PREMIER LEAGUE
From Dalglish, Keegan to Milner: Díaz and the responsibility of the Liverpool No. 7 shirt
The Colombian will switch from No. 23 and use the number seven shirt in the forthcoming 23/24 season for the Reds.
Liverpool’s number 7 shirt will have a new owner next season following the departure from Anfield of captain James Milner, who will play in Brighton next season. Colombian Luis Díaz now inherits the jersey and since his move to England from FC Porto at the beginning of 2022, the Barrancas native has sported the No. 23 shirt.
Diaz is a fan of the seven shirt and it’s the number he used in his time with the Portuguese giants and also the number he uses when on international duty with the Colombian national team. During the early stages of his professional career, the 26-year-old has also used 19, 17 and 10, among others.
The responsibility the No. 7 at Anfield
Over the years, the No.7 shirt with the Anfield Road club has been associated with some of the greatest Liverpool players of all time. Billy Liddell made 492 appearances for the Reds and is the fourth all-time scorer for the club with 228 goals. For more than 14 years at Liverpool he alternated between the number 7 shirt with 9 and 11.
Ian Callaghan holds the honour for the player with the most appearances with the Liverpool shirt pulling on the famous red jersey on 857 occasions. During his time at the club he wore different numbers, but is associated with No. 7 which he first wore in 1960.
Kenny Dalglish came to Liverpool for the 77/78 season from Scottish giants Glasgow Celtic and for several years wore the number 7 on his back. The Scotsman is one of the top 10 Reds goalscorers of all time with 172 goals in 515 appearances and his legacy at the club is undeniable with one of the stands at Anfield bearing his name.
Just one other South American player has used the No. 7 shirt at Liverpool before Díaz and that nonour belonged to Luis Suárez with the Uruguayan striker using this number during the three and a half seasons he spent at the club in which he scored 82 goals in 133 games played.
Other iconic players to have sported 7 over the years are: Kevin Keegan, Nigel Clough, Steve McManaman, Vladimir Smicer, Harry Kewell, Robbie Keane and James Milner.