Who is Billy Liddell, the Liverpool legend whose goals tally Mohamed Salah has overtaken?
Scotland international Liddell, like Salah, also a winger, was revered like a god at Anfield. Only three players have scored more goals for the club.
It’s official, with his goal against Tottenham in north London this evening, Mohamed Salah has gained new legendary status with the Premier League leaders.
Salah level with Liddell
It brought up his 228th goal for Liverpool, bringing him level with one of the most iconic and revered players ever to have pulled on the red shirt - Billy Liddell.
Salah found the target on 53 minutes with the Reds 1-3 up. In a typical breakaway move, Díaz squared to Szoboszlai, who scuffed his shot but the loose ball fell to Salah for a simple tap-in.
Both players combined for Liverpool’s fifth and Salah’s second seven minutes later. Making it 229 goals for the Egyptian during his time at Anfield and making him the club’s fourth top scorer of all time.
In the Premier League all-time goals table, Salah is eighth on 170 - now just five behind the great Thierry Henry.
Liverpool all-time top goal scorers
- 346 Ian Rush (660) 1.91
- 285 Roger Hunt (492) 1.73
- 241 Gordon Hodgson (377) 1.56
- 229 Mohamed Salah (373) 1.63
- 228 Billy Liddell (534) 2.34
- 186 Steven Gerrard (710) 3.82
- 183 Robbie Fowler (369) 2.02
- 172 Kenny Dalglish (515) 2.99
- 158 Michael Owen (297) 1.88
- 151 Harry Chambers (339) 2.25
Billy Liddell up there with the greats
Today’s generation of fans can be forgiven for not knowing much about Liddell, who represented the club 534 times from his first appearance in January 1946 until his final game in August 1960. But those who did get to see him play will never forget it. For many, Liddell remains one of Liverpool’s greatest players - up there with Kenny Dalglish, Gerrard, Souness, Hunt... some would argue he is the greatest.
Take Bill Shankly’s word for it: “He had everything - he was fast, powerful, could shoot with either foot and his headers were like blasts from a gun. On top of all that he was as hard as granite. What a player!”
John Keith paints another striking image of the player in his biography Billy Liddell: The Legend Who Carried the Kop (Robson Books. 2004). Strong as an ox, Liddell was a real handful for most centre-backs in England’s second tier. During one game, two particularly uncompromising defenders tried to take him out, scything him down with two crunching tackles. The crowd winced as their studs sank into Billy’s leg. But Liddell just got straight back up, swivelled, then ceremoniously slammed the ball into the back of the net with his other leg.
There were many times when he single-handedly carried the team, scoring decisive goals - a multi-purpose player who could player in any position on the park - both wings, defence, midfield. Those who saw him in action recall a palpable, tense feeling of anticipation in the stands every time Billy got the ball.
Liddell the legend and “Liddlepool”
Back in the 1950s, Liverpool’s wilderness years, the team was jokingly referred to as ‘Liddellpool’. And his impact still reverberates around Anfield, where his banner is still held aloft on the Kop before matches to this day - 64 years after he last played for the club.
So the magnitude of Mo Salah’s achievement, now level with another iconic player like Liddell, can’t be underestimated.
Salah has reached the same number of goals in less matches (372). In the all-time top ten ranking, only Gordon Hodgson has a better goals/game ratio. It won’t be long before Mo surpasses him to reach another milestone mark.