For generations of Liverpool supporters, Billy Liddell remains the greatest player to ever play for the Reds, so much so that the team was nicknamed ‘Liddell Pool’ after him. .
Liddell was Liverpool’s first superstar.
The Scottish-born attacker holds one of the most important seats in the hall of club legends, leading Liverpool through the post-war era and helping to found what is today known as Liverpool FC.
With Mo Salah recently surpassing Liddell’s record of 228 goals for the Reds, we take a look back at the career of Liverpool’s fifth all-time top scorer…
When did Billy Liddell play for Liverpool?
In 1938, Liddell was recruited by Liverpool under the influence of team captain Matt Busby, who would go on to become a Man United legend.
Shortly after signing for Lochgelly Violet in Scotland, World War II broke out and the youngster had to wait until 1946 to make his official debut for Liverpool.
But he was worth the wait, playing 534 games for the Reds over 14 years from 1946 to 1960.
His era began with success, as he won the league in 1947 and made 40 appearances, but seven years later there was a decline and Liverpool were relegated to the second division.
Despite offers of more money from elsewhere, Liddell ended up playing the rest of his Reds career in the second tier, but this did not detract from his excellence.
Date of death: July 3, 2001 (age 79) Place of birth: Dunfermline, Scotland Official debut: May 1, 1946 Last appearance: October 31, 1960 (age 38) Awards: First Division League ( 1947), FA Cup Runners-Up Medal (1950)
How good was Billy Liddell?
Absolutely, that’s the answer!
Primarily playing on the left, but also able to play between the front three, Liddell supported Liverpool until the 1950s after joining the team on short notice after World War II.
He sits fifth on Liverpool’s all-time top scorers list, but it wasn’t just his goals that made him special.
Extremely technically gifted, Liddell was a skilled two-footed attacker who used quick acceleration to directly challenge his opponents.
He easily defeated his opponent before delivering a famously unusually powerful shot with both feet. It is said that once, one of his blows broke a goalkeeper’s wrist.
Despite winning only one trophy with Liverpool, Liddell is widely regarded as one of the country’s best footballers, and is one of only two players to have played twice for England’s XI. (The other was Stanley Matthews).
He was also an important player for Scotland in the 1950s and continued to be selected even after Liverpool were relegated.
The respect he held was so great that his testimony led to the likes of Tom Finney, Nat Lofthouse, Don Revie and Matthews all visiting Anfield and offering £6,000 for the retiring great player. Collected donations.
Who is Billy Liddell off the pitch?
Described by many as a “true gentleman”, Liddell grew up in relative poverty in the village of Townhill, on the outskirts of Dunfermline.
His parents were keen to give him another career to rely on, so he continued his studies and eventually became an accountant while playing for Liverpool.
In fact, he only trained with the team twice a week during the season, but on Saturday he was still the most important player.
During World War II, Liddell joined the Royal Air Force as a navigator and had to wait six years before making his official debut for Liverpool.
After finishing his career, he continued his work as an accountant and became a chaplain at the University of Liverpool and a justice of the peace for the city.
Liddell may have been born in Scotland, but he became a true Liverpudlian, living on Merseyside until his death in 2001.
Inspiration for future legends
Liddell was Liverpool’s first true superstar in the modern game and his talent was such that supporters gave the club the nickname ‘Liddell Pool’.
One of the young fans who went to see Liddell was future Liverpool record appearance scorer Ian Callaghan.
Liddell’s biographer John Keith told This Is Anfield:
“Bob Paisley also made his debut that season and Billy was just a sensation. Ian Callaghan says he became a Liverpool fan because of Billy Liddell.
“He said: ‘When Billy got the ball there was a whoosh of anticipation all over Anfield and when he got the ball there was just an unbelievable atmosphere.’
“He was really good and shot like a cannonball. He broke the goalkeeper’s wrist trying to save a penalty!”
A goal that never was
• Read here: The story of a controversial goal that went unrealized!
One of the most memorable moments of Liddell’s career was actually a disappointing moment for the Reds.
In 1956, Liverpool were playing Man City in an FA Cup rematch at Anfield, and with the visitors trailing 2-1, Liddell fired into the top corner from 35 yards out. He fired a lightning strike.
However, the euphoria was short-lived as it was revealed that the referee had blown his whistle at full time the moment the ball left the player’s feet.
The Anfield crowd were unimpressed and required a tannoy announcement to explain what had happened, but Liddell was in character and did not complain.
He let his feet do the talking.
