Billy Liddell is believed by many Liverpool fans to be the best player of his generation. Born in Scotland in 1922, Liddell signed for Liverpool in 1938, a career that was affected by the onset of the second world war as the English league was suspended from 1939 until the end of the war in 1945, with the First division resuming for the 1946-47 season. Like many players of the time Liddell signed up for the armed forces and joined the Royal Air Force, he re-joined Liverpool and resumed his football career after the war.
Liddell made his official Liverpool league debut in a match against Chelsea, at the start of the 1946-47 season, scoring two of the goals as Liverpool went onto win the game 7-4, and during his first full season in which he started thirty-four matches, and scored seven goals, he helped Liverpool win the league title, a feat that unfortunately wasn't to be repeated during his career.
Chelsea FC
Billy Liddell would go onto be Liverpool's leading goal scorer in eight out of nine seasons from 1949 to 1958. A player of great versatility, Liddell played in nearly every outfield position at one time or another but preferred a striking role, where his quick pace and lightening shot caused havoc amongst the opposition defences. His preferred centre forward role, saw him score his seasons best tally of 33 goals during the 1955-56 season.
In 1950 Liddell inspired Liverpool to their first ever Wembley FA Cup final appearance, which they unfortunately lost on the day 2-0 to Arsenal.
Unfortunately Liverpool were a team in decline, and were relegated to the second division in 1954, and despite offers from others clubs, Liddell always remained loyal to Liverpool, and is credited by many for keeping them in the second division, when at worst, Liverpool avoided relegation to the third division and relative obscurity.
Liddell continued his goal scoring and in total netted 228 goals for the club in 534 appearances, a record that probably would have been bettered if it wasn't for the war years. Always popular amongst the fans he made his last appearance for the club in 1960, many fans still rue the fact that he didn't play during the management of Bill Shankly and Liverpool's revolution and rise back to footballing glory. After illness Billy Liddell passed away in 2001, he will always be remembered as a Liverpool legend.
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