Liverpool: Ten best Scottish players RANKED

by Jimmy Johnson 

Liverpool and Scotland have been historically entwined in footballing terms. The Reds have had some excellent Scots over the years, but who were the best?

Let’s rank ten of the best Scottish footballers who played for Liverpool over the years. Do you agree with our picks?

10. Andrew Hannah

Liverpool’s first ever club captain, Andrew Hannah only made 73 appearances for the Reds - but football was a very different game back then. 

A battling defender, Hannah was perfectly built to thrive in his era. No-nonsense and aggressive, he set the gold standard for future Liverpool leaders. 

9. Ron Yeates

Another indomitable Reds captain, Ron Yeats, was a monolithic defender who struck fear into the hearts of forwards across the country. 

Yeats was part of the fantastic Bill Shankly team that made their mark in the 1960s - while at Liverpool, he won two First Division titles, one FA Cup and three Charity Shields. 

8. Ian St. John

Ian St. John and Ron Yeats had virtually parallel Liverpool careers. Both joined in 1961, left in 1971 and played pivotal roles in their era of success. 

Shankly fought hard to bring him on board and his pleas were not in vain. St. John was an excellent striker for the Reds, scoring 95 league goals in 336 games.

7. Andy Robertson

The only current member of the squad to make our list, Andy Robertson has been a wonderful servant for Liverpool since he joined the club for a meagre £8 million.

Few players have represented greater value for money over the years than Robbo. While his strengths are mainly found in his work rate and defensive ability, he is no slouch in the final third. A wonderful defender, he was a cornerstone of the Jurgen Klopp era.

6. Tommy Lawrence

An unsung hero of the Shankly era, Tommy Lawrence was simply talismanic between the sticks for Liverpool during the late 50s and 60s.

Known as the ‘flying pig’, he was never the most svelte of figures during his time at Anfield. Despite his weight, it never prevented him from making jaw-dropping saves. 

5. Billy Liddell

Billy Liddell is a shoe-in for this list. Not only is he one of Liverpool’s all-time top goalscorers, he’s also one of Liverpool’s longest serving players over the course of history.

His career was initially hampered, as it began just as World War Two swept across Europe. Nevertheless, he still carved out a legendary Liverpool career, winning the First Division in 1947. 

4. Steve Nicol

The first Bob Paisley player to make an appearance on this list, Steve Nicol is one of the most decorated individuals in Liverpool history. A solid right-back, he also chipped in with goals from time to time.

Nicol’s trophy cabinet would make the very best of them blush. He won four First Division titles, three FA Cups and the European Cup in 1984. 

3. Graeme Souness

A man who needs no introduction, Graeme Souness is perhaps the most intimidating midfielder of all time. Technically excellent and with a lion’s heart, no one could touch Souness in his prime - and if they did, they’d soon regret it. 

Souness spent eight years at Liverpool, ushering in a period of complete dominance. He laid claim to five First Division titles, four League Cups and three European Cups at Anfield. 

2. Alan Hansen

Alan Hansen was a player years ahead of his time. One of the original ball-playing defenders, Hansen added a new dimension to Liverpool’s approach that simply wasn’t available to other teams of the era. 

An astute defender and an excellent player of the ball, he won a staggering eight First Division titles, as well as two FA Cups, four League Cups and three European Cups. 

1. Kenny Dalglish 

Only one man could top this list - Kenny Dalglish is practically synonymous with Liverpool football club. With 118 league goals in 355 appearances, it’s easy to see why. 

He won almost all the trophies that Souness and Hansen did - but unlike them, he also managed to usher in a period of success as Liverpool manager, too. A true legend in every sense of the word.