Top 5 Current Liverpool Players

Over the years I have been following my one and only favourite football team, through television and internet that is, Liverpool FC. It's an English football club, based in Liverpool, competing in the Barclays Premier League. Its home is Anfield Stadium with the capacity of around 44,000 spectators during a football match.

Liverpool FC is known for its history and tradition. The club has won 18 League titles, 5 European Championships and many other titles over the years. A great club with a great success, Liverpool has been a place for great players to ply their trade in footballing world. Top class players came and go, not to mention flops who did not succeed personally and at club level.

A few Liverpool legends that I feel I must mention here is the likes of Kenny Dalglish, Ian Rush, John Aldrigde, Phil Thompson, Robbie Fowler and also John Barnes. Kenny Dalgish, or King Kenny as he is affectionaly known, is simply a living legend around Anfield. Back in his days, he was a top player for Liverpool, and he even became a Liverpool manager and won them some titles. Ian Rush is another legend, a scoring machine in his prime. He is still the club's leading top scorer with over 340 goals in his Liverpool career.

However as a young generation, I did not watch a lot of Liverpool of the past. I started following the team back in 2004, so I was lucky to be watching Liverpool winning their 5th European title. Since then I really love to watch Liverpool match on the television. And as a fan, I have my list of favourite players. And here is my list of Top 5 Liverpool players.

• Dietmar Hamann - At 5th place is Didi Hamann. He is a German player signed from Newcastle United by the then Liverpool manager Gerard Houlier. He used to play as a defensive midfielder for Liverpool, where he was a composed and commanding figure at the centre of the field. He is known for his tackling ability, and for scoring a few stunning goals. To me he will remain as one of the best players to play for Liverpool.
• Sami Hyypia - This colossus defender was virtually unknown when he first came to Liverpool, but reputation aside, he managed to find his way in the club and later became an important player in the Liverpool defense. He was rock solid in defending, and also scores a number of goals particularly from set pieces. He ended his career as a Liverpool player last season and now plays in German Bundesliga.
• Pepe Reina - His real name is Jose Manuel Reina. He was signed from Villareal by current Liverpool manager, Rafa Benitez. He is a great commanding goalkeeper, with great reflexes and steady composure. In Liverpool's Champions League semi final against Chelsea, Reina stole the show as the game had to be decided by penalty kicks. He brilliantly saved two penalty kicks by Arjen Robben and then Geremi. He was a hero of the night as Liverpool made it into the final to play against AC Milan. He became a hero again in the FA Cup final. Playing against West Ham, the game reached the stalemate after extra time. Penalty shootouts took place, and knowing that Reina was in goal, the rest was history. What a fine stopper he is. He even got some assists to his name.
• Fernando Torres - This young Spanish player was signed from a Spanish side Atletico Madrid. He was famously photographed for wearing an armband with "You'll Never Walk Alone" written on the inside. As an Atletico top scorer and young captain, Rafa saw him as the perfect player to fill in the striker's role. In his Premier League debut he scored an amazing goal against Chelsea at Anfield, and from then on, he had marked his name as a legend in the making. In his first season as a Liverpool player he managed to get on the scoresheets 33 times, equalling the record set by Ruud van Nistelrooy for a foreign player. I am happy to see him doing well for the club.
• Steven Gerrard - Steven who? This local player is known for his passion for the club. He was installed as the club captain by Houllier, replacing Sami Hyypia, a move which Hyypia professionally accepted. Gerrard is a dynamic midfield player whose attributes are great. He is a great tackler, with the ability to pass the ball around in spectacular fashion, and he scores superb goals from midfield. He was rumoured to switch Anfield for Stamford Bridge but luckily it remained a rumour. As captain Liverpool, he leads the team with inspiration. In the build up to 2005 Champions League final, Gerrard scored a stunner against Olympiakos, that sent Liverpool to the second round. And in the final itself, he scored with a header against AC Milan, to set up the Liverpool comeback. In the 2006 FA Cup Final, Liverpool were trailing by a goal when he scored a screamer in the dying minutes of the game, which drew Liverpool on level term and then winning the final by penalty shootouts.

So there you go, my list of Top 5 Liverpool Players!