Ally McCoist has reignited the debate over Liverpool’s greatest ever forward by throwing his full support behind Scottish legend and Liverpool icon Sir Kenny Dalglish firmly placing him ahead of current star Mohamed Salah.
Speaking on talkSPORT’s Breakfast show in a heated debate the former Scotland striker and Rangers striker didn’t hold back to name Dalglish as the Reds’ finest ever attacker, despite acknowledging Salah’s extraordinary impact in recent seasons.
“Just calm down. Calm down. Is he the finest striker to grace Anfield? No, he’s not. Kenny Dalglish is, by some considerable distance. Kenny was one of the most fantastic footballers I’ve ever seen. Salah is brilliant, by the way”
McCoist’s comments tap into an age-old debate among Liverpool fans how do you compare the achievements and impact of players from different eras?
Since arriving at Anfield in the summer of 2017, Salah has written his name into the club’s history books. He hit the ground running with 44 goals in his debut season, scooping every major individual award including the PFA Player of the Year, Football Writers’ Player of the Year, and the Premier League Golden Boot.
He has gone on to win the Premier League twice back in 2020 under Jurgen Klopp and most recently during the 2024/25 season under current head coach Arne Slot. He’s also won the Champions League, FA Cup, and more, while consistently delivering on the pitch.
Salah has passed the 30-goal mark in for separate seasons and produced countless iconic moments such as a solo goal against Manchester City at Anfield back 2021/22 season which is what initially sparked the debate and the following season he also scored a record breaking hat-trick in just six minutes against McCoist’s former club Rangers in the Champions League.
Now Liverpool’s highest paid player in history after a signing a two year contract extension alongside captain Virgil van Dijk Salah continues to be one of world football’s elite.
But for McCoist, Dalglish still stands alone.
Known as “King Kenny,” Dalglish’s legacy at Liverpool is unmatched. Across 501 appearances, he scored 169 goals and led the club through its golden era, winning six league titles and three European Cups as a player. As a manager, he added further domestic trophies and is revered for his leadership on and off the pitch particularly during the tragedies of Heysel (1985) and Hillsborough. (1989)
While Salah’s numbers and honours are staggering, McCoist believes Dalglish’s all around contribution both in footballing excellence and emotional leadership place him in a class of his own.
“To supporters of a certain age, it will only ever be Dalglish.”
Still, the debate continues to divide fans. For many of the current generation, Salah is their King the face of modern Liverpool’s resurgence. But for others, Dalglish remains the ultimate embodiment of what it means to be a Liverpool great.
With both having cemented legendary status in different eras, perhaps the only consensus is that Liverpool have been privileged to call both men their own.
