Carragher’s Anfield Top 10: Gerrard No 1 as Salah ranked only sixth

Trust Jamie Carragher to lob a grenade into the Anfield debate. With Mohamed Salah confirming he’s off, the former vice-captain — 737 appearances, nine major trophies, and a voice as Scouse as they come — has revealed his top 10 Liverpool players of all time. It sweeps from Shankly’s foundations to Klopp’s high-octane era, and there are some mighty calls along the way from a man who’d get shouts for the list himself.

For anyone scanning the odds on betting sites uk, here’s the headline: Steven Gerrard tops the lot, while Salah only lands sixth. Cue the arguments in the pub, the taxi, and the Kop.

10) Ian Callaghan — the iron man who did it all

Mr Liverpool to many, and rightly so. Callaghan racked up a scarcely believable 857 appearances, graduating from the Second Division to lifting the European Cup in 1977 and 1978. Debuting in 1958, the Toxteth-born workhorse — ‘Cally’, the ‘Marathon Man’ — bridged Shankly and Paisley with relentless class and humility.

9) Kevin Keegan — King before the King

Plucked from Scunthorpe’s fourth tier and turned into a superstar, Keegan spearheaded the early 70s surge. His telepathy with John Toshack terrorised defences, he helped deliver three league titles and Liverpool’s first European Cup in 1977 (ask Berti Vogts about that final), before departing for Hamburg and two Ballons d’Or. He set the table for what Dalglish would later feast on.

8) Virgil van Dijk — the game-changer

£75 million looked steep; it proved a bargain. Van Dijk transformed Klopp’s nearly-men into serial contenders, captaining the side and strolling through games with pace, power and passing. Ballon d’Or runner-up in 2019 and not dribbled past for an entire calendar year — he’s the defensive colossus of the modern era.

7) Alan Hansen — class on wheels

In Carragher’s eyes, the greatest centre-half to wear red. Hansen glided through the late 70s dominance, the early-to-mid 80s trophy hauls and the late-80s Barnes–Beardsley masterclass. A Rolls‑Royce before the term was fashionable, he read it, stepped in, played out — light years ahead of his time. When he stopped, the league titles dried up until Van Dijk arrived.

6) Mohamed Salah — relentless royalty

The ‘Egyptian King’ has built an empire on availability and end product. Season after season, goals and assists arrive on tap; he’s the headline act in a spine with Alisson and Van Dijk. He stands alone as the only player to win the Premier League title, Golden Boot, Playmaker Award and Player of the Season in a single campaign (2024/25). At the time of writing: 435 appearances, 255 goals, 119 assists — and a catalogue of iconic moments, not least against Manchester United. Sixth feels brutal, but this is the company he’s keeping.

5) Ian Rush — the finisher’s finisher

Try topping 346 goals. You won’t. Rush was a menace in derbies, a predator in finals — think 1986 and 1989 — and a guarantee of silverware in the 80s. If Salah couldn’t catch him, it may never be done.

4) John Barnes — swagger and sorcery

From 1987 to 1991, Barnes was Britain’s best and among the world’s elite. A mesmerising dribbler who could torture full-backs from the left or slice teams open centrally, he led Liverpool to two league titles and two FA Cups while rising above shameful abuse off the pitch. Carragher trained with him and still swears he was the most naturally gifted player at Melwood.

3) Graeme Souness — silk wrapped around steel

A midfield general with a surgeon’s pass and a street‑fighter’s edge. Three European Cups in six years tell you the level, but so does the dominance: in an era of giants, Souness was Britain’s complete central midfielder. Oddly under-sung outside Anfield; properly revered within it.

2) Kenny Dalglish — the club’s greatest figure

The most important man in Liverpool history when you weigh player, manager and statesman. On pure playing merit he’s second here, but what a footballer: a genius who mixed guile with grit, scored cheeky chips and cute back‑heels, and led sides that bullied Europe. In the early 80s he was the world’s premier centre-forward.

1) Steven Gerrard — captain, force of nature, No 1

Yes, he’s Carragher’s mate — but this is about moments that define a club. Istanbul 2005: the spark for the greatest comeback of them all. Cardiff 2006: that extra‑time thunderbolt to wrench the FA Cup home. Gerrard didn’t always enjoy the cast that Dalglish or Souness did; he simply dragged lesser teams to glory through will, talent and timing. That’s why he edges it.

From Callaghan’s endurance to Gerrard’s heroics, Carragher’s countdown is a love letter to every Liverpool era — and a reminder that greatness at Anfield wears many faces. Stats courtesy of LFChistory (correct as of 26/03/2026).