5) Luis Suarez (2011-2014)
During Luis Suarez’s three and a half years on Merseyside, the Uruguayan was banned for racially abusing Patrice Evra, bit Branislav Ivanovic and actively tried to leave the club – even speaking up a move to Arsenal at one point – but Liverpool fans hold no grudges because of what Suarez gave to us on the pitch. In terms of uncompromised genius, Suarez is our best ever Premier League star. His individual performances in the 2013-14 season represent the greatest single season ever by a Premier League player. He scored 31 goals and registered 14 assists despite being banned for the first five matches. Only Cristiano Ronaldo in 2007-08 comes close. Suarez was relentless in his pressing and outrageous with his finishing. He’s also probably the best exponent of the nutmeg the game has ever seen. Last summer, he got his move to Barcelona, and inspired them to a treble. He’s one of the best three players on the planet, and we were lucky to watch him at close quarters.
4) Sami Hyypia (1999-2009)
Perhaps our biggest transfer bargain of the Premier League era. “When I was told how little money Liverpool had spent on Sami, I nearly fell off my chair!” Ron Yeats, then chief-scout, admitted having recommended the defender to the club. The giant Finn was a complete unknown when he signed for £2.5m in 1999, but went on to establish himself as one of Europe’s best and most respected centre-backs. 464 games and 35 goals prove his fantastic ability to get up from the back and score, usually thanks to a towering header, although his Champions League volley versus Juventus proves he could play a bit too. Hyypia predominantly captained the side during our five-trophy calendar year in 2001, due to Jamie Redknapp and Robbie Fowler’s injuries – and he went on to have the skipper’s armband on a permanent basis before handing it to Gerrard. A truly loyal Anfield servant and the most talented defender we’ve had in the Premier League era.
3) Jamie Carragher (1996-2013)
Partly due to his longevity, loyalty and the fact he’s a Scouser, Carragher pips his former centre-back partner Sami Hyypia to 3rd spot. But our former no.23 was so much more than just a passionate defender. He could really play, too, and this isn’t recognised nearly enough by opposition supporters who prefer the cliche. Carragher was positionally superb, read the game better than anybody else and marshalled his backline with aplomb. (In truth, his fellow defenders had little choice but to listen to his instructions!) Only Ian Callaghan (857) played more games for us than Carragher – who made 737 appearances and won ten trophies during his 17 year stint. Winning and losing has never mattered so much for a Liverpool player than Carra, who started off as a utility defender before establishing himself as one of the best centre-backs in Europe under Rafa Benitez. Heroic in the Champions League final of 2005, the competition which defines the careers of many players in this Top 50, many believe Carra will eventually return to the only club he ever played for as a manager one day.
2) Robbie Fowler (1993-2001 & 2006-2007)
The most natural finisher of the Premier League era scored over 30 goals in all competitions for three consecutive seasons between 1994 and 1997. Fowler, or ‘God’, as he’s known on the Kop, bagged 183 goals during two spells with the club. The first of which ended when Gerard Houllier sold him to Leeds United, but the second began when Rafa Benitez romantically brought him back in 2006. His latter stint bore 12 goals, but it was his fantastic efforts in the mid-1990s that see him now regarded as one of our greatest ever players. At his peak, Fowler was rapid, and his exceptional movement was only bettered by his instinctive finishing. His four-minute hat-trick v Arsenal in 1994 is the fastest in our history, and was only bettered in the top flight last term. Fowler now works with the academy.
1) Steven Gerrard (1998-2015)
The contribution of the other 49 players on this list combined does not account to what Steven Gerrard gave to Liverpool. His countless iconic moments, relentless loyalty, legendary leadership and unrivalled ability sets him miles apart from some of his brilliant team-mates. Gerrard broke through in 1998, was playing for England by 2000 and captaining Liverpool by 2003. But it was a year later in the 2004-05 season that he started to peak – bagging the iconic Olympiakos goal to keep us in the Champions League group stages, before leading us to the final and dragging us back from 3-0 down to beat AC Milan. A season later, he got an FA Cup named after him, scoring twice (including an injury-time 40-yard screamer) to help us draw the match and win on penalties versus West Ham. Gerrard’s 17-year stint sadly never saw him pick up the Premier League trophy, although he came closest in 2013-14 – winning a spot in the Team of the Year – which he did on a record seven other occasions. Gerrard was also voted into the World Team of the Year on three occasions, and left Liverpool this summer having collected ten trophies as a red. Anfield will never be the same place without him.
