Phil Thompson names the three hardest Liverpool players and best leaders he played with

Liverpool icon Phil Thompson has revealed the three toughest players as well as the best leaders he's played with.

The Anfield hero, who clinched seven league titles and three European Cups, as well as earning 42 caps for England, including appearances at the 1982 World Cup and Euro 1980, opened up about the legends he played alongside during Liverpool's golden years in the 70s and 80s.

During a chat on Jeff Stelling's Football's Greatest podcast, Thompson was quizzed by the former Soccer Saturday presenter about the players he held in the highest regard from his playing days, reports the Daily Star.

READ MORE: Pep Guardiola in tears after hearing what Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp said about him

READ MORE: 'I haven't cried in years!' - Trent Alexander-Arnold left in tears during Liverpool interview

"There was loads of big players when I started and came into the team because at 18, I'm looking around and these are still the guys I was watching from the terraces," said the 70-year-old. "Tommy Smith's there, oh my god, I always believed Tommy Smith was the greatest leader and captain Liverpool's ever had and I've seen lots, even modern day, this fella drove our team on, pushed our team on.

"He could be having a nightmare and this is where leadership comes in, he could be having a rotten game but he didn't shrink. He made sure to keep us on our toes, he'd be hitting 50-yard balls out to Steve Heighway, never reach him and going into the Kemlyn Road Stand and you'd go 'unlucky Tom'."

Thompson delved into Liverpool's history, recalling how Emlyn Hughes succeeded Tommy Smith as captain after a frank discussion with Bill Shankly. "Emlyn took over and he was a great leader, demanding by the way he played and with his passion," Thompson said.

He also addressed the debate on Liverpool's greatest ever captain, saying: "When Tommy passed, I put something on Liverpool's greatest ever captain, people were berating me saying 'what about Emlyn' I wasn't decrying Emlyn but I was asked as my greatest ever captain because of those great memories, Tommy was a proper leader."

Stelling brought up Terry Butcher, prompting Thompson to acknowledge him as one of the toughest players from his era. "Absolutely, he had it in him [being a leader] and I could see this young player who was developing with this young Ipswich side, him and Russell Osman playing sort of centre-backs. But you had this guy who was like 6'4 who was a colossus and who quite quickly came into the team."

Reflecting on his England duties, Thompson shared: "As I said to you before, Ron Greenwood asked me who would be your best partner to go the World Cup and it had to be Terry who was this up-and-coming leader if you want. I don't think he was captain then of Ipswich because you probably had Mickey Mills there.

"But you could see it in him and he could play, he could cover the ground but he was hard as nails, and it's not just cause of blood pouring down his face, that doesn't make you hard, it's how committed you are and it's not just one game, it's game after game."

LFC: Join our WhatsApp community, sign up to a newsletter or listen to our podcasts HERE