Years: 1987-1997
Appearances: 407
Goals: 108
Trophies: First Division (1987-88, 1989-90), FA Cup (1989, 1992), League Cup (1995)
It is impossible to overstate John Barnes’ impact as a magnificent footballer for Liverpool and a trailblazing character in society.
Signed from Watford in the summer of 1987, the flying winger bedazzled Anfield with his outrageous skills: speed, grace, strength, finishing, crossing and dribbling, to name only some.
The club’s highest-profile Black player at the time, he broke down barriers on the top stage of English football too.
During an era in which racial abuse was common inside and outside stadiums around the country, Jamaica-born Barnes’ world-class ability and dignity supplied an inarguable response to such abuse.
Kenny Dalglish, the manager who signed him, had predicted big things from Barnes.
“Some people seem surprised that a player of such obvious individual skill as John should come to a club like Liverpool, whose success has been based on teamwork, but I think he will complement us and vice versa,” wrote Dalglish after his arrival.
“I have admired him for a long time. We know he has the speed and ability to go past people and not only is he one of the best, if not the best crosser of a ball in British football, he will contribute a great deal to the team effort.
“He is never shy of going back to help out in defensive situations and, of course, at set-pieces he can be a menace to the opposition.”