Past playersPhil Taylor

Taylor was born in Bristol in September 1917 and played briefly for his hometown club Rovers before joining the Reds in March 1936 for a fee of £5,000.

He scored a last-minute goal at Derby County on his debut on March 28, 1936, to save a point in a 2-2 draw, and made a further six First Division appearances before the season closed, also netting against Blackburn Rovers.

Liverpool finished in 19th place that year and only one place higher the following year, before climbing to mid-table respectability by the end of the decade as the Second World War drew ever closer.

They won the first post-war league championship in 1946-47 and Taylor, by now approaching his peak at 29 years old, played in 35 of the 42 matches, and would continue to be a regular and reliable member of the team's defence for the next four years.

He captained Liverpool through their run to the club's first-ever Wembley cup final in 1950 but there was only disappointment after a 2-0 defeat by Arsenal.

Once he had passed his 30th birthday, Taylor was selected less frequently and he made the last of his 314 Football League appearances for Liverpool at West Bromwich Albion on Christmas Day 1953.

He remained at Anfield when he retired as a player in 1954, serving as chief coach before replacing Don Welsh as manager in May 1956.