Anfield has hosted some of football’s biggest strike partnerships, but which Liverpool attacking partnership is the best?
As the Reds update their attack lines for the 2022/23 season, we take a look back at the top 10 attack partnerships in Liverpool’s history, ranking and admiring the combination of goals and assists.
Liverpool Top 10 attacking partnerships
10. Roberto Firmino & Sadio Mane – 23
The partnership created by this duo as part of the legendary triumvirate of Sadio Mané, Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah will be memorable for a long time. So far, Firmino’s has provided 17 assists, and the Senegalese have returned the favour six times. Probably the most memorable combination of was when Mane unleashed the Brazilian who won it for Liverpool in extra time against Flamengo in the 2020 Club World Cup final.
9. Steve Heighway & John Toshack – 24
Between 1970 and 1977, two of Liverpool’s most famous attacking players united and had a devastating effect. The partnership between Steve Heighway, the flying winger, and John Toshack, the striker, was the main reason the Reds won a lot. Namely two league titles, the Europa League, two UEFA Cups, the FA Cup, and the UEFA Super Cup during that period. Heighway scored 14 goals with Toshack and the former Welsh striker returned the favour 10 times.
8. Kenny Dalglish & Terry McDermott – 27
The great Kenny Dalglish appears on this list three times. This explains the importance of his role in a team that won consecutive championships in the late 70s and ’80s. Indeed, in a partnership with the epic midfielder Terry McDermott, who etched his legacy in Liverpool folklore, Dalglish provided 15 assists and scored 27 goals.
7. John Barnes & Ian Rush – 28
This was a real offensive duo. Both, John Barnes and Ian Rush have terrorized defense for years. As expected, Barnes was the main creator, assisting 22 of the 28 goals the pair scored together between 1989 and 1995. However, it’s important to remember that Barnes actually scored four more league goals than Rushie in the team that won the league title in 1990.
=5. Mohamed Salah & Sadio Mane – 30
Salah and Mane have torn defenses to shreds for the past five years and have been the focal point of an incredible attacking system developed by Jurgen Klopp. For the most part of this time, both players have a wide range of offensive roles, making their big goal tally even more impressive.
Could the likes of Darwin Nunez and Luis Diaz feature on this list in the years to come?
=5. Steve McManaman & Robbie Fowler – 30
Steve McManaman and Robbie Fowler, moved up the ranks together in Anfield. They were best friends in Liverpool in the 1990s and one of the most exciting forward duos in the world. To illustrate, a tricky winger in McManaman assisted the talismanic Fowler with 25 of the 30 goals scored between 1994 and 1999.
4. Roberto Firmino & Mohamed Salah – 31
The last possible combination of the trio of Mane, Firmino, and Salah, is the best according to statistics. Their most successful game together was the 5-2 first-leg victory over Roma in the 2017/18 Champions League semifinals in Anfield. Then, Firmino set two goals for Salah, who returned the favour by doing the same in the second half, completely neutralizing then-Roma goalkeeper Alisson.
3. Kenny Dalglish & David Johnson – 32
When Liverpool regained the league title in 1979 and won it again in 1980, Dalglish-backed David Johnson was a prolific striker. Also, Dalglish assisted 23 of their 32 goals scored together. The pair was their best as individuals in the 1978-79 season. Dalglish scored 21 league goals and Johnson scored 16.
2. Kevin Keegan & John Toshack – 45
These two were just devastating. Correctly remembered as one of the Red’s best players, Kevin Keegan made a brilliant connection with Toshack in the 1970s and helped the Welshman with 27 of the 45 goals, they combined for.
1.Kenny Dalglish & Ian Rush – 48
No Liverpool duo may be able to exceed the 48 goals scored by Dalglish and Rush between 1981 and 1987. While spending time together in Anfield, they won four league titles and two European Cups. Very simply, it’s the best Liverpool attacking partnership, and probably in football history.
