Liverpool’s Greatest: Jan Molby Names his Number One
When Liverpool debate greatness, the conversation rarely lacks volume. This time, it comes with authority. Jan Molby, a midfielder who made 292 appearances and won three league titles at Anfield, has delivered his personal top 10 for Liverpool’s Greatest to liverpoolfc.com. At the summit stands Kenny Dalglish, and for Molby, there is no ambiguity.
“The great man himself. Kenny was one of these players that you almost felt he could see into the future. He saw things before anyone else saw them. That was his real strength.”
In one neat assessment, Molby captures what separated Dalglish from the merely excellent. Vision in football is often overused as a compliment. In Dalglish’s case, it defined him. He operated a second ahead of everyone else, turning tight spaces into opportunity and half chances into inevitability. For Liverpool during a golden era, that foresight translated into trophies and dominance.
Vision and Intelligence Under Dalglish
Dalglish’s greatness was not built on speed or physicality alone, but on awareness. He interpreted patterns before they fully formed. In an era of elite defenders and heavy pitches, that mental sharpness made him devastating.
Molby’s description speaks to something deeper within Liverpool’s history. Dalglish embodied a footballing brain that elevated those around him. Strikers thrived, midfielders found angles, and defenders exhaled knowing the ball would stick up front. His influence went beyond goals. It shaped the culture of excellence at Anfield.
Icons Who Shaped Liverpool History
Molby’s list reinforces the depth of Liverpool’s heritage. Steven Gerrard sits second. “I think there is probably only two players in the history of Liverpool Football Club where you almost feel they carried the team on their own. That was Billy Liddell back in the ’40s, ’50s and early ’60s, and Steven Gerrard. How many times has Steven Gerrard had to get the team out of trouble? And he is remembered for so many great moments. He had it all. Big, strong, great athlete, great shot, great vision. Fantastic footballer.”
Ian Rush claims third. “I think when you score as many goals as Ian Rush, there’s a tendency to just associate you with goals. But there was so much more to this man’s game. The first line of defence, good on the ball and he had this unbelievable ability just to create that little bit of space for your pass to go through to him.”
Further down, John Barnes, Graeme Souness and Mohamed Salah earn recognition. Of Salah, Molby states, “What can you say about Mo? From the moment he joined Liverpool he has been in terrific form, scoring goals, assists. And he has had a massive, massive impact on where the club is today.”
Virgil van Dijk, Alan Hansen, Ray Clemence and Luis Suarez complete a list that spans eras and styles. It is a reminder that Liverpool’s greatness has many chapters.
Dalglish Standard Still Defines Liverpool
Ultimately, Molby’s ranking circles back to Kenny Dalglish. Liverpool have evolved under different managers, from the boot room days to the Premier League triumph under Arne Slot in 2024-25. Yet Dalglish remains the benchmark.
For Molby, greatness at Liverpool begins with intelligence, imagination and decisive impact. Dalglish possessed all three. In debates about Liverpool legends, that clarity of vision, quite literally, still leads the way.
