The best ever player is the same surely as the greatest. Hoe anyone can say its Gerrard is for me quite incredible. In this era, Suarez was the best player of recent times. Gerrard is very good but he does not come close to Kenny in terms of ability and status.
It can be different. Best - individually the best. Greatest - individually excellent, offers a lot to team in terms of influence, guidance, driving force, how he represents the team.
For me 'best' is most skillfull, virtuoso in the position they played and gave everything on the pitch The 'greatest' are those who transcend the pitch, become club icons and start to mean something more than just what they contribute on the pitch
Suarez had the best individual season of any recent player we've had. Had he stayed and maintained form he might be worthy of that title. Don't think you get that title from one fantastic season. (Not that he wasn't good season.before too)
i don't think personally anyone will ever surpass kenny as no1. i know some who say that if gerrard was ever to win a title before he retires it may edge him, but i think look what kenny did for this club as a player,manger as well as a friend, sorry you cant say the same for anyone else who has played for this club really. we are just grateful to have someone of gerrards quality in times of ****e (well what we consider ****e, most clubs it would be classed as success, hence the silly wumming) and a lot of people wouldn't have seen much of kenny play if at all. i only know of billy liddell by hearsay, and it makes me sad that i was never around to see the great man play, not that i am complaining about being old lol, just a shame he was a dif era to me. i cant believe suarez even got a mention, great player and had the potential to be no1 for sure(that pic of luis and kenny in same pose wearing no 7 shirt was a bit freaky), but he is what the modern game is all about, fecking mercaneries and the slave that they get treated as lol. i used to love watch bergkamp play, but i should imagine most gunners would have adams top.
As WintheLeagueforStevieG said the greatest players have something in their personalty or in what they do for the club that transcends their skills on the pitch. I've been lucky to see Kenny and the rump end of Billy Liddell. But my dad and his dad would throw in names like Stubbins, Balmer and Scott and I have no way of knowing how they rate against Dalglish or Liddell. Therefore I come to the conclusion that whilst debates like this are fun they are essentially flawed. We cannot compare the greatest from past generations and we have no idea what will happen in the future. I revere both Kenny and Billy. They are very different characters and I can't separate them. So for me the GREATEST is indefinable
Interesting point Dave. If I was picking I'd go Kenny with Gerrard a close second but as you say I haven't seen some of the past players.
Cannot comment on previous generations but Gerrard is the best of mine. Could win matches on his own with individual moments of brilliance or inspire the rest of the team. Technically brilliant in the final 3rd of the pitch combined with intensity and energy. Some of his goals are simply unreal.
Its a tough one to call really. I think he is definitely up there with the greatest and its down to individualy opinion between them as to who is number 1. For me I'd say so. Simply because he has kept the team competitive and had such a massive influence in the biggest games for the club so consistently. He hasnt always had the quality of players around him as some of the legends of the past and has had to carry the team more so. We've had players who can win games on their own such as Rush, Dalglish, Barnes, Liddel, Keegan, Hansen, Fowler but I dont think any player has done it as often for the club as Gerrard has, and over such a long period of time as well.
The OP asked who the greatest ever player was. The conversion as been more about who the biggest club legend is. There is a difference. Kenny is without doubt the greatest club legend. Not only was he a great player for us, he was also a very good manager. And then there is the off field stuff. nobody gets remotely close to Kenny in terms of legendary status in my book. However, when discussing the greatest player, that's what it should be; player! Off field activities or coaching/management contributions don't matter. Medals don't matter when looking at how good a player is or isn't, as Dave's already pointed out, Liddell was Mr Liverpool but his trophy count doesn't exactly make for great reading. What about Djimi Troare having a CL medal? Is he a better player than Suarez who hasn't got one? A player can only be judged in one way; by the human eye. It is a matter of opinion and why we all love the game so much! I will stop short of naming our greatest ever player though since I'm not 122 years old
Everyone else is putting a detailed response but not you. Bang! #nevercontributetofootballdiscussions
Who said anything about long winded Just funny that everyone else is expressing their thoughts but you just chuck a name in and ****off