Since Jurgen Klopp was appointed manager in October 2015, Liverpool has acquired a number of outstanding midfielders.
During Klopp’s tenure, the Reds have added Georginio Wijnaldum, Fabinho, Dominik Szoboszlai, and Thiago Alcantara. And who could forget Jordan Henderson? Liverpool’s ex-captain who spent years at the heart of Klopp’s midfield.
However, according to artificial intelligence, none of those players are among Liverpool’s best-ever midfielders. The popular AI website ChatGPT was tasked by Mirror Football to pick the Merseyside club’s finest midfielders… and the answers are intriguing. Without further ado, here are the top five midfielders for Liverpool in reverse order…
5. Ray Kennedy
Despite frequently playing up front for Liverpool, Kennedy has made AI’s top-five list. Between 1974 and 1982, the England international appeared in nearly 400 games with the Reds, helping them win numerous trophies, including five league crowns and three European Cups.
When Kennedy joined Liverpool, he was a ready-made superstar. He was signed from Arsenal for a club-record amount, believed to be over £200,000, after playing more than 200 professional games and winning the league and cup double in 1971.
Liverpool polled over 100,000 fans in 2006 to determine who the club’s greatest-ever player is. Kennedy, who died in 2001 at the age of 70, was ranked 25th on the list.
4. Xabi Alonso
During the noughties, Xabi Alonso helped Liverpool compete for and win trophies.
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Between 2004 and 2009, Alonso had a memorable tenure on Merseyside. The 2005 Champions League champion scored some memorable goals and nearly led them to the Premier League title in 2009, finishing four points behind champions Manchester United.
Liverpool suffered after he left for Real Madrid, which tells a lot about the World Cup champion. After leaving, Alonso won the La Liga title and another Champions League before earning three Bundesliga titles with Bayern Munich.
3. Graeme Souness
Graeme Souness led Liverpool during the 1980s.
Many Liverpool fans see Souness as their ultimate midfielder. Between 1978 and 1984, the hard-tackling Scot made over 350 appearances for the club, helping them win numerous trophies, including five league titles and three European Cups.
In 2006, Souness was voted Liverpool’s second-greatest player. Legendary Reds defender Alan Hansen once stated, “Among midfielders, Graeme was the king.”
2. Kenny Dalglish
Kenny Dalglish was considered a striker rather than a midfielder.
This is a contentious decision, given that most supporters remember Dalglish as a forward. The Scotland international, who won numerous awards with Celtic and Liverpool, played over 500 games for the latter club and was the poster boy of their heyday.
Dalglish later managed the Reds twice and has his own stand at Anfield. In 2006, he was elected Liverpool’s greatest ever player, with Steven Gerrard coming in second. There’s a solid case to be made that he’s still the club’s No. 1… but as a forward rather than a midfielder.
1. Steven Gerrard
Younger Liverpool fans remember Steven Gerrard warmly.
While one generation appreciates Souness, another adores Gerrard. The Merseysider was at the heart of Liverpool’s midfield for nearly 15 years and notably captained them to victory in the 2005 Champions League final, helping them come back from a three-goal deficit against AC Milan. He appeared in over 700 games for the Reds.
The only thing missing from Gerrard’s resume is a Premier League title, which he came agonizingly close to winning in 2009 and 2014. But the fact that he won everything else at Liverpool is noteworthy, given that he played for them long after their golden era of the 1970s and 1980s had come to an end.
Gerrard could do it all. He was a tough and committed tackler; a leader of men; and a goal-scorer both inside and outside the box, scoring 185 goals for Liverpool. Simply put, he is the greatest player who has never won the Premier League title.