32 goals from 36 games in 2017-18 is one of the greatest Premier League seasons of all time by a forward and was one of three Golden Boot seasons for him. He was also a key part of the 2018-19 Champions League winning team.
2. Kenny Dalglish
Arguably Liverpool’s greatest ever player, Kenny Dalglish played 355 league games and scored 118 goals for the club. “King Kenny” was Ballon d’Or runner-up in 1983, won six league titles and three European Cups during the club’s golden era.
Admired worldwide he had lightning speed which contributed to a technically brilliant pass-and-move-game. Dalglish also had great awareness, excellent vision and creativity.
Further cementing his status as a club legend was his managerial success. He won the league three times as manager of Liverpool.
1. Steven Gerrard
Steven Gerrard may not share the same amount of trophies as other Liverpool greats.but he was the ultimate competitor and was a hero for the entire city of Liverpool during his career. A hardworking box-to-box midfielder, he had exceptional intelligence, tactical awareness, had great skill, and was born to be a leader.
Gerrard played 504 Premier League games and scored 120 goals. He never won the league title but it wasn’t through a lack of passion or dedication. He’ll forever be remembered for his Man of the Match performance in the 2005 Champions League final.
His goal sparked a comeback from 3-0 down and his leadership on the night forever cements his legacy as the greatest Liverpool player of all time.
