2. Ian Rush And Kenny Dalglish (Liverpool 1980-87)
Combined Appearances - 665 Goals - 300 Liverpool fans of a certain age will hold wonderful memories of the 1980s, and the legendary strike-pairing of Ian Rush and Kenny Dalglish. From the 1981-82 season onwards began a partnership of the sort that Kop regulars had almost grown used to, as memories were still fresh of the Toshack/Keegan days. This 1981-82 season saw the emergence of the Welsh forward Rush, who scored 30 goals in 49 appearances, including 17 in the league. These goals proved vital as Liverpool regained their title from Aston Villa, with Dalglish contributing 13 of his own goals. Such telepathy was to continue into the 1982-83 season, one which proved to be manager Bob Paisley's last as manager. A second straight league and cup double owed much to the Rush/Dalglish combination. Rush scored 24 league goals, and was awarded the PFA Young Player of the Year honour, while Dalglish weighed in with 18 strikes of his own, being recognised as player of the year by both his fellow professionals and the writers association. That's 42 goals between them, meaning exactly an average of a goal a game in the old top division. That is some pinpoint accuracy, and accuracy that gave Paisley the best possible send-off as boss. In Joe Fagan's first season, Liverpool managed a clean sweep of the 1984 league, League Cup, and European Cup, a feat never before achieved by an English club. During this period, Rush got the same joint player of the year honour as Dalglish the season before. his 47 goals in 65 games was a phenomenal achievement. Dalgish could only manage 12 goals in 50 appearances, but by this stage in his career, at the age of 33, he was providing the bullets ever more so for Rush. From then on, the partnership began a slow decline, with Dalgish eventually becoming a boss to Rush, although Rush himself continued his remarkable scoring record for a few more years before moving to Juventus. It was a dynamic duo, never to be forgotten.
I am from Bangor, aged 24, and possess an MA in Journalism from The University Of Ulster. I have had work published in the Belfast Telegraph and interviewed several local footballers and Olympic athletes. I also run my own sports blog, 'Sporting Thought' in addition to contributing to What Culture.
