Liverpool have an official all-time XI following the conclusion of the club’s recent 100 greatest player countdown, with two players of the current era making the cut.
After 1.4 million individual votes cast by supporters, former players, journalists, and an expert club panel, plus player statistics, Liverpool crowned their top 100 list.
Steven Gerrard was named the club’s greatest-ever player, ahead of Sir Kenny Dalglish, with Ian Rush, Mo Salah, and John Barnes making up the rest of the top five.
They were defining players across different generations and formed quite the formidable core group in Liverpool’s greatest XI.
As for how we got here, we took the highest-voted players in each position from the top 100 and put them together, and it makes for quite the dominant outfit!
Liverpool’s All-time XI
Clemence; Neal, Hansen, Van Dijk, Hughes; Salah, Souness, Gerrard, Barnes; Rush, Dalglish
Goalkeeper and defence
From the 1970s to now, the club is well represented across the decades in the XI, starting with the legendary goalkeeper Ray Clemence.
Clemence, who played 665 times for the club, was named as the 13th greatest-ever player and the best-ranked goalkeeper, ahead of Alisson (16th).
In front of him is a back four that knows how to win silverware and outclass their opponent, with Alan Hansen (7th) and Virgil van Dijk (8th) making a formidable partnership at centre-back.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Sunday, May 25, 2025: Liverpool's captain Virgil van Dijk (R) with former captain Alan Hansen as they celebrate with the trophy after the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Crystal Palace FC at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Phil Neal (18th), the club’s most decorated player, is at right-back, while Emlyn Hughes (17th) gets the nod on the left.
You may be thinking that Hughes was predominantly a centre-back for the club, and he was, but his versatility saw him feature at left-back.
As the highest-rated player to do so on the list, he secures the spot over specialists like Andy Robertson, Alan Kennedy, or Gerry Byrne.
This backline is practically impenetrable!
Midfield
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - Sunday, March 16, 2014: Liverpool's captain Steven Gerrard celebrates scoring the second goal against Manchester United from the penalty spot by kissing the television camera during the Premiership match at Old Trafford. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Utilising a classic 4-4-2 formation, the four-man midfield contingent has aggressiveness, creativity, leadership and a prolific record in front of goal.
On the right is Salah (4th), the second representative of the current era, whose goalscoring feats saw him leave as the club’s third-highest goalscorer.
On the left is Barnes (5th), who was unplayable during his peak and would form a devastating combination with Salah on the opposite flank.
As for the central pairing, no side are getting past Gerrard (1st) and Graeme Souness (6th). The perfect combination of physicality, leadership and goal threat.
Attack
2NFXRWE Liverpool player/manager Kenny Dalglish, left, and two-goal hero Ian Rush hold the England Football Assocaition Cup at Wembley, London, May 10, 1986. Liverpool beat their Merseyside rivals Everton 3-1, to give themselves a double after coming top of the English First Division. (AP Photo/Staff/Dave Caulkin) 1980s
Up top, it leaves only two players: Dalglish (2nd) and Rush (3rd).
Dalglish had an elite ability to unpick defences and was a world-class finisher in his own right, while Rush remains the club’s all-time record goalscorer with an insurmountable 346 goals.
The two formed a lethal partnership and were among the defining players of their generation, and that the likes of Billy Liddell and Roger Hunt are not included speaks volumes.
Liverpool’s greatest XI
In total, this lineup has 6,067 appearances and 1,282 goals between them, plus a trophy cabinet that eclipses clubs that are over a century old.
There may be other players you could slot into this foreboding XI, but it was determined by the votes that finalised the club’s greatest 100 list.
The Debate
What do you think of this XI?
Would you make any tweaks, or is this the definitive all-time Liverpool lineup?
Join the conversation: Let us know in the comments below!