Billy Liddell was as modest a man as his shots were explosive, and won the adulation of the Kop - who dubbed their club Liddellpool - as one of their most talented outside-lefts (and later; central midfield striker) ever His career was interrupted by service in the RAF, and in the post-war years Liverpool fell into a decline that not even Liddell’s individual flashes of brilliance could stem.
Signing for the Reds in 1938 from Dunfermline, the "Flying Scot" scored in his league debut in 1946, in an FA Cup game against Chester City, and then put away a hat-trick in his next, a 7-3 win against Manchester City, helping Liverpool to the league title in his first full season. He played a record 537 games for the club and scored 229 goals. Liverpool’s 2-0 defeat to Arsenal in the FA Cup Final of 1950 marked a turning point, and the club was relegated in 1954. Liddell did, however; win 28 caps for Scotland, and shared with Stanley Matthews the honour of playing twice for Great Britain, in 1947 and 1955, against Rest of the World sides.
Liddell retired in 1960. Sadly, he won few medals in his 22 years wearing the red shirt, but had he played in his prime under Bill Shankly, he would surely have had a cabinetful.
World History
