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Kenny Dalglish picks ‘brilliant’ Liverpool forward as the greatest teammate of his career

Originally posted on HITC | By Freddie Dorman | Last updated Oct 3, 2025 9:34 AM ET

Getting a nod of approval from Kenny Dalglish is never something to be taken lightly. It speaks volumes about the player in question.

Liverpool have a remarkable record when it comes to trophies, and that success can be traced back to the number of outstanding talents who have worn the shirt.

Dalglish was not called ‘King Kenny’ for nothing. Playing between the late 1970s and 1990, he was part of some incredible squads, sharing the pitch with plenty of great names from different eras.

Among all those greats, there was one teammate he felt stood out above the rest. He did not just rate him highly – he called him the best player he ever played alongside at Anfield.

Kenny Dalglish picks Ian Rush as the best player he played with

Photo by Michael Regan – The FA/The FA via Getty Images

Strike partnerships are not as common now as they once were, but back in the 1980s, nearly every side relied on one.

Liverpool had one of the best pairings of that era in Dalglish – known for his creativity – and Ian Rush, the finisher.

Regarding those years together, ‘King Kenny’ said Rush was the best teammate he ever played alongside.

The Scottish legend said on Stick to Football podcast: “The best one for me was Rushie [Ian Rush], he saved me a lot of running!

“But Rushy was brilliant, especially for my position. If I was playing somewhere else I might have said Souness or somebody else.

“If somebody says to be ‘so who is the best player,’ I’d probably say ‘well what day is it?’ Everybody plays their part.”

Liverpool fans will always look back at Dalglish and Rush fondly, but there is hope that a new partnership could emerge at Anfield to give them a run for their money.

Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitike might form Liverpool’s next strike pairing

It has been a while since Liverpool played with a proper front two, not since the days of Sturridge and Suarez, but there are signs that could change this season.

The club’s heavy investment in Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitike suggests Arne Slot may need to find room for both in the starting XI.

Isak has not really settled yet, but Ekitike has hit the ground running.

And while it is a long way from even discussing them in the same breath as Dalglish and Rush, their talent gives hope they could form something special.

This article first appeared on HITC and was syndicated with permission.

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