Over the years, Anfield Stadium has played host to some of the world’s most skillful footballers, yet only a select group has achieved the status of true greatness.
Throughout the development of its well-known history, Liverpool FC has firmly established itself as one of the preeminent clubs in European football.
With its rich-storied past, the football club boasts a remarkable trophy haul that includes 19 league titles, of which six European Cups, and nine League Cups.
In this list, we pay tribute to the foreign legends who have engraved their names into Liverpool’s history. Here are the top 10 best foreign Liverpool players of all time;
10. Dietmar Hamann
Born on August 27, 1973, in Waldsassen (a part of what was then known as West Germany), Dietmar Hamann left a permanent mark on the footballing world.
In addition to his time at Anfield, Hamann showcased his talents while representing well-known clubs such as Bayern Munich, Manchester City, MK Dons, and Newcastle.
Signed by Gerard Houllier for the 1999/2000 season, Hamann quickly became a vital part of Liverpool’s starting line-up.
His ability to execute the basics, maintain composure in challenging situations, and read the game incisively made him irreplaceable. Hamann’s main role was to interrupt opponents’ play and distribute the ball effectively.
He was well-known for his exceptional tackling and knack for scoring long-range goals. Notably, in his second season, he played 53 games and started in major cup finals.
A standout moment was his role in the historic comeback against AC Milan in Istanbul, despite playing with a broken toe. Another standout moment was the 2006 FA Cup final, securing victory with a penalty kick.
9. Fernando Torres
Born on March 20, 1984, in Fuenlabrada (Madrid Community in Spain), Fernando Torres definitely made a positive impact during his play at Anfield Stadium.
Throughout his career, Torres took part in top football teams such as Atletico Madrid, Chelsea, and Liverpool FC.
While this player may not be a popular pick amongst the fans of Liverpool FC, Torres was able to score 81 goals in 142 appearances for the club.
During his time at Liverpool, he happened to spend some of his time as a substitute after being signed in 2007, while Benitez was the club manager. Despite that, he still showcased his incredible abilities by scoring goals for the club.
Unfortunately, the player suffered some injuries in the 2008/2009 Premier League season, but he made up in the next season by breaking records as the club’s fastest player to score 50 league goals.
8. Roberto Firmino
Born on October 2, 1991, in Maceió (Brazil), Robert Firmino was questioned by sceptics whether his abilities were good enough to have shirt number 9 at Liverpool FC.
Firmino had not played for many of the best football teams and some of the teams he played for are Figueirense, 1899 Hoffenheim, and Liverpool.
He was an absolutely vital player at Liverpool FC with his impressive pressing in attack situations and the unique style he possessed.
Prior to becoming a top player in Liverpool FC, Firmino struggled to live up to the expectations of the club’s fans, as his performance on the pitch was slightly disappointing for some.
He slowly started improving with the help of Klopp, 2017/2018 was one of Firmino’s better seasons and he managed to score 26 goals in total, playing as a centre-forward for the club.
7. Bruce Grobbelaar
Born on October 6, 1957, in Durban (South Africa), Bruce Grobbelaar was an incredible goalkeeper, who kept unstoppable shots from crossing the goal line at all costs.
He debuted on October 12, 1980, vs. Cameroon and took part in top football teams such as Southampton, Northwich Victoria, and Liverpool FC.
Bruce kept an athletic goalkeeper profile and despite early errors, gradually settled into his role as Liverpool’s goalkeeper. The start of his career at Liverpool FC was marked by criticism from fans, including scathing letters and obscenities.
However, Grobbelaar’s talent kept him in the team from his debut in August 1981 until August 1986, playing 317 consecutive games.
Liverpool’s manager at the time had a crucial conversation with him during his debut season, urging him to curb his antics. This advice prompted Grobbelaar to focus on improving and rectifying his mistakes, leading to his successful tenure with the club.
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6. Philippe Coutinho
Born on June 12, 1992, in Rio de Janeiro (Brazil), Philippe Coutinho became the fifth Brazilian-born player to sign with Liverpool FC. Coutinho began his career in Vasco da Gama’s youth system in his hometown.
At just 16, Internazionale signed him in 2008. Some of the more impressive clubs he played for are Barcelona, Bayern Munich, and Inter Milan.
In the 2012/13 season, Philippe Coutinho emerged as an outstanding success. The Brazilian seamlessly adapted to English football and Liverpool, starting with a goal on his debut.
Coutinho’s standout year came in 2015/16 when he scored twelve impressive goals, including a memorable strike against Stoke City, a crucial equalizer in the League Cup final, and a brilliant solo effort against Manchester United in the Champions League.
Coutinho’s exceptional performances earned him four end-of-season awards and a call-up to represent Brazil in the Copa America. He continued to shine in the 2016-17 season, netting thirteen goals in 31 appearances as the club’s star performer.
5. Jan Molby
Born on July 4, 1963, in Kolding (Denmark), Jan Molby was undoubtedly one of the most talented players to ever play for Liverpool FC.
The start of his football career was on June 15, 1982, vs. Norway and at that time, few had already started to notice the potential of this remarkable player.
Liverpool FC bought Molby from Ajax in 1984. In his debut season, he began as a regular defensive midfielder, however later on he made way for Kevin MacDonald. The 1985/86 season saw Molby shine, contributing immensely to Liverpool’s double triumph.
With 21 goals in 58 matches, he played a fundamental role, delivering a standout performance in the FA Cup final against Everton. Despite experiencing challenges with staying in shape, his exceptional vision, skill, passing, and shooting abilities compensated for his mobility limitations.
4. Xabi Alonso
Born on November 25, 1981, in Tolosa (Spain), Xabi Alonso’s ability to magically pass the ball to his teammates stunned Anfield stadium across 210 appearances for the team.
Alonso was impressively strong in defence, while going forward at the same time and possessed virtually infinite passing range. Alonso was signed by some of the best clubs in Europe, such as Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, and Real Sociedad.
Alonso went on to have perhaps his best season as a Liverpool player, making 47 first-team appearances and scoring five times, including the goal that ended Chelsea’s record-breaking unbeaten home run in the League.
He debuted for Liverpool FC on August 28, 2004 and made an immediate impression, but suffered a broken ankle in the 2005 New Years’ Day clash against Chelsea and the difference in the team’s performance was noticeable.
Although the club benefited greatly from Alonso, he suffered quite a few injuries throughout his career at Liverpool FC.
3. Mohamed Salah
Born on June 15, 1992, in Basyoun (Egypt), Mohamed Salah’s professional career started in his hometown with the club El Mokawloon.
After a rough start to his professional career due to various reasons, Salah really made a statement at Roma with 29 goals in 65 league appearances from different positions. Some of the best clubs he played for are Chelsea, Fiorentina, and of course, Liverpool FC.
Salah is the only player from this Top 10 list to still be playing for Liverpool FC, currently signed until June 30, 2025. Marking his first goal in his first pre-season game at Wigan, he went on to exceed the expectations of fans.
The reason he stands out lies in his ability to cross the ball and not only, but also to cut in and shoot. Scoring 44 goals in his debut season for Liverpool FC was simply sensational, the second-highest total of any player in the club’s history.
Some of his best accomplishments are being voted the PFA Player of the Year, Football Writers’ Footballer of the Year, and Premier League Player of the Year. Currently with a total of 308 games played, he has scored 187 goals and 76, which cements his status as a future legend of Liverpool FC.
2. Luis Suarez
Born on January 24, 1987, in Salto (Uruguay), Luis Suarez made his arrival at Liverpool FC during the January 2021 transfer window.
Suarez immediately stood out with his Gaols-per-game ratio not only to Liverpool FC fans but also to fans of the whole Premier League. He played for some incredible football clubs, such as Ajax, Atletico Madrid and Barcelona.
Suarez faced controversy throughout his career, related to biting 2 other football players. His actions resulted in heavy fines and a ban from FIFA playing for periods of time.
Despite his questionable actions at times, Suarez was truly a wizard with the ball and became an immediate fan-favorite amongst the fans of Liverpool FC.
After serving a ban from FIFA for the opening 5 Premier League matches, he played in the remaining 33 and scored an astonishing 31 goals, a total that included hat-tricks against West Bromwich Albion and Cardiff City and four against Norwich at Anfield.
1. Sami Hyypia
Born on October 7, 1973, in Porvoo (Finland), Sami Hyypia primary responsibilities were stopping the opposite team from scoring goals.
At other times, he could actually be seen as an effective player of the squad in attacking situations. Back at that time, it was unheard of for a center-half to score as many goals as Sami Hyypia scored (35 goals in 464 appearances). Some of the best clubs he played for are Bayer Leverkusen, Liverpool FC and Mypa 47.
Hyypia’s performance on the football pitch was often compared to a former player Ron Yeats, who later became a legend.
The way Liverpool FC signed Sami Hyypia was through a TV cameraman, who recommended to the club at that time to have a look at a strong defender from a small Dutch club. Liverpool recognized Hyypia’s leadership and skill early in his career.
He filled in as captain when needed, eventually becoming the permanent captain in 2002. Hyypia maintained a flawless record of no bookings for 87 consecutive matches from 2000 to 2001. Despite losing the captaincy in 2003, he gracefully returned to top form.
Conclusion
The list of foreign players who played for Liverpool FC truly goes beyond the above Top 10 List, but taking into consideration the players’ roles, the period in which they played, and their contributions to the team, we believe this top 10 list is completely accurate.
Liverpool FC’s growth as a team is never-ending and without a doubt, there will be many more foreign talents to join the team, with the likelihood of becoming a bigger star than some of the players in this top 10 list.
