News'When you needed a hero...' - Phil Thompson picks his Liverpool's Greatest
Our new, major vote to decide the Reds’ 100 best men’s players of all time was launched last month, bringing together selections by fans, journalists, legends and a club panel.
Former captain Thompson is one of the contenders to take a place, having won seven league titles, two European Cups and more while appearing 477 times.
And he has named his own top 10 choices, telling Liverpoolfc.com: “First of all, some honourable mentions: Graeme Souness, Robbie Fowler, Virgil van Dijk, Phil Neal and Ian Callaghan.
“But my top 10 is: Luis Suarez [at No.10]. So exciting, what a great player he was.
“No.9, Kevin Keegan. When you needed a star, when you needed a hero, Kevin was there.
“I think you’ve got to have a goalkeeper in there. No.8 is Ray Clemence. What a goalkeeper, still the greatest goalkeeper that I think played for Liverpool.
“At No.7, big Al [Alan Hansen]. One of the best defenders I’ve ever seen, next to Bobby Moore – what an accolade that is.
“No.6, Mo Salah. Yes, he’s got to be in it. Present day, still playing, but Mo Salah has ripped it up with so many records.
“No.5 is Roger Hunt. This is one of my favourites. This is my personal hero as a young boy. 285 goals in 492 appearances.
“Talking about goals, No.4: Ian Rush. 346 goals. Has got to be in the top four.
“Now down to the top three. John Barnes, what a player. Absolutely sensational. I just loved it – gliding through, beating players, so exciting, won trophies, longevity.
“No.2, Steven Gerrard. Carried the team for so many years. Absolutely different class at times.
“No.1 has to be Kenny Dalglish. I just think again, longevity, winning things, but excitement – as I said about Luis Suarez, but this fella did it for years.”
