Who is the best Liverpool midfielder in the history of football?
Midfield-line is one of the most important sectors in a football team. This sector acts as a center of stability of a team. The midfield-line is the place where the team's attack is built and their defense is initiated. The midfielders are required to be able to develop the team's offense, help the defense players, and sometimes they are also required to score goals.
In this article, I will discuss 15 best Liverpool of all time. As most of us have already known, Liverpool is one of the most respected clubs in the world who has a lot of great players. So, who are the midfielders who played major roles to lead the club through periods of glory?
Source: Wikimedia Commons
15. Dietmar Hamann
Besides Steven Gerrard, Dietmar Hamann was considered to have an important role when helping Liverpool defeat AC Milan in the Champions League final in 2005. Injured, Hamann came on as a substitute for Steve Finnan when the team lost 3-0. In that game, he showed a charming performance, helped Liverpool to equalize the score, and finally won the match through a penalty shootout. Throughout his career, Hamann played 191 times and scored eight goals for the Reds.
Source: Wikimedia Commons
14. Jamie Redknapp
Jamie Redknapp was a Liverpool captain who led the team win five trophies in the 2000-2001 season. He is known as a creative center midfielder who is able to defend and attack equally well. This player is also often scored with a long-range shot. Total, Redknapp played 308 times for Liverpool from 1991 to 2001. Unfortunately, he had to retire at a fairly young age (32 years old) due to prolonged injury which makes his performance dropped dramatically.
13. Gary McAllister
Gary McAllister only played for Liverpool from 2000 to 2002. He also joined the Reds in his later period of his career, when he was 36 years old. However, McAllister managed to show a very captivating performance, especially in the 2000-2001 season when he helped the Reds won five titles in a single season. During his period in Liverpool, he is known as a very reliable set-pieces taker.
12. Patrick Berger
Patrick Berger is a former Czech Republic midfielder who was mostly played as a left-winger. This player played for the Reds from 1996 to 2003, scored a total of 48 goals from 149 appearances. Together with Steve McManaman, he was known as one of the most vital Liverpool's midfielders in the second half of the 1990s. The best individual achievement ever achieved by Berger is the Best Player of the Czech Republic awards in 1996.
11. Peter Beardsley
Together with Paul Gascoigne and David Platt, Beardsley was one of the greatest England midfielders who guided the team to be one of the strongest national teams in the world in the first half of the 1990s. He played Liverpool for four years in the period 1987-1991. In addition to playing as an attacking midfielder, Beardsley is also sometimes positioned as a striker, as a tandem for Ian Rush and John Aldridge. In total, Beardsley scored 46 goals in his 131 appearances for Liverpool.
Source: Wikimedia Commons: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xabi_Alonso
10. Xabi Alonso
Xabi Alonso is a Spanish player brought in by the new manager Liverpool manager, Rafael Benitez in the middle of 2000s. Compared to other Spanish players such as Fernando Morientes or Luis Garcia, Xabi Alonso captured more attention from the fans and pundits. His duet with Steven Gerrard as central midfielders was regarded as the best duo in Europe at that time. With Liverpool, Xabi won one Champions League trophy and one FA Cup trophy. He left Liverpool in 2009 after Real Madrid signed him for 30 million Poundsterlings.
9. Steve McManaman
McManaman is one of the best English dribblers of all time. This player acted as the main assist provider for one of the best duets in Liverpool's history, Robbie Fowler and Michael Owen, in the late 90s. For nine years playing for the Reds, Mc Manaman scored 46 goals in 272 appearances. Not only shines with Liverpool, when he finally moved to Real Madrid, Macca actually had more successful career, where he won two La Liga titles and two Champions League trophies. He is regarded as one of the most successful British players who played abroad, along with John Charles, Kevin Keegan, and David Beckham.
Source: Wikimedia Commons: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jan_M%C3%B8lby
8. Jan Molby
Jan Molby is one of the best penalty takers in the history of English League. The Danish midfielder played for Liverpool from 1984 to 1996, where from his 12-year career he scored 42 goals from the penalty spot. His career with Liverpool was also considerably great, where Molby led his team win three English League titles and three FA Cup trophies.
7. Steve Heighway
Steve Heighway is a retired Irish winger who played for the Reds for 11 years, from 1970 to 1981. He was a player who had a major role in transforming Liverpool into one of the best teams in the world in the 1970s. In his best day, Heighway is known as a quick winger who is able to kick the ball with his right and left foot equally well. In addition to winning five English League titles, Heighway also led Liverpool win three FA Cup trophies.
6. Graeme Souness
Graeme Souness was not only known as a good passer, but also as a prominent team leader. The Scottish midfielder was the Liverpool captain in the 1980s. Under his leadership, Liverpool became one of the most respected teams in Europe. During his career with Liverpool from 1978 to 1984, Souness led the team win five English League titles and three FA Cup trophies.
5. Billy Liddell
Liddell was a Scottish winger who spent his entire 23-year career as a Liverpool player. He played for the Reds in the period 1938 to 1961, with a total of 492 appearances and scored 215 goals. As Liddell was a very influential player, Liverpool was even nicknamed as "Liddlepool." Besides playing as a winger, sometimes he also played as a center forward or second striker.
4. Emlyn Hughes
Not only as a Liverpool's captain, Emlyn Hughes was also trusted to be a captain of England national team in the 1970s. The player played as a defensive midfielder and his main duty was to connect the defense line and the offensive line. Throughout his 12-year career with Liverpool, Hughes played in 474 matches and scored 35 goals. He also won four English League titles and two Champions Cup trophies.
3. John Barnes
John Barnes is a for British winger of Jamaican descent. He was known as player who possessed great agility and dribbling skills. Barnes was also very prolific in scoring goals. Together with Peter Beardsley, John Aldridge and Ian Rush; Barnes made Liverpool's offensive sector in the 1980s became one of the strongest in the world. Throughout his career at the Reds, Barnes scored 84 goals from 314 appearances. He was also awarded a title "English League's Best Player" in 1988.
2. Ian Callaghan
Ian Callaghan played for Liverpool for 18 years, from 1960 to 1978. Until now, he still holds the record as the Reds player with the highest number of appearances, with a total of 857 appearances. Callaghan had joined Liverpool since this club was still competing in the Division Two. He struggled with the club and finally managed to take it to be a European champion. With Liverpool, Callaghan won five English League titles and two Champions Cup trophies.
1. Steven Gerrard
Considering the number of title won as a Liverpool player, perhaps Steven Gerrard is not as great as Ian Callaghan, John Barnes, or Emlyn Hughes. However, if we consider the individual skills, loyalty, and contributions, it seems very appropriate to name Steven Gerrard as the best Liverpool's midfielder of all time. He started his career as the Reds' player in 1998. He was later appointed as a team captain in 2003 and since that moment, Gerrard has always shown tremendous spirit and performances in every Liverpool games.
Gerrard is known as a versatile midfielder who is excellent in defense, offense, and also scores a lot of goals. In addition to winning five titles in 2001 for Liverpool, Gerrard also led his team win Champions League 2005 trophy through a very dramatic match.