Past playersJohn McLaughlin

He had shown great potential in the reserves and the coaching staff at the club believed he was a star midfielder in the making. Bill Shankly even declared him "the best schoolboy prospect to be turned up for a very long time".

Shankly eased him in to the First Division scene by picking him for the final game of the 1969-70 season, away to Chelsea.

Despite still being only 18 years old when the following campaign began, Shankly had enough faith in the slightly-built but skilful teenager to make him an important part of the club's midfield of the time.

And his faith was rewarded quickly as McLaughlin struck two first-half shots into the Kop goal when Huddersfield Town visited Anfield for the second home fixture of the season.

McLaughlin played in 30 consecutive First Division games but then lost his place and only figured in three of the remaining 12 matches. The season turned out to be his only one as a regular during Shankly's rebuilding of his ageing side.

When Shankly had completed the transformation, he was cast aside. McLaughlin made the line-up for the opening day of 1971-72 but was only picked on four further occasions, with two of those being as a substitute.

The emergence of Brian Hall and the arrival of Peter Cormack made it increasingly difficult for him to break back into the first team and it was no surprise when he was allowed to leave Anfield to have a loan spell on the south coast with Portsmouth.

Sadly, a knee injury put him out of the game for good when he was only 24.