The Top 10 Liverpool Forwards of All Time

Liverpool is blessed with arguably the most decorated history in all of English football. The trophy case is, simply put, daunting.

Anfield boasts the second most League titles in history with 18. They have won seven F.A. Cups and eight League Cups.

And that's just their domestic success. The Reds also possess more European silverware than any other English side. The tally consists of three UEFA Super Cups, three UEFA Cups and five European Cups.

Indeed, since Liverpool's founding in 1892, the fans have had little cause for complaint.

Further, this is a team which has long valued style as well as substance. Accordingly, the list of world-class Liverpudlian forwards is a long one.

Thus, attempting to whittle the extensive list down to just 10 is a challenge. To be certain, many of you will disagree with my picks and have additions of your own.

I look forward to your thoughts and input on what should be a stirring debate. Who truly are Liverpool's greatest forwards in history?

10. Fernando Torres

Oh, what could have been.

In just a few short years on Merseyside, Torres cemented himself as one of the greatest strikers of his generation. 

In 142 appearances, he beat the opposing goalkeeper 81 times. At the rate he was going, Torres would have only climbed further and further up this list. 

And then 2011 came. Torres opted to ply his trade elsewhere and submit a transfer request. To Liverpool's dismay, the eventual suitor was rival Chelsea. 

One campaign removed, neither side appear to have prospered tremendously from the transaction. The Reds fell to eighth in the table and never found a suitable replacement. Chelsea won the Champions League, but with little help from the Spaniard. 

9. John Toshack

Should Andy Carroll seek inspiration for 2012-13, he would be wise to start by watching footage of John Toshack in action. 

Toshack was the classic holding striker in every sense of the word. He was a terror in the air and used his size to tremendous advantage. His abilities also served as the perfect foil to the more tactical nous of Kevin Keegan. 

Perhaps Dalglish had this pairing in mind when he attempted to partner Carroll with Luis Suarez in more recent times. 

Although his goal tally of just 98 is relatively meager compared with some other Reds greats, his off-the-page contributions got him on this list.

8. Michael Owen

More recent Anfield converts might be confused at seeing this name.

This is, after all, the same Michael Owen who left Liverpool for Real Madrid in 2004. It is also the Michael Owen who saw fit to join rivals Manchester United late in his career.

Yet, those who can get past the latter unspeakable act will remember his sterling record from 1998-2004. In 297 appearances, the 'Wonder Boy' scored 158 goals.

In 2001, Owen became the only Red to ever win the European Footballer of the Year award. The club was not able to end its league title draught that season, however, they did hoist five trophies in all competitions.

For those with a long memory, there can be no doubting the viability of Owen's inclusion.  

7. Billy Liddell

Billy Liddell was a staple on Merseyside for such a long period of time that supporters in the era renamed the club 'Liddlepool'.

He was a devout Christian who never drank, smoked or swore. In his 23-year-tenure, he never once received a yellow card. 

Despite the fact that he played in a barren stretch by Liverpool's lofty standards, his impact on the club's history is unmistakable. 

Liddell made 534 appearances and scored 228 goals. 

6. Gordon Hodgson

Gordon Hodgson is voted by the writers at Liverpoolfc.com as a member of the club's Hall of Fame for his exploits from 1925-1936. 

Hodgson found the net 240 times in just 378 games. In an era when Everton was the dominant force on Merseyside, Hodgson provided a ray of light with his performances.

In 10 years at Liverpool, he average over 20 scores per season. His tally of 17 hat tricks has not been beaten in the nine decades since his retirement.  

5. Kevin Keegan

As ESPN states, Keegan achieved the incredible feat of notching three League titles, a European cup and two UEFA cups in just six seasons on Merseyside.

Together with his famous striker partner John Toshack, Keegan defined Anfield for most of the 70's.

In 323 appearances he scored 100 times.

Had Keegan not left Liverpool for Hamburg SV, who knows how much more he could have achieved.

4. Robbie Fowler

With a nickname like 'God' it is fair to say that the Kop adored their youth system product, Robbie Fowler. 

According to ESPN, in his first 13 senior appearances, he scored 12 times. In 1994-95 he completed a hat trick in less than five minutes against Arsenal. No one has been able to match that feat before or after.

As noted here, Fowler defined the early Premier League era for Liverpool. Through 1997, he exceeded 30 scores in three consecutive seasons.

Fowler is the fourth on the list of all-time Premier League goal scorers. The Kop was on hand to witness 183 of them.  

3. Kenny Dalglish

Dalglish joined Liverpool for a club record £440,000 in August of 1977. Further, the Glasgow-born Scot was brought in as a direct replacement for Anfield great, Kevin Keegan. 

Thus, the pressure was on from Day 1. Dalglish responded by scoring a goal seven minutes into his first competitive match.

'King Kenny' hit the back of the net 30 more times that season. The final goal came in the European Cup final as Liverpool bested FC Bruges in a 1-0 victory. 

When all was said and done, the Scotsman netted 172 goals for the Reds. Yet his impact was far larger than that. 

Dalglish was a visionary passer. His technical ability was second to none. He played in an era before assists were recorded. However, his proficiency in that area is easily discernible through the lens of Ian Rush's goal tally in those years. 

Liverpool lifted three European cups and won six League titles with Dalglish up front. 

2. Roger Hunt

Sir Roger Hunt helped define the 1960's Shankly era for Liverpool. Together, with strike partner Ian St. John, Hunt rocked the Kop on numerous occasions. 

'The Blonde Bomber' spearheaded Liverpool's surge back into the top flight. In the 1961-62 campaign, Hunt netted 41 goals in 41 games to help lead the promotion charge. 

His 245 league goals is the most by any Liverpool player in history. 

1. Ian Rush

As ESPN notes, Rush is the club's all-time leading scorer with an amazing 346 goals.

The Welshman picked up five league titles in his 15 seasons on Merseyside. Together, with Kenny Dalglish, he formed the most formidable forward partnership ever seen at Anfield.

In 1983-84, he notched 47 goals. That mark was enough to make him the first ever British player to win Europe's Golden Boot. That same year he won a league title, European Cup, Milk Cup and double Player of the Year recognition.

It is doubtful that anyone will come close to his daunting total of 346 anytime soon. His tenure on Merseyside, combined with his deadliness in the final third, make him the greatest ever.