Liverpool FC has seen some of the greatest forwards in English football history donning the club’s iconic red jersey (the Liverpool home kit), leading the team to countless victories and forever etching their names into the hearts of fans around the world.
From tactical masterminds and pacey wingers to clinical finishers and creative geniuses, these players have consistently had fans on their feet, revelling in the sheer skill and jaw-dropping magic that is Liverpool FC’s attacking prowess.
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Here’s a rundown of some of the most outstanding forwards to have ever graced the Anfield pitch:
1. Ian Rush (1980-1986 and 1988-1996)
- Goals: 346
- Games: 660
Ian Rush is Liverpool FC’s all-time top scorer, a title yet to be claimed by any other Reds player. The Welshman began his first stint at the club at 19 years of age and quickly worked his way up to fan favourite thanks to his tireless pace, predatory instinct, and knack for finding the back of the net when, at times, it seemed impossible.
Together with Kenny Dalglish, Rush built one of the most formidable attacking partnerships in Anfield’s history. And during his 14-year career at Liverpool FC, he lifted five First Division titles, five League Cups, three FA Cups and two European Cups, not to mention personal accolades like the PFA Young Player of the Year (1983), FWA Footballer of the Year (1984) and European Golden Boot (1984).
2. Roger Hunt (1959-1969)
- Goals: 285
- Games: 492
Buckingham Palace may never have bestowed a knighthood upon Roger Hunt. Still, in the eyes of the Kopites who watched him electrify the pitch every other Saturday, he’ll always be “Sir Roger.” The Golborne-native colossus was instrumental in Bill Shankly’s famed Reds side of the 1960s, which kick-started Liverpool FC’s rise to footballing royalty.
He joined Liverpool FC from Cheshire League’s Stockton Heath in 1959 after he was spotted by Bill Jones (scout and former Liverpool FC player). Hunt remained the club’s top scorer for eight consecutive seasons, his most prolific one being the 1961-62 promotion campaign when he netted 41 goals in 41 appearances, including five hat-tricks.
3. Gordon Hodgson (1925-1935)
- Goals: 241
- Games: 377
At a time when Everton was a dominating force on Merseyside, Gordon Hodgson was the man to restore the Reds’ place on the throne. Hodgson signed for Liverpool FC in 1925 after agreeing to move from South Africa, his home country.
In his debut appearance in February 1926, he played 12 matches in the 1925-26 season, scoring four goals and setting the stage for what was to be a truly exceptional career at Anfield. To this day, he holds the record for the most hat-tricks (17) in Liverpool FC’s history, and in his decade-long tenure, he averaged over 20 goals per season.
4. Kenny Dalglish (1977-1990)
- Goals: 172
- Games: 515
King Kenny, as Kenny Dalglish is dearly referred to by the Reds’ faithful, left an indelible mark at Liverpool FC as both a player and manager. He joined Liverpool FC in August 1977 as a direct replacement for Kevin Keegan (the club’s star forward at the time) for a then-record transfer fee of £440,000.
The pressure on the young Scot to fill Keegan’s cleats and Bob Paisley’s expectations was immense, but he took it all in stride. A mere seven minutes into his first league debut, he scored his first goal for Liverpool FC. He finished his first season as the club’s top scorer with 31 goals, of which his most sensational one was against FC Bruges at Wembley in the European Cup final, a 1-0 win.
Later, in 1985, he took over as player-manager after Joe Fagan’s retirement until 1990, when he stepped down. In this role, he delivered three First Division titles, two FA Cups, and a League Cup.
5. Robbie Fowler (1993-2001 and 2006-2007)
- Goals: 183
- Games: 369
This Toxteth-born striker is Liverpool FC’s sixth top scorer of all time. After climbing the ranks in the Liverpool Academy, Fowler made his senior debut on 22 September 1993 against Fulham, scoring one of the goals that contributed to a 3-1 victory.
To this day, he remains the only player to have scored 30+ goals in three full Premier League seasons, netting 98 goals out of a total of 116 within three and a half years.
One of his best performances was a hat-trick against Arsenal in the 1994-1995 season in just four minutes and 33 seconds, a record time that stood for 21 years until it was broken by Sadio Mane in 2015.
6. Kevin Keegan (1971-1977)
- Goals: 100
- Games: 323
“Robbery with violence” was how Bill Shankly described Kevin Keegan’s capture from Scunthorpe United, and what a steal it was. For £35,000, the Reds had landed themselves an attacking dynamo in Keegan. His tenacity, pace, and agility were on par with the finest forwards in Europe, notably Ian Callaghan, whom Shankly envisioned Keegan replacing.
He made a memorable debut on 14 August 1971 against Nottingham Forest, scoring a goal only 12 minutes into the game. Throughout his six-year tenure, he and John Toshack (fellow forward) built a solid partnership that defined the 70s Liverpool FC era. They helped the club clinch two UEFA Cups, three First Division titles, an FA Cup and a European Cup.
7. Mohamed Salah (2017-Present)
- Goals: 208 at the time of publication
- Games: 338
Although his time at Liverpool FC is yet to match that of some of the other Anfield legends on this list, there’s no denying Salah’s impact on the Reds’ attack line since his arrival from Roma in 2017.
In just seven years at the club, he’s become the fifth highest scorer in Liverpool FC history and is on track to topple many of his predecessors’ records. The Egyptian King’s dribbling finesse, lightning-fast pace, and deadly finishing have seen him secure a long list of personal achievements, including three Premier League Golden Boots, two PFA Player of the Year awards, and two FWA Footballer of the Year titles.
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This is not to mention the integral role he played in helping Liverpool FC win their first Premier League title in 30 years, netting 19 goals and providing 10 assists in 34 appearances during the 2019-2020 season.
Celebrate the Greats of Anfield
Liverpool FC’s striking history has been shaped by some of the most gifted players the football world has ever known. These seven top scorers are just a handful of the legends Anfield has witnessed, leaving behind a legacy that continues to inspire new generations of Reds supporters.
Celebrate your favourite Liverpool FC forwards and their achievements by wearing the signature colours, adorning your home with their hardware, or grabbing a piece of rare memorabilia from your nearest Liverpool store, and show your love for the Reds.
