Liverpool is easily one of England’s most noteworthy, beloved, and successful football clubs. Established in 1892, the club has been going strong for 132 years, and has, by this point, become an English institution. Some have called Liverpool the best of the English clubs. And while that debate will rage on for years to come, there are certainly some arguments one could make for why Liverpool should be in the running. Let’s take a look at some of them.
What Makes Liverpool Great?
The Reds have played their home games in Anfield since the club’s formation, back in the 1890s. Over the course of the three centuries during which they’ve been active, Liverpool has won nineteen league titles, second only to Manchester United’s 20. Should they manage to win the next English Premier League, they will have caught up to Manchester.
Liverpool is also an incredibly popular choice when it comes to betting. Sportsbooks, both land-based and online, are always ready to place favorable odds on the club, precisely because of their stellar, decades-long reputation. During the 2023/24 English Premier League, Liverpool were consistently in the top three favorites to win the league, and online bookies heavily favored them in matches.
Online bookies are, of course, the primary way that most people bet on Liverpool matches nowadays. The iGaming industry in general is thriving, with online casinos especially getting a lot of attention. It makes sense, as gambling sites make everything a lot easier. For example, at Casino Days India, the login process is easy, and designed to please even the newest of gamblers and punters.
If you think online casinos have only a tenuous connection to football, think again. There are plenty of online slot games that take heavy inspiration from the world’s favorite sport. In fact, there are even slots that are inspired by Liverpool itself. Indeed, the world of football and casinos is a lot more intertwined than one would think.
But, where would Liverpool be without its fantastic players? Over the years, some of the greatest footballers to ever live have worn the Reds’ jersey. In this article, we’d like to look at some of the best of the best. The ones that made Liverpool the team it is today.
Sir Kenneth Dalglish
For some, he is Sir Kenneth Mathieson Dalglish. For modern day Liverpool fans, he is Kenny Dalglish. But, for those who were around when he was on the field, there is only one name that could possibly fit him; the King. Often regarded as, not just the best player Liverpool has had, but one of the greatest players of his generation, Kenny “The King” Dalglish is certainly one of the greats.
Kenny is most famous for his stint with Liverpool. However, his career began with Celtic. With the Scottish club he made over 300 appearances, and cemented himself as a fabulous player. Perhaps, that is why Liverpool were so eager to get a hold of him. And once they did, they never let go. Once in Liverpool, Dalglish felt at home, and never left. With the Reds he made 515 appearances.
During his time with the Reds, he won Footballer of the Year awards, a Player of the Year award, and a Ballon d’Or Silver Award. He has been listed in several magazines as one of the greatest players, one of the greatest forwards, and one of the greatest strikers. When asked to name Liverpool’s greatest player, chances are you will hear the name Kenny “The King.”
Most players are content to leave the football world behind after retirement. Not Dalglish though. Once he left the court, he deigned to serve Liverpool from the sidelines. As a manager, he worked with Liverpool for three years, training them to be the best team they could be. At the time of his resignation, Liverpool were still contending for the FA Cup.
Steven Gerrard
Let us jump a few decades ahead, to the late 1990s and early 2000s. It was around this time that Steven Gerrard came to prominence in Liverpool, and would soon cement himself as one of the Reds’ best players. Like Dalglish, Gerrard was considered one of the best of his generation, with many people putting forth the argument that he was the best.
His professional career began in 1998, when he was 18 years old. For 17 years, Steven served dutifully as Liverpool’s center-midfielder, and at one point captained both the Reds and the Three Lions. It was during these years that he displayed his amazing ability for ball and field control, passing, striking and strategy. It is no wonder that both Zinedine Zidane and Pele considered him the best footballer ever.
After a brief stint with LA Galaxy during the 2015-2016 season, Gerrard retired from play. However, he did not retire from football. He currently serves as the manager of the Saudi football club, Al-Ettifaq. The team is currently sixth in the league, and just recently, Gerrard has signed an extension of his contract, so he must be doing something right.
Ian Rush
Once again, we go back to the 20th century, in order to talk about one of Liverpool’s most prolific strikers of all time, Ian Rush. True to his name, Rush was one of the fastest players, delivering almost unblockable strikes. If you don’t believe us, you can believe his record tally of close to 350 goals scored during his time with the Reds.
Rush is Liverpool’s all-time leading goalscorer. But, if that is all it took, he wouldn’t be nearly as memorable. What truly makes Rush one of the greats is the fact that he was one of the best front defenders of all time. Though he served as forward, it was rare that anyone could get past him. He was also one of the finest finishers that the Reds have ever had.
Though Gerrard and Dalglish may be the better overall players, there are certainly some categories in which Rush outplays even them. His goal-scoring capabilities are a good example. We already mentioned he holds the record for most goals scored for Liverpool. However, until recently, he was also the record holder for most goals scored with the Welsh national team. Gareth Bale broke his record in 2018.
