Liverpool has launched an official countdown of the club's top 100 greatest players, with Phil Neal, the most decorated player in the club's history, ranked 18th.

Earlier this year, Liverpool invited fans, former players, journalists, and an internal judging panel to vote through 2026 to determine the final rankings for the "Liverpool FC Top 100 Players in History."

The selection criteria were based on individual ability, influence, historical significance, and achievements during each player's time at Liverpool.

The countdown will culminate in early July with a special live broadcast revealing the top five and the ultimate winner of the title "Liverpool FC's Greatest Player of All Time."

Liverpool FC's Top 100 Players in History:

100. – 91.: Mac Allister, Szoboszlai, Luis Garcia, Jack Cox, Bobby Robinson, Lallana, Lucas Leiva, Curtis Jones, Dick Forshaw, Danny Murphy

90. – 81.: David Johnson, Jack Parkinson, Sam Raybould, Coutinho, Dudek, Phil Taylor, Gerry Byrne, Smicer, Steve Heighway, Kuyt

80. – 71.: Ray Houghton, Sturridge, Tommy Lawrence, Ronnie Moran, Luis Díaz, Alan A'Court, Hamann, Tom Bromilow, Matip, Heskey

70. – 61.: John Stabbing, Wijnaldum, Fabinho, Fairclough, Gomez, Aldridge, Reyna, Riise, Peter Thompson, Johnston

60. – 51.: Longworth, Sammy Lee, Bob Paisley, Jota, Jamie Redknapp, Origi, Alonso, Beardsley, McKinlay, Balmer

50. – 41.: Toshack, Jimmy Case, Milner, Raisbeck, McMahon, Lawler, Torres, Mølby, Grobbelaar, Nicol

40. – 31.: Harry Chambers, Alan Kennedy, McManaman, Tommy Smith, Ray Kennedy, Mark Lawrenson, McDermott, Ronnie Whelan, Elisha Scott, Gordon Hodgson

30. – 21.: Steve Heighway, Hyypiä, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Ron Yeats, Robertson, Henderson, Michael Owen, Carragher, Firmino, Phil Thompson

20. – 11.: Ian St John, Mané

Liverpool FC's 18th Greatest Player in Club History: Phil Neal

Years at the club: 1974–1985

Appearances: 650

Goals: 59

Honours: First Division Championship (1975–76, 1976–77, 1978–79, 1979–80, 1981–82, 1982–83, 1983–84, 1983–84), UEFA Cup (1973), European Cup (1977, 1978, 1981, 1984), European Super Cup (1977), League Cup (1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984)

No player in Liverpool's history has won more trophies than Phil Neal. Over his glorious career at Anfield, he collected 18 major titles.

The incredibly consistent right-back helped the team win eight league titles and lifted the European Cup four times during his more than a decade at the club, scoring in two of those finals.

Neal made 650 appearances for Liverpool, placing him seventh on the club's all-time appearances list.

When he joined Liverpool from English fourth-tier club Northampton in October 1974, few would have predicted his future success. He was among the first players signed by Bob Paisley after he took over as manager from Bill Shankly.

After his debut in the Merseyside Derby at Goodison Park, Neal initially played left-back for about 18 months before establishing himself as a regular right-back.

Remarkably, the English defender set a club record of 365 consecutive league appearances from December 1974 to September 1983.

Neal recalled: "During my time at Liverpool, I never missed a single training day. I never took time off for a cold. Every day I came in with a smile on my face."

Neal was a quiet, reliable player with an excellent ability to read the game. Due to his outstanding attacking prowess, fans nicknamed him "Zico." He ultimately scored 59 goals for Liverpool.

One of those goals came in the 1977 European Cup final. He converted a penalty as Liverpool defeated Borussia Mönchengladbach 3–1 in Rome, securing the club's first European Cup.

He subsequently won the European Cup again in 1978 and 1981. In the 1984 European Cup final, Neal scored again, converting a penalty in the decisive shootout as Joe Fagan's Liverpool beat AS Roma at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome to claim the trophy.

Jamie Carragher said: "When we talk about players who played for clubs like AC Milan, we say 'He won the Champions League four or five times,' and we all exclaim 'Wow, those Real Madrid and Barcelona players.' But Phil Neal also won the Champions League four times, which is truly remarkable."

Before the 1984–85 season, Neal was appointed Liverpool captain, and that campaign proved to be his last full season at Anfield.

In November 1985, he made his final appearance for Liverpool and left the club a month later. However, he had already made 13 league appearances that season, and Liverpool ultimately won the league title—his eighth championship.

Neal's record for trophies won may never be broken.

Teammate Phil Thompson commented on him: "People say the game was harder back then, and perhaps our players were indeed tougher. But when you look at Nelly, you can only be amazed: 'That's incredible!' He deserves every bit of praise; he was a truly great player."

Übersetzt von KI.

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