Liverpool’s rich history, stature, and pedigree, without mincing words, were made possible by the array of world-class players who grace the iconic Anfield stadium.
Sometimes, analysing club legends can give you goosebumps, particularly when re-watching old or even recent footage of them being successful in the colours of the club they donned their jersey for.
Without wasting time, the names we’ll be writing about in this article, are names who in their career have made an impact and earned their cult-hero status with their contributions to the game.
1. Steven Gerrard
It makes sense to start with Liverpool’s unarguably most iconic midfielder ever to grace the red half of Merseyside.
The local boy made his first team debut for the Reds in 1998 as a late substitute in the Premier League against Blackburn Rovers and he instantly became a stalwart and fan favourite from that point.
Sadly, the only thing missing from Gerrard’s trophy cabinet is the Premier League title having agonizingly come close to winning it in 2009 and 2014, but unfortunately, he couldn’t win it throughout his 709 appearances for Liverpool.
However, despite not winning the Premier League, Gerrard remains one of the finest midfielders to ever don the colours of Liverpool.
2. Graeme Souness
Souness, is a brilliant and technically gifted midfielder who achieved his greatest success as an integral part of the Liverpool team during the 70s and 80s in English football.
The legendary midfielder was an all-rounder who could inspire the dressing room and also make an impact on the pitch with his self-confidence and quality.
Souness was immensely popular with the fans throughout his illustrious career at Anfield, winning five league titles, three European cups and four league cups.
3. Xabi Alonso
Xabi is a midfield maestro whose legacy and impact are still very fresh in the memories of the Liverpool faithful and Premier League fans.
The Spaniard joined the Merseyside giant in 2004 and went on to achieve staggering success in the colours of the club before he left for Real Madrid in 2009.
During his reign at Anfield, he made 143 appearances and scored 14 goals for the club from his defensive midfield position while showcasing his incredible passing ability and knowledge of the game.
4. John Barnes
From Kingston, a renowned city in Jamaica, to becoming a cult hero at Anfield with his sheer brilliance, quality and dedication throughout his time at Liverpool.
Barnes arrived at the club from Watford in 1987 for what is referred to as a bargain at the time but surprisingly went on to form a formidable partnership with Peter Beardsley and Jon Aldridge.
His career at Anfield only lasted 10-year and throughout those years he made his impact felt, producing a constant stream of double-digit goals and breathtaking performances.
5. Ray Kennedy
It’s debatable whether the late Ray Kennedy is a midfielder, he was signed as a forward when he joined but was later drafted as a midfielder because of goal-scoring instincts.
The late midfielder spent eight years at Liverpool at the height of the club’s powers in the late 70s and early 80s having arrived from Arsenal in 1974.
Kennedy was well revered at both clubs and he undoubtedly stands as a legend among all of the players who have graced the hollowed pitches in the Premier League, with his thunderous left foot, tremendous vision and knack for scoring goals.
6. Ronnie Whelan
Whelan’s journey from a young football enthusiast in Dublin to a football legend at Anfield is a testament to his talent and incredible impact at the club.
The legendary midfielder is arguably one of the most talented passers of the ball to ever tipped-toe the Anfield stadium amassing over 500 games as a Liverpool player.
Ronnie spent almost 15 years at Liverpool, and throughout his stay at the club, he played a pivotal role in the Red’s success and left an indelible mark on its storied history.
7. Ian Callaghan
Certainly, it would be a criminal offence not to have Ian Callaghan on this list, even though he didn’t play in the Premier League era where everything about the league is stats-oriented.
The midfield maestro is a folkloric figure in the history of Liverpool, considering his commitment, contributions and impact.
‘Marathon Man‘, as he is fondly called was well known for his loyalty, stamina and career longevity having spent 19 years in helping the Merseyside giant to the pinnacle of football in the 60s and 70s.
8. Steven McManaman
If adaptability and versatility have another name, then it would be McManaman for how well he could swiftly switch from midfield to attack to score goals and create an assist.
He was instrumental in Liverpool’s success in winning one league cup and one FA cup during his stint before making a bold move to Real Madrid on a free transfer.
As one of the shining jewels in the Premier League era, he amassed 364 appearances, 66 goals and 85 assists across all games in the colours of Liverpool before he left.
9. Sammy Lee
Sammy Lee, is undoubtedly a legend off and on the pitch for Liverpool, considering his indelible impact at the club.
He was in the league of his thanks to his trophy-laden career which saw the Merseyside giant reach the pinnacle of football in the 80s.
The decorated midfielder lifted 10 trophies in less than ten years in Liverpool’s colour, dictating the game with his deftness, presence of mind, quick passing and ability to read the game which made him a lethal weapon in Red’s armoury.
10. Jordan Henderson
Henderson is one of Liverpool’s modern-day midfielders who lit Anfield with his talent and incredible leadership skills throughout his stint at the club.
Joining from Sunderland in 2011 got a lot of people talking about his quality but he ended up silencing his critics to becoming a legend of the club.
Under his leadership, the Kop won the 2019 Champions League, and 2020 Premier League and throughout his 10 years illustrious career he scored 33 goals and assisted 58 chances in 492 games.
Honorable Mention
- Javier Mascherano
- Fabinho
- Luis Garcia
- Philippe Coutinho
- Dietmar Hamann
- Danny Murphy
- Momo Sissoko
You Might Also Want To Read This
- 10 Players With The Most Titles In La Liga History
- 10 Players With The Most Ligue 1 Titles In History
- 10 Players With The Most Bundesliga Titles In History
- 10 Players With The Most Serie A Titles In History
- 10 Players With The Most Premier League Titles In History
- 10 Managers With The Most UCL Titles In History
- Top 10 Best Strikers (Centre-Forward) In The World 2024
- Top 10 Goalkeepers In The World 2024
- Top 10 Right Wingers In The World 2024
- Top 10 Best Left Back In The World 2024
- Top 10 Best Right Back In The World 2024
- Top 10 Attacking Midfielders In The World 2024
- Top 10 Defensive Midfielders In The World 2024
- Leeds United’s 10 Greatest Players Of All Time
