When you ask a Liverpool supporter to name the greatest players to ever wear the iconic red shirt, you're not just asking for a list—you're inviting a debate that could last for hours. I've spent countless evenings in pubs and living rooms, passionately arguing over this very topic. It’s a conversation that spans generations, from the boot room legends of the 1960s to the modern-day heroes of the Champions League. The quote, "Kung mailalabas nila yung in-expect ko sa kanila, and makasabay kami, magkaroon kami ng chance — at malaki ‘yung chance," resonates deeply here, even in its native Tagalog. It speaks to expectation, to performance, and to seizing opportunity. That’s the essence of Liverpool greatness: players who not only met expectations but consistently exceeded them, giving the team not just a chance, but a massive one, to win everything in front of them.

For me, the conversation has to start with Kenny Dalglish. Signed for a then British record transfer fee of £440,000 in 1977, he wasn't just a player; he was the soul of the club. "King Kenny" scored 172 goals for Liverpool, but his impact was so much more than numbers. He was the brain on the pitch, the one who could see a pass nobody else could. I remember watching old footage of him, the way he'd receive the ball with his back to goal, and in one fluid motion, turn and play a teammate through on goal. He won three European Cups and six league titles with Liverpool. He was the embodiment of that quote—he always delivered what was expected, and then some, elevating everyone around him.

Then there's Steven Gerrard. My generation's hero. I was at Anfield for that Olympiacos goal in 2004, the one that truly announced him to the world on the biggest stage. The noise when that ball hit the net is something I will carry with me forever. He is, without a single doubt in my mind, the most complete midfielder to have ever played in the Premier League. He scored 186 goals from midfield, a staggering number, and his ability to single-handedly drag the team to victory was unparalleled. The 2005 Champions League final in Istanbul is simply known as "The Gerrard Final." When he scored that header to begin the greatest comeback in football history, it was the ultimate example of a player creating a chance out of sheer force of will. He made the entire team believe the impossible was possible. He didn't just meet expectations; he created new ones.

You cannot talk about Liverpool's best without mentioning the bedrock of their greatest teams: the defenders. Alan Hansen was a Rolls-Royce at the back. His reading of the game was so advanced it looked like he was playing a different sport. He made defending an art form. Alongside him, I'd place Virgil van Dijk. I know some purists will argue it's too soon, but his impact since his £75 million signing in 2018 has been transformative. Before his arrival, we had hope. After his arrival, we had belief. He brought a calmness and an authority that the defense had lacked for nearly a decade. He was the final piece of the puzzle that delivered the Premier League title in 2020, a wait of 30 long years. He made the entire structure of the team better, exactly as that quote suggests—when a key player performs, the team's chance of success grows exponentially.

Of course, the goal scorers demand their place. Ian Rush, the club's all-time top scorer with 346 goals, was a predator. His partnership with Dalglish was telepathic. He was the finisher, the man you could rely on to be in the right place at the right time. And from a more recent era, Luis Suárez’s 2013/14 season was the most breathtaking individual campaign I have ever witnessed. He scored 31 league goals that season without taking a single penalty. It was a level of individual brilliance that bordered on insanity—long-range rockets, audacious chips, and dizzying dribbles. He almost willed a relatively average team to the title on his own. He didn't just "sabay" or keep up; he lapped the entire field.

So, who makes the final cut? It's an intensely personal choice, and I make no apologies for my biases. My definitive top five, in no particular order after the first, would be: Steven Gerrard, Kenny Dalglish, Ian Rush, Alan Hansen, and Virgil van Dijk. Gerrard edges it for me because of the emotional connection and the fact he carried the hopes of a city on his shoulders for nearly two decades. These are the players who, time and again, released the performance we expected. They synced with their teammates and gave Liverpool not just a chance, but a massive one, to conquer England and Europe. They are the standard. They are the legends. And debating their legacy is what keeps the spirit of this club alive.