Past playersMark Wright

The classy and courageous defender, who revelled in carrying the ball out of defence, had impressed for England during the Three Lions' journey to the 1990 World Cup semi-finals.

Graeme Souness was suitably impressed to splash more than £2 million on Wright before the 1991-92 campaign kicked off, strengthening a back line that had recently lost Alan Hansen with his dominant aerial ability.

Wright was in the Liverpool line-up for the opening day victory over Oldham Athletic but – in a precursor to later problems for the defender – he suffered an injury in just his second match and was on the sidelines for three months.

To his credit, though, Wright recovered to be named Reds captain that season; allowing him the honour of lifting the FA Cup at Wembley when Souness' side downed Sunderland in May 1992.

Wright featured a further 77 times during the two seasons that followed, but injuries again hampered the Englishman and his Anfield days seemed to be numbered when Roy Evans was appointed boss.

But the centre-back was a rejuvenated character when the 1995-96 season came around, producing consistently reliable and important displays for the Reds – with the odd crucial goal along the way.

After joining an elite Liverpool club with more than 200 appearances, Wright's body could not keep fighting against the injuries that afflicted his career and he confirmed retirement in 1998.