Kenny DALGLISH

1977  to 1978.

Kenny Dalglish joined Liverpool in August 1977 in a £440, 000 deal from Celtic, where he had played 321 games, scoring 167 goals, and established himself as the best Scottish player of his generation. Signed for a then record fee between two British clubs, Dalglish was the replacement for Kevin Keegan who had joined SV Hamburg two months earlier. He was to prove even more of a success than his illustrious predecessor, leading the club through the most glorious period of its history - both as a player and manager - in a legendary career at Anfield that would span more than 13 years. Kenny made his debut on August 13, 1977, in a goalless draw with Manchester United in the Charity Shield at Wembley, and his League bow a week later, scoring after just seven minutes of a 1-1 draw at Middlesbrough.

He found the net in his next three games, and the Kop had a new hero to worship. Dalglish ended the season as Liverpool's top League goalscorer with 20 goals (twice as many as anyone else) but they had to settle for runners-up spot behind Brian Clough's Nottingham Forest side, who also defeated them in the League Cup Final. Silverware still found its way to Anfield, however, as they retained the European Cup, Dalglish's delightful chip proving enough to defeat FC Bruges 1-0 in the final at Wembley on May 10, 1978. It had been an excellent start to Kenny's Liverpool career: 31 goals from a total of 62 appearances and his first winners' medal for the club.

He continued his rich vein of goalscoring form into the following season, netting 9 times in the first 11 League games, including a brace in the memorable 7-0 demolition of Tottenham Hotspur (Ardiles, Hoddle and co.) in early September. Dalglish formed a dynamic strike partnership with David Johnson during this campaign, netting 21 League goals to top score again (Johnson hit 16) as Liverpool regained the championship title, the team setting new League records for most points gained (68) and fewest goals conceded (16). Now established as the best player in Britain, Kenny rounded off another fine season by being voted the Football Writers' Player of the Year. Both a scorer and creator of goals, he was also excellent at holding the ball up and bringing others into play; overall, his vision, skill and technique were unmatched at this time in British football. (Martin Greensill).

1979/80  to  1980/81.

Both Kenny Dalglish and Liverpool made a slow start to the defence of their League title in the 1979/80 campaign, Kenny scoring just once as the Reds won only two of their first seven games and dropped to 9th in the table at the end of September 1979 after a 1-0 defeat at Nottingham Forest. However, a 4-0 home win over Bristol City in early October (with Dalglish on the scoresheet) marked a change in fortunes which saw Liverpool go unbeaten in a further 16 League games. During this period Kenny found the net eight eight times, including an impressive run where he grabbed a brace in three successive League games, against Manchester City, Wolves and Brighton, in October-November 1979. Liverpool's 17-match unbeaten streak finally ended with a 1-0 loss at Coventry on January 19, but was followed by a run of only three defeats in 17 games that culminated in a 4-1 home win against Aston Villa which secured back-to-back titles and a record 12th championship in total.

The Dalglish-Johnson combination again produced 37 League goals, this time Kenny scoring 16 times to Johnson's 21. The Scotsman also scored seven times in other competitions for a total of 23 from 60 games, but Liverpool did not enjoy any cup success, suffering an early exit in the European Cup (the Soviet side Dynamo Tbilisi beat them 4-2 on aggregate in the 1st round) and losing in both the semi-finals of the League Cup (to Nottingham Forest) and of the FA Cup, Arsenal knocking them out after a four-game marathon. Liverpool failed to complete a hat-trick of League titles in 1980-81, partly because of injuries, including one to Dalglish which put an end to his remarkable run of 180 consecutive appearances in all competitions since joining the club. He managed only eight goals in 34 League games, including a brace in a 2-1 home win over Aston Villa in November (his strike partner Johnson also hit eight, with midfielder Terry McDermott top scoring on 13), and his poor goalscoring form was symptomatic of the Reds' disappointing performance in the League.

They scored only 62 goals (down from 81 the previous term) and ended up in 5th spot in the table, their lowest finish in a decade. Untypically, Liverpool saved their best form for knockout competitions and managed to complete a cup double that season. Dalglish played a major role in the League Cup, scoring seven times in eight ties including the equaliser in the replayed final at Villa Park, when Liverpool beat West Ham 2-1 to win the trophy for the first time in their history. He also performed well as Liverpool regained the European Cup (their third win in five seasons) with a 1-0 victory over Real Madrid in Paris on May 27, full-back Alan Kennedy scoring the only goal of the final. Dalglish played despite carrying an injury that had kept him out of action for over a month - it was too big a game for the side's talisman to miss - but still caused the Madrid defence some problems with his movement and passing, before limping off a few minutes from the end. He was a European champion for the second time in four seasons, adding another winners' medal to his growing collection. (Martin Greensill)

1981/82  to  1982/83.

Kenny Dalglish started the 1981-82 season slowly and did not manage a League goal until mid-October (in a 3-3 draw at Brighton), his first in that competition for 11 months, and had added only three more by the end of 1981. The team itself was also lacking form and sharpness, Liverpool ending the year in mid-table after a 3-1 home defeat by Manchester City on Boxing Day. However, the New Year was to bring a dramatic change in fortune. Kenny linked up in attack with a young Welshman who had great pace and deadly finishing ability: Ian Rush.

Feeding off Dalglish's promptings, the goals flowed for Rush and Liverpool began an inexorable rise up the League table. After a run of 19 wins and two draws in 23 games in 1982, a win against Tottenham at Anfield on May 15, would give them the title. Spurs led 1-0 at half-time but Liverpool took control after the interval, Dalglish scoring the second as they won 3-1 to seal another championship. He ended the season with 13 league goals (only four behind Rush), and 22 in all competitions from 62 appearances.

The Dalglish-Rush partnership continued to flourish in season 1982-83, not only proving to be the best ever seen at the club but arguably the best in the history of British football. Kenny hit 18 League goals, including a hat-trick for the club in a 5-2 pasting of Manchester City in December 1982, while Rush banged in 24. With the pair in such great form, Liverpool won the title easily, completing a domestic double after winning the League Cup for the third season in a row. Dalglish was rewarded for another superb campaign by being named Player of the Year by both the Football Writers and his fellow players, the PFA (Professional Footballers' Association), confirming his status as the best player in Britain. (Martin Greensill)