In Focus: Liverpool's Premier League legends from Fowler to Van Dijk

There has been no shortage of Liverpool legends during the Premier League era. 

The 2000-01 squad etched their names into Anfield folklore with a trio of major trophies, while the club's Champions League victory in 2005 turned a number of that team into heroes. 

And that is before you even consider Jurgen Klopp's all-conquering sides of recent seasons. 

But which players top the list of iconic Merseyside stars? 

LiveScore turn the spotlight on the Reds' five greatest players of the last 30 years.

Robbie Fowler

What is better than being known as a legend? Being known as a god. 

That was the honour handed to Robbie Fowler during his time at Anfield. He also went by the nickname 'the Toxteth terror', for his exploits in opposition penalty areas. 

The left-footed forward scored 30 goals or more in all competitions during his first three seasons as a regular starter for the Reds — and is considered by many to be the most natural finisher of the Premier League era. 

Fowler held the record for the fastest hat-trick in England's top flight for over 20 years and is one of only five players to have won PFA Young Player of the Year in two consecutive years. 

He played a crucial role in Liverpool's trophy-laden 2000-01 campaign — scoring in the League Cup and UEFA Cup finals — and remains the club's all-time Premier League top goalscorer with 128.

Steven Gerrard

At times, Steven Gerrard almost single-handedly kept Liverpool relevant. 

He was their talisman and the player everyone turned to when they needed something special. 

A consistent performer throughout the years, the former skipper was there for the Merseysiders' treble success in 2001, that 2005 night in Istanbul and the title challenge in 2013-14. 

Only Fowler has more Premier League goals than Gerrard for the Reds (120), while the midfield maestro is the only English player to score in the finals of the Champions League, UEFA Cup, FA Cup and League Cup.

Jamie Carragher

Ask any Liverpool fan about their miraculous victory against Milan in Istanbul and most will mention Gerrard's celebration after the first goal — but Jamie Carragher's heroic performance in extra-time is equally revered.

Despite being riddled with cramp, the defender blocked cross after cross and threw himself at everything. 

The Bootle native racked up 737 appearances for the Reds — a total which is only beaten by Ian Callaghan (857) and a remarkable achievement given it appeared as though his time at the club was up on a number of occasions. 

Carragher transitioned from full-back to centre-back during his time at Anfield and really cemented his legendary status at the heart of Liverpool's rearguard.

Mohamed Salah

Arriving on Merseyside in June 2017, few would have predicted the sensational impact Mohamed Salah would have on Klopp's outfit.

He became the first player to outscore three entire top-flight teams in a league season when his total of 32 in 2017-18 was more than West Brom (31), Swansea (28) and Huddersfield (28). 

And having found the net in 24 of his 38 league appearances that year, Liverpool's No11 holds the record for most games on the scoresheet in a Premier League campaign.

As if that was not enough, the 30-year-old has claimed three Golden Boot awards and has also been named the FWA Footballer of the Year on two occasions.

He is the first Liverpool player to score over 20 goals in four different league seasons and the fastest to register 100 top-flight strikes for the Reds — as well as being just 11 shy of breaking Fowler's Premier League record. 

Virgil van Dijk

Virgil van Dijk is arguably the first player to make a £75million transfer fee look like a bargain. 

The centre-back colossus changed the game — not just for Liverpool but for the Premier League as a whole. 

He is currently the benchmark for every defender and his arrival at Anfield in 2018 coincided with the team transitioning from nearly-men to champions. 

Van Dijk finished as runner-up for the Ballon d'Or in 2019 when he narrowly missed out to Lionel Messi and Klopp has always been full of praise for his abilities. 

In February, he said: "I do want to make a mention of our No4, our centre-half. 

"The level Virgil has performed to this season has been incredible. When you factor in what he's returning from [a cruciate ligament rupture in 2020], it's even more remarkable." 

There should be plenty more to come from Liverpool's 30-year-old Dutch star in the years ahead.