Liverpool players who were the bestin the world

We have had some ridiculosly good players here over the years. Some like Terry Mc, Ray Kennedy, Jan Molby who dont get the recognition the talent they had deserved.

But over the years how many if any, Liverpool players could be classed as the best in the world at any given time?

Probably hard to say and bias would likely come into play but lets see what we come back with

As great as our 80's midfield was Souness and McDermott were not as good as Socrates and Zico. Suarez was the best striker in the world in 2014, but few would claim him to be the best player in the world. Only now with Salah and only for the last few months can we make that claim.

John Barnes was for 2 years or so without  a doubt

Keegan
Rush
Kenny
Hansen
Barnes

Possibly El Nino in his pomp.

As great as our 80's midfield was Souness and McDermott were not as good as Socrates and Zico. Suarez was the best striker in the world in 2014, but few would claim him to be the best player in the world. Only now with Salah and only for the last few months can we make that claim.

Id say Kenny could argue his case 78 to 81 maybe? Barnes 88 to 90 had few if any above him

Could Stevie make a claim?

John Barnes was for 2 years or so without  a doubt

It's a good shout, but look where Barnes places on the Ballon d'or in 87 - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1987_Ballon_d%27Or
In 88 he wasn't even listed.

Undoubtedly Suarez was the best player in the world for me in 13-14 and in the following season with Barca as well. He was a godsend to Luis Enrique that year for Barca. An extraordinary level of performance.

Gerrard in 2005 and 2008 could lay claim as well.

It's a good shout, but look where Barnes places on the Ballon d'or in 87 - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1987_Ballon_d%27Or
In 88 he wasn't even listed.

Politics involved in that

Id say Kenny could argue his case 78 to 81 maybe? Barnes 88 to 90 had few if any above him

Could Stevie make a claim?

Gerrard 100%
Look at how others talked about him, and if he had chosen to leave he could have chosen his destination.. they’d have all wanted him

Michael Owen 2001 surely?

Michael Owen 2001 surely?

Ah f**k, can't believe I forgot about that one. Most definitely for me too. Absolutely outstanding - no English striker has come close to his standards since.

Ah f**k, can't believe I forgot about that one. Most definitely for me too. Absolutely outstanding - no English striker has come close to his standards since.

He was F***ing tasty wasnt he. I loved him but not the same way as God, God was adoration

Michael Owen 2001 surely?

He may have won that award but he was never the best in the world

He was f**king tasty wasnt he. I loved him but not the same way as God, God was adoration

Loved Owen too - my number 1 favourite player growing up.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6nDezbrezQk

Loved Owen too - my number 1 favourite player growing up.

It pains me to admit it now, but he's the reason I started supporting Liverpool...

It's a good shout, but look where Barnes places on the Ballon d'or in 87 - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1987_Ballon_d%27Or
In 88 he wasn't even listed.

Not surprised with English teams banned from Europe!!

He may have won that award but he was never the best in the world

Fck alls changed then , neither was Modric , neither Messi this time farce of an award

It's a good shout, but look where Barnes places on the Ballon d'or in 87 - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1987_Ballon_d%27Or
In 88 he wasn't even listed.

Sums up that sh*te award

Not surprised with English teams banned from Europe!!

Yeah, achievement comes into these things, but you can still be the best player in the world while playing for a club that doesn't qualify. Was Barnes better than Van Basten, Gullit at that time? Not sure. Michael Laudrup was also an absolute genius. There was a big rumour that we wanted to get him, but went for Beardsley instead. Beardsley was great, but imagine Laudrup in that team. F***ing hell.

Sums up that Sh*te award

There shouldn't even be individual awards in football in my view.

Yeah, achievement comes into these things, but you can still be the best player in the world while playing for a club that doesn't qualify. Was Barnes better than Van Basten, Gullit at that time? Not sure. Michael Laudrup was also an absolute genius. There was a big rumour that we wanted to get him, but went for Beardsley instead. Beardsley was great, but imagine Laudrup in that team. F***ing hell.

Yes Barnes was better than those players - Beardsley was better than Laudrup

Yes Barnes was better than those players - Beardsley was better than Laudrup

Not a chance on your second claim.

Yes Barnes was better than those players - Beardsley was better than Laudrup

I loved Beardsley, a gem, another underrated star, God he was special. Not sure he can be classed as better then Laudrup though, better then Brian yes but Michael, not so sure

Yeah, achievement comes into these things, but you can still be the best player in the world while playing for a club that doesn't qualify. Was Barnes better than Van Basten, Gullit at that time? Not sure. Michael Laudrup was also an absolute genius. There was a big rumour that we wanted to get him, but went for Beardsley instead. Beardsley was great, but imagine Laudrup in that team. F***ing hell.

We had him. 3 year deal agreed and we changed last minute to a 4 year deal, he wasnt happy that we changed an agreement and that was that. Self confessed red to

We had him. 3 year deal agreed and we changed last minute to a 4 year deal, he wasnt happy that we changed an agreement and that was that. Self confessed red to

I never knew that. Jesus. If only..

I never knew that. Jesus. If only..

He was only a kid, 19 I think, had we got him we might never have signed Barnsey. But well never know.

Not a chance on your second claim.

Very much so - Beardsley was genius and very much under appreciated how good he was for us - he was a massive reason why went downhill quickly when Souness sold him

Laudrup was the continental name and I thought he was excellent but wouldn’t swap Beardsley for him

Very much so - Beardsley was genius and very much under appreciated how good he was for us - he was a massive reason why went downhill quickly when Souness sold him

Laudrup was the continental name and I thought he was excellent but wouldn’t swap Beardsley for him

Very possible Peter is the best 2 footed player Ive seen

Very possible Peter is the best 2 footed player Ive seen

His vision and touch was outstanding. He was very close to being better than Kenny in that 7 role , he linked Barnes , Aldo and then Rush together

He was only a kid, 19 I think, had we got him we might never have signed Barnsey. But well never know.

Laudrup would have played the ten, the Beardsley role. So we'd still need Barnes. Ah well, no point thinking about it now. It was still the most aesthetically pleasing team I've ever seen outside of Brazil 70 and 82.

Laudrup would have played the ten, the Beardsley role. So we'd still need Barnes. Ah well, no point thinking about it now. It was still the most aesthetically pleasing team I've ever seen outside of Brazil 70 and 82.

They were looking to get Laudrup in 83 - 5 years before Barnes and Co arrived


If Laudrup had signed he would have left before then

So at the minute were saying

Salah, now regarded as best in the world

Owen a fair shout around 01

Gerrard perhaps

Dalglish and Keegan circa 76 to 83

Barnes 87 to 90

They were looking to get Laudrup in 83 - 5 years before Barnes and Co arrived


If Laudrup had signed he would have left before then

Oh, my error. Thought Laudrup was older when we wanted him, and Beardsley the alternative.

Oh, my error. Thought Laudrup was older when we wanted him, and Beardsley the alternative.

It was when he was at Brondby- they wanted to give him a 4 year contact instead of 3 year that was previously agreed

Went to Lazio instead - we did ok without him 😂

So at the minute were saying

Salah, now regarded as best in the world

Owen a fair shout around 01

Gerrard perhaps

Dalglish and Keegan circa 76 to 83

Barnes 87 to 90

No perhaps about Gerrard

Gerrard was the best in the world for a short period. But he was up against Zidane, Figo, Ronaldo, Keane, Scholes, Lampard, Viera etc.

It's easy to forgot how muddy the waters normally are when the best two have been so clear and obvious for well over a decade.

No perhaps about Gerrard

Issac just got in ahead of me, Stevie was up against a heap of world class players, but both Pele and Zidane, at different times, claimed him to be the best in the world, thatll do for me

Yeah, achievement comes into these things, but you can still be the best player in the world while playing for a club that doesn't qualify. Was Barnes better than Van Basten, Gullit at that time? Not sure. Michael Laudrup was also an absolute genius. There was a big rumour that we wanted to get him, but went for Beardsley instead. Beardsley was great, but imagine Laudrup in that team. F***ing hell.

The Laudrup deal was before Kenny even became manager, it was to do with the number of years on the contract, think we offered four and he only wanted a three year deal.

Or as Brian said!!

Gerrard was the best in the world for a short period. But he was up against Zidane, Figo, Ronaldo, Keane, Scholes, Lampard, Viera etc.

It's easy to forgot how muddy the waters normally are when the best two have been so clear and obvious for well over a decade.

What an era. The level of midfielders is so poor around the world now. There also seems to be a major shortage or world class wingers. If we had to replace Salah, hopefully never, who would we even want?

The level of elite players has definitely taken a step down in recent years.

Ray Clemence was the best goalie I have ever seen. Stevie has to be viewed against winning the CL with Jimmy Traore and Dudek in goal.
Is there a better CB than Virgil currently ?. Keegan was special but not a prolific goal scorer. Owen na not for me . Sometimes players dont get the media attention but check out Phil Neals record and ask yourself who was better or more successful than him.
I dont really care for this Ballon Dor crap If your British or play for a British team you have a mountain to climb.

Kenny is obvious one.

But apart from that, rush, barnes, beardo

Im too young to properly remember the shanks teams, but guys like st john mustve been up there as world class.

Kenny is obvious one.

But apart from that, rush, barnes, beardo

Im too young to properly remember the shanks teams, but guys like st john mustve been up there as world class.

there was a bloke called Roger Hunt wasnt bad. Its difficult to judge the likes of Hunt against todays players but of his time he was as good as there was

Kenny is obvious one.

But apart from that, rush, barnes, beardo

Im too young to properly remember the shanks teams, but guys like st john mustve been up there as world class.

As good as some of our lads back then were dont forget that was the time of Pele, Cruyff, Eusebio, Beckenbaur, Best, Mazzola, Garrincha, Yashin, Muller to name a few

there was a bloke called Roger Hunt wasnt bad. Its difficult to judge the likes of Hunt against todays players but of his time he was as good as there was

defo aye.

As good as some of our lads back then were dont forget that was the time of Pele, Cruyff, Eusebio, Beckenbaur, Best, Mazzola, Garrincha, Yashin, Muller to name a few

they were alright.

Very possible Peter is the best 2 footed player Ive seen

Better than Dalglish???

Better than Dalglish???

No, Dalglish was so good on both feet its hard to tell which foot was his good foot. I only really seen Kenny in the flesh at the end of his career though. I was 7 when he retired. Beardo I seen obviously a lot more live