Top 10 Irish Liverpool Players

By Jimmy Johnson

Liverpool and the Republic of Ireland have had a good relationship over the years. Plenty of Liverpool fans live there, and the Reds have employed some of their most talented countrymen.  Today, we’ll take a look at ten of the best players from the Republic of Ireland who have played for Liverpool over the years.

10. Phil Babb

Credit- Liverpool FC 

Phil Babb might not have been Liverpool’s most spectacular player of all time, but he was always a steady head who could be relied upon to do a job at the heart of their defence.  He only won one trophy with Liverpool, the League Cup in 1995, but he also made over 100 Premier League appearances for the Reds and rarely put a foot wrong.

9. Steve Staunton

Credit- Liverpool FC 

Another no-nonsense defender, Steve Staunton never scored a league goal for Liverpool. but he made up for it with stout-hearted grit in their backline. 

He enjoyed two spells at Anfield, during which he won one First Division title, one FA Cup and two Charity Shields. He is a well-liked figure at Liverpool, and notably did what he could to comfort the families who were affected as a result of the Hillsborough disaster in 1989.

8.Jason McAteer

Credit- Liverpool FC 

Affectionately nicknamed ‘Trigger’ during his time in Merseyside, McAteer was known and loved for his limitless work ethic. 

He is the only player on this list to have never won a trophy for the Reds, but his selflessness, combined with his willingness to slot into any position on the football pitch made him a highly popular figure at the club.

7. Steve Finnan

Credit- Liverpool FC

Steve Finnan will forever be a part of the Liverpool tapestry after he played in the 2005 Champions League final against AC Milan, though it is worthy mentioning that he was hooked at half-time due to injury. 

Don’t let this fool you as Finnan was a very reliable defender. Outside of their Champions League triumph, Finnan also won the FA Cup, the Community Shield and the UEFA Super Cup with the club.

6.  Bill Lacey

Credit- Play Up, Liverpool 

By far the earliest of our entries on this list, Bill Lacey played for Liverpool just before and just after the events of World War One. 

He made a total of 230 appearances for the Reds, scoring 18 goals. During his tenure, Liverpool won two First Division league titles and finished as runners up in the FA Cup in 1914. 

5. John Aldridge

Credit- Liverpool FC

In 1987, Liverpool’s top striker, Ian Rush had left the club to join Juventus. A massive hole developed in the playing squad, thankfully, it was promptly filled by John Aldridge. 

A brilliant natural goalscorer, Aldridge spent just two seasons at Liverpool, but nonetheless made a meteoric impact. Scoring 50 league goals in 83 games, the Reds won both the First Division and the FA Cup during his time at the club.

4. Ray Houghton

Credit- Liverpool FC

Ray Houghton was part of the same vibrant outfit that Aldridge played under. Defensively, they weren’t too solid, but going forward, they were electric. This was largely due to the efforts of Ray Houghton, who was arguably the centre-piece of their forward line. 

Liverpool won two First Division titles and two FA Cups while Houghton was at the club. He made 153 league appearances, and scored 28 goals in the league.

3. Mark Lawrenson

Credit- Liverpool FC

Far from the most fashionable player on the list,  which his ‘cameo’ in Mike Bassett: England Manager certainly highlights, but nonetheless one of the most dependable players ever. Mark Lawrenson was a phenomenal defender in his day, making 332 league appearances for the Reds. 

Lawrenson has a trophy cabinet that would make even the most decorated of superstars blush. He won five First Division titles, three League Cups, one FA Cup, One European Cup and two Charity Shields.

2. Steve Heighway

Credit- Liverpool FC

One of the longest-serving Liverpool players ever, Steve Heighway made 444 league appearances for the Reds with his tenure coinciding with one of the most successful periods in the club’s history. 

A fantastic winger, he scored 76 league goals during his time at Anfield. Furthermore, he also picked up five First Division titles, two European Cups and the FA Cup in 1974.

1. Ronnie Whelan

Credit- Liverpool FC

The stark definition of a midfield general, Ronnie Whelan was a true leader on the pitch for Liverpool. He made 362 league appearances for the club, scoring 46 goals. 

With six First Division titles, three FA Cups and two European Cups under his belt, Whelan is one of the most well-decorated Liverpool players of all time. He is a true club legend by any metric.