The greatest strike force Britain has ever seen!
Kenny Dalglish (MBE)
1983 Balon d'Or Silver
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League: 4 x Scottish League | 5 x First Division
Cup: 4 x Scottish Cup | 1 x FA Cup | 4 x League Cup
Europe: 3 x European Cup | 1 x Super Cup
Ian Rush (MBE)
1984 - European Golden Boot | First Division Golden Boot
League: 5 x First Division
Cup: 3 x FA Cup | 5 x League Cup
Europe: 2 x European Cup
Broadcaster John Keith:
"It was the best strike force I have ever seen. I remember Match of the Day polling their viewers and the result was people said they were the best strike pairing since the Second World War. I think it is the best ever to be honest with you. They were brilliant because hey were so different. Rushie was just incredible, the predator supreme. And what can you say about Kenny? People said he had ice in his head because in the furore of the heat of a match he would be like a computer pinging passes everywhere to open up the opposition"
Playing Styles:
Dalglish joined Liverpool from Scottish giants Celtic for a British record fee as a direct replacement for a star forward who had left the club to join Hamburg. Though he regularly found the back of the net (and was top scorer for Celtic in 1972-73), he was never a predator. His game was all about flair and technique. Immaculate skill and clever footballing brain saw him turn provider for many of Rush's goals. Playing off a striker, his game was all about "running riot in the extra space afforded to him in the hole" Kenny could hold the ball up magnificently and buy enough time for the rest of the players to catch up play or he could open the defence in an instant with a defence splitting ball. His superb ball control was complemented by a world-class footballing brain. He may never have been the fastest in terms of pace but if speed of thought had been an Olympic event Dalglish would have been a record gold medal holder. He really was an on-pitch visionary who could spot an opening that the naked eye of most would never see. Also his trick like all great players was he never fell over or got pushed over, always was able to stay on his feet and trying to rob him of possession was incredible difficult. "He crouches over the ball, legs spread and elbows poking out," said O'Leary. "Whatever angle you come in from, you're liable to find his backside in your face."
Just one word is needed to describe Ian Rush's career: goals. Signed from Chester in 1980, Tall, thin and ungainly, the young striker looked anything but a future striking hero when he broke into the team, but looks can be deceptive. His predatory instincts were instrumental in the Reds dominating the game for most of the 1980s. He was loved at home, feared at every opposition ground and renowned throughout Europe. Often described by his teammates as Liverpool's first line of defence, the Wales international was not just a goalscorer but a hard-working, selfless runner who never gave up the chase. Electric pace and eagle-eyed anticipation meant he was also a nightmare to mark. Running on to perfectly threaded through-balls was Rush's forte and when one-on-one with a keeper you'd bet your mortgage on him netting. But what made him stand out from the rest was the variation in his goals...close-range tap-ins, well-timed volleys, headers...he can score! He became the first British player to win Europe's Golden Boot.
Partnership:
It was a perfect match which bought about the best in both players. Both players possessed of excellent workrate with Kenny operating deeper in the midfield pulling strings, creating opportunities and threading passes whilst a energetic and running Rush kept the defenders guessing. Possessed with brilliant pace, his runs were hard to track and his understanding with Dalglish ensured they worked in sync as evidenced with Kenny winning the FWA Player of the Year in 1983 and Rush in 1984. They were consistently scoring at around 50 goals/season which was impressive for that era.
1982-83 season, Dalglish and Rush's striking partnership was in full swing as the two, combined, netted 51 goals in all competitions. Liverpool retained the League title for the second successive year, and the League Cup for the third successive year. Dalglish won the FWA Footballer of the Year award for the second time in his career at the end of the season. The 1983-84 season was perhaps Rush's finest with a remarkable 47-goal haul (50 if you count his spot kick conversion in Rome and two goals for Wales).
It was a legendary partnership that will shine in history books for ages to come. Arguably the greatest strike force Britain has ever seen, they are on the same level as some of the more glamorous of European strike combos. I'd personally put them in the top 3 along with Puskas, Di stefano, Hugo Sanchez and the like. Years later, still the best in Britain!
