Past playersSteve Nicol

Plucked from Scottish football by Bob Paisley on the advice of scout Geoff Twentyman, the versatile defender repaid the £300,000 transfer fee with more than a decade of service for the club.

Nicol was a consummate defender, comfortable across the back line, and could excel in midfield too; the Scot enjoyed nothing more than supporting an attack and regularly offering a masterclass in composed finishing.

He made his Reds debut in August 1982 but only became a senior starter during the 1983-84 campaign. In that landmark season Nicol played 38 matches and collected a league title, League Cup and European Cup.

Nicol featured as a substitute in the latter final and actually missed the first Liverpool penalty in the shootout; no matter, the man from north of the border was a European champion.

The appointment of Joe Fagan as manager had heralded a new stage of Nicol's Anfield career and that continued when his friend Kenny Dalglish entered the dugout. Three more championship medals and two FA Cups were added to his haul before the decade ended.

A fine hat-trick at Newcastle United was the highlight of seven Nicol goals during the opening seven fixtures of 1987-88, and two years later he was recognised with the Football Writers' Association Footballer of the Year award.

Nicol's final major honour with the club was won at Wembley in 1992 as Graeme Souness' team triumphed 2-0 over Sunderland in the FA Cup final – it increased the Scotland international's trophy tally to nine.

He remained a regular member of Liverpool starting XIs until 1994, making his last ever appearance for the club against Burnley in October of that year before leaving Anfield.