Anfield Red

Ok, so you might think this indicates a slow news day, or a lad with too much time on his hands. Or both. But bear with me here. Throughout the next week, I will be posting my top 50 players ever to have worn the red of Liverpool. It is a fabulous collection, filled with characters, quality and, of course, bucketloads of trophies. Feel free to shoot down the poor suggestions, although I will expect good reasoning behind your own! Here are players 40-31:

 
 
40. Chris Lawler (1963-1976)

Full backs rarely get excessive praise doled out to them, and in Chris Lawler’s case this was no different. A local lad, given his debut as a nineteen year old by Bill Shankly, Lawler will go down in Anfield folklore for his goalscoring exploits in an era when full-backs were expected to be….well…fully back. “The Ghost” notched an incredible 61 goals in his time at Liverpool, including a famous Merseyside derby winner in 1970. His attacking instincts were considered by many to be ahead of their time, yet his defensive solidarity was rarely diminished, and he became a mainstay of the great sides of the 60s and 70s. So regular was his contribution- at one point he managed an amazing 241 consecutive appearances- that, upon hearing of an ankle strain for the quiet defender in training, Shankly was moved to brand him a “malingerer” in one of the great man’s most acerbic, and hilarious, quotes.

39. Albert Stubbins (1946-1952)

Did you know that only one footballer features on the cover of the Beatles’ iconic Sgt Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band album cover? Considering that the album was released in December 1966, you might reasonably expect that footballer to have been Bobby Moore, fresh from his World Cup success that summer? Or George Best, who was the hottest thing in British football at the time? Pele even? No, it was Albert Stubbins, a Geordie forward for whom the decision to sign for Liverpool (ahead of Everton, who were also interested) was made via the toss of a coin. Liverpool won, and enjoyed six years of Stubbins’ dainty touch, bravery and finishing ability. 83 goals in 180 appearances followed, along with a league winners’ medal in 1947. His place in the great pantheon of Liverpool strikers is well assured, and he must have been pretty special if Lennon & Macca wanted him on their cover.

38. Xabi Alonso (2004-present)

When Rafa Benitez arrived at Liverpool in 2004, he was shocked at the squad he had inherited from Gerard Houllier. Bereft of confidence, width and composure, he knew he had a big job on to revitalise a side that had slipped frighteningly away from the league’s summit. Fortunately, he knew where he needed to go to begin the revolution. Xabi Alonso was captaining Real Sociedad at the age of 22, and was a key figure as the side pushed the mighty Real Madrid all the way to the final day of the La Liga season in 2003. His arrival at Anfield may have set the club back £10.5m, but it already looks like a bargain. Steven Gerrard remarked a few months into Alonso’s Merseyside career that he was “the best passer I have ever seen”, and fans purred at his technique, scope of passing and marvellous set-pieces. A broken ankle interrupted his debut season, but he returned swiftly to score the levelling goal in the Champions League final, following up after his penalty was saved, and has been a mainstay of the Liverpool midfield since. Even after a much-protracted departure from the club failed to happen last summer, he has knuckled down and proven himself again to be one of the most important players at the club, and fans’ favourite too. Class.

37. John Aldridge (1987-1989)

The term “natural goalscorer” is something of an enigmatic one in my opinion. How do you “naturally” score goals? Maybe John Aldridge can provide the answer on that one. Aldridge had carved out a good reputation for scoring goals at lower league sides Newport County & Oxford United when Kenny Dalglish brought him home to Liverpool in 1987 for three-quarters of a million pound. Ian Rush’s departure for Juventus that summer accelerated his importance to the side, and by the end of the 87-88 season “Aldo” had smashed 26 goals in 36 games to steer the Reds to a blissfully pleasing title success. Far from gifted technically, Aldridge possessed an unerring calmness in front of goal, the anticipation to manoeuvre himself into the optimum goalscoring position with incredible regularity, and a rapport with the fans that has not been matched by many. A missed penalty in the FA Cup final defeat to Wimbledon in 1988 was made up for by the opening goal the following year against Everton, and it was a sad sight to see him forced to leave the club for Real Sociedad in September 1989 in order to accommodate the returned Rush. Still, he managed to sign off in style, a penalty in a 9-0 rout of Crystal Palace was his last act as a Liverpool player, and he left the Anfield pitch semi-naked after an emotional farewell to the fans.

36. Gordon Milne (1960-1967)

Not many players can boast of having picked up Second AND First Division medals with Liverpool, but Gordon Milne- a lithe, intelligent right-half signed by Shankly from Preston in August 1960- can lay claim to that particular feat. Milne forged a solid triumbrant with Willie Stevenson & Ron Yeats in Shankly’s early 60s side, and was a key figure in the promotion back to the First Division, and subsequent title successes of 1964 & 66, as well as the FA Cup run of 1965, although the diminutive Milne would miss the final through injury.

35. Ronnie Whelan (1980-1994)

Stepping into the shoes of Ray Kennedy was never going to be an easy task, especially for a shy Irishman. But Whelan, one of Bob Paisley’s most thrifty signings, responded to the task with gusto. A goal on his Liverpool debut against Stoke in April 1981 was a sign of things to come, and Whelan would make several seismic contributions to the Reds’ sustained success in the 1980s, including decisive goals in the 1982 & 1983 Milk Cup wins over Tottenham & Manchester United. His driving runs from the left were almost undefendable, he bit hard in the tackle and, according to respected Liverpool writer Brian Reade “he could control the tempo of a game like no one I have ever seen before, Souness included”. Would go on to captain the club in his later career, and scored 73 goals in almost 500 appearances in the red shirt.

34. Peter Beardsley (1987-1991)

When Graeme Souness’ mistakes as Liverpool manager are dredged up, invariably the name Peter Beardsley is up near the top of a rather sizeable list. Beardsley was criminally allowed to leave the club for Merseyside rivals Everton in 1991 for a paltry £1m, and Liverpool would search for years to find a link man of such ability and consistency. Signed from Newcastle for £1.9m (a record at the time) in 1987, Beardsley was perhaps the most tricky customer in the English game. His lightning quick feet and low centre of gravity masked a toughness in possession, and his awareness and vision was the perfect foil for the more clinical Aldridge and the silky skills of Barnes. The natural successor to King Kenny, Beardsley scored 60 goals in 177 appearances for Liverpool, and would go on to become a favourite at Everton, as well as Newcastle, where he returned to captain the side under Kevin Keegan during the club’s purple patch in the mid 1990s.

33. John Toshack (1970-1978)

Ignore the poetry and the fact that he can’t resist a barney with Robbie Savage, remember Tosh the way he was supposed to be, a forward of devastating aerial ability, able to bulldoze his way through even the toughest defences, and capable of forging the most intelligent of partnerships with Kevin Keegan. Toshack cost £110,000 when Shankly signed him from Cardiff in 1970, and there were doubts as to whether the introverted Welshman would make it at Anfield. But with Keegan’s arrival came the kick-start to his career at Liverpool, and the big man played a huge part in the League, UEFA Cup and FA Cup successes in the 1970s with 96 goals in 246 appearances. All together now: “Toshack! Keegan! 1-0!!!”

32. Jan Molby (1984-1995)

When you play alongside Marco Van Basten & Johann Cruyff, as Molby did at Ajax, you are bound to pick up a thing or two. Well, it could be argued that even those two greats could teach Big Jan little. Not before nor since have Liverpool possessed a midfielder who could do what Molby could. His passing, short or long, had a deftness and accuracy that was almost computer programmed, his composure on the field was permanently in place (see the 1986 FA Cup final for the best evidence of this) and his penalty taking reached legendary status (Jamie Carragher notes in his book that as a youngster Molby told him he was celebrating his anniversary….”ten years since I missed a penalty”). He also managed to write himself into Liverpool folklore by picking up the most Scouse of accents, despite being born in Denmark and growing up as a footballer in Holland. Spooky.

31. Ian St. John (1961-1971)

A club record signing at £37,500 from Motherwell in 1961, St John was a Scotsman very much in Shankly’s mould. Tough, fearless and dedicated, Saint became a pivotal player in Liverpool’s march through the Second Division in 1962, and forged a devastating partnership with Roger Hunt as Liverpool romped to League success in 1964 & 1966. Saint would also ensure his place in Liverpool history with the winning goal as Liverpool beat Leeds to win their first ever FA Cup in 1965. Pacy, strong in the air despite a lack of height, a smart finisher off either foot, and fiercely competitive, the Saint was a firm favourite with the fans through the 60s, scoring 118 goals in 426 appearances before a fall-out with Shankly led to his departure from the club in 1971.