Past playersPeter Beardsley

Kenny Dalglish parted with a British record transfer fee to capture the Geordie forward's services during the summer of 1987 and was rewarded handsomely by his output in four seasons at Anfield.

A special relationship has always existed between the Kop and players with the rare touch of creative genius - Beardsley was one such case and the Liverpool supporters took glee from his subtle shimmies and gliding dribbles.

By his own admission, the England international required several months to fully settle on Merseyside, but during the second half of the 1987-88 campaign he was a true tour de force.

Beardsley missed only two matches as Liverpool coasted to First Division success, contributing 15 league goals and assisting just as many. He was arguably the most impressive performer in the team's era-defining 5-0 thrashing of Nottingham Forest, too.

He was in the starting line-up at Wembley when the Reds downed neighbours Everton 3-2 in the all-Merseyside FA Cup final of 1989, and maintained his exhilarating form into the next season to claim a second league winner's medal.

Beardsley began the 1990-91 campaign like a train, smashing a hat-trick past Manchester United in September and following that feat with a brace at Goodison Park just six days later.

The season would be one of frustration, however, as he found himself relegated to the substitutes' bench too often for his liking; the appointment of Graeme Souness as manager and the subsequent signing of Dean Saunders pushed the forward further towards the sidelines.

Nevertheless it came as something of a surprise when the Reds agreed to sell Beardsley to rivals Everton in August 1991. Fortunately for both parties, he had achieved enough in four years to etch his name into Liverpool history.