There have been a bunch of particular centre-backs to characterize Liverpool all through their historical past, however who guidelines the roost on the high of the pile?
The membership has been residence to at least one defensive collosus after one other, a place of luxurious that has greeted every era.
From the membership’s early beginnings to present day, there’s a standout centre-back however how do you separate one world-class choice from one other?
Effectively, we’re reliving the membership’s nice previous and right here is how we rank Liverpool’s 10 best centre-backs of all time.
10. Alex Raisbeck
Joel Matip may arguably have squeezed his approach into the highest 10, however recency bias will be too prevalent within the trendy recreation.
As a substitute, Alex Raisbeck will get the nod, having racked up 341 appearances for the Reds that spanned two totally different centuries.
An influential presence on the coronary heart of Liverpool’s defence, the Scot received the First Division title in 1900/01 and 1905/06, to not point out one Second Division crown in 1904/05.
Typically, it’s straightforward to overlook about previous greats from the Reds’ early years – Raisbeck was very a lot one in every of them.
9. Mark Lawrenson
As time has handed, Mark Lawrenson has develop into more and more underrated, probably not helped by his ‘Lawro’ persona as a pundit.
The truth is, he was a world-class centre-back throughout his peak, forging arguably Liverpool’s greatest-ever defensive partnership alongside Alan Hansen.
Quick, powerful, but in addition cultured on the ball, Lawrenson was a mainstay of the staff all through a lot of the Eighties, reaching league title glory 5 instances and successful the European Cup in 1984.
He can be value a fortune within the trendy recreation.
8. Phil Thompson
There has not often been a prouder Scouser to play for Liverpool than Phil Thompson.
The previous centre-back could not have been essentially the most naturally gifted participant in Reds historical past, however he was a rock for a very long time, racking up 477 appearances in whole.
Thompson captained Liverpool to their 1981 European Cup triumph and 147 of his video games for the membership had been as skipper, which is barely bettered by 10 gamers.
The now-68-year-old can get misplaced in historical past at instances, with different names standing out extra, however he’s a Reds legend in his personal proper, and likewise received 42 caps for England.
7. Jamie Carragher
Solely Ian Callaghan (857) has made extra appearances for Liverpool than Jamie Carragher (737), which says all you might want to know concerning the profession he had.
Beginning off as an auxiliary midfielder after which full-back, Carragher overcame some early criticism – who else remembers the 2 personal targets towards Man United? – to develop into a near-world-class performer over a number of years.
His efforts in Istanbul will without end go down in legend, with cramp taking on however the defender battling on, and he was the right foil for the extra silky Sami Hyypia.
Now a high-profile pundit, it will be significant that Carragher’s brilliance and longevity don’t get misplaced up to now like Lawrenson’s.
6. Sami Hyypia
In terms of Liverpool’s best-ever cut price buys, Hyypia’s title all the time instantly jumps out.
The enormous Finn was acquired from little-known Willem II in 1999 for simply £2.5 million – a decade later, he was rightly thought-about an all-time nice Reds centre-back.
What Hyypia lacked in tempo he made up for in magnificence, aerial capacity and an impressive studying of the sport, and he struck up nice partnerships with each Stephane Henchoz and Carragher.
His affect in the course of the treble-winning 2000/01 marketing campaign was immense – he made 58 appearances in whole – and he was equally monstrous within the legendary Champions League run 4 years later.
5. Emlyn Hughes
No one regarded happier to attain a aim than Emlyn Hughes, though it was his defensive brilliance that he’ll all the time be finest remembered for.
An outstanding all-around footballer, he was able to thriving at full-back and in midfield, however he nonetheless arguably checked out his finest at centre-back.
Solely Steven Gerrard (472) and Ron Yeats (416) have captained Liverpool extra instances than Hughes (335), who lifted the European Cup in back-to-back seasons in 1977 and 1978.
There’ll all the time be a particular place in supporters’ hearts for ‘Loopy Horse’, who sadly handed away on the far-too-tender age of 57 again in 2004.
4. Tommy Smith
Tommy Smith solely had to have a look at an opposition participant to scare the life out of him!
For all his status as one of many hardest gamers of his era, nevertheless, it’s essential that his footballing capacity and flexibility aren’t performed down.
Smith was an unimaginable servant for Liverpool over a 15-year interval, thriving beneath each Invoice Shankly and Bob Paisley, successful 4 league titles, two FA Cups and UEFA Cups apiece, and one European Cup.
His headed aim within the 1977 European Cup ultimate towards Borussia Monchengladbach stays arguably one of the fashionable Reds targets ever, permitting an unsung hero his second within the solar late in his profession.
Smith (638) is eighth in Liverpool’s highest-ever appearance-makers and is definitely one of many membership’s best-ever captains.
3. Ron Yeats
Whereas a lot of the Sixties at Anfield had been dominated by Roger Hunt and Ian St John’s goalscoring magic, Yeats was each bit as necessary.
The centre-back was a big determine throughout Shankly’s finest years at Liverpool, skippering them to First Division title wins in each 1963/64 and 1965/66.
Not solely that, however Yeats was additionally captain when the Reds lastly received their palms on the FA Cup for the primary time in 1965, in what was a proud achievement.
Shankly described the defender’s arrival as a “turning level” in his tenure, which is excessive reward certainly.
“Take a stroll round my centre-half, gents. He’s a colossus.”
2. Virgil van Dijk
What are you able to say about Virgil van Dijk that hasn’t already been stated?
Talking of Yeats-like turning factors, the Dutchman’s arrival in January 2018 was each bit as large, with Liverpool turning into a unique animal with him within the staff.
Van Dijk might be essentially the most full centre-back of the final 30 years, combining tempo, energy, aerial dominance, management, ball-playing capacity and studying of the sport – no participant has been extra influential beneath Klopp.
If he can carry out at a excessive degree for one more three or 4 years, successful extra trophies alongside the best way, he ought to finally be thought-about Liverpool’s best central defender.
Van Dijk has by no means misplaced a house Premier League recreation at Anfield for Liverpool – his final league defeat there was for Southampton in 2017 – which is ludicrous!
1. Alan Hansen
Van Dijk is pushing him shut now, however Hansen nonetheless needs to be considered as Liverpool’s finest centre-back in historical past.
The Scot’s trophy tally throughout 13 years on Merseyside was gorgeous, with eight league titles and three European Cups amongst them, he oozed magnificence and sophistication.
Hansen wasn’t only a stylish participant who didn’t muck in, although, and he stood out from the remaining due to his excellence each on and off the ball, doing the soiled work when it was required.
The Scot was such a gifted sportsman that he represented his nation in golf, volleyball and squash, however fortunately, he opted for soccer as a profession!
Hansen can be a exceptional participant within the trendy recreation – he and Van Dijk as a pairing can be mouthwatering.
