10 Jul 2026 10:11:34
Hello ed1 hope u well? Bit off subject but was wondering your opinion on steve mcmahon and ronnie whelan both individually and as a central midfield combination?
Always surprises me that they never seem to get a mention as part of the great lfc midfielders, it seems to skip from souness to gerrard in most conversations.
I thought they brilliant both individually and as a partnership, could do bit of everything the 2 of them, defend, tackle (leave a bit on at times too, which needed imo) good passers, could score a goal and a big goal in an important at that
{Ed001's Note - I think McMahon is unlucky as he came after Souness, who was a level above and he often gets remembered for the 1988 FA Cup final, where it was claimed Jones put him out of the game early on. That is simply not true, Jones admitted that McMahon hurt him and gave him a hell of a game, I think he said he caught him with an elbow later on among other things, but the story in the media was that McMahon bottled it after being hit early and it has stuck. Sad that a false narrative has reduced him in so many people's eyes. He was a quality midfielder and does deserve mention.
Whelan was class, I can remember having a picture up on my wall of him after scoring a couple of goals for us in a final. It is a long time ago but I think it was a Milk Cup against Spurs? I might be wrong on that though.
I agree with you on them as both a pair and as individuals. I loved them both.}
10 Jul 2026 11:58:41
Was Vinny Jones really that hard?
10 Jul 2026 12:01:14
Both great in my opinion. I can think of Steve McMahon, stopping the ball going out of play, going off the pitch. Getting to the ball first and skipping round an Arsenal player. Giving to Beardsley, and he passed it to the back post for Aldridge to put it in. Brilliant.
10 Jul 2026 12:39:12
Thanks for response ed1. I think whelan scored 2 years in a row in league cup finals against United + spurs. Also scored a great goal for Ireland in euro 88 which would have been goal of the tournament only for van Basten wonder strike in final.
Either of the 2 players would make an enormous difference to today's team, exactly what we missing imo
{Ed001's Note - too right, most of those old time players had dig, which is badly missed in the current team.}
10 Jul 2026 12:43:16
I played against Vinnie Jones and knew his ex wife. He absolutely had a nasty side to him.
10 Jul 2026 12:43:42
Just being nasty and violent is generally considered hard even today.
10 Jul 2026 12:53:30
Great topic to talk about, Digger, and definitely go under the radar imo of our great midfielders.
I remember that 88 final well, and it's the Jones tackle that stands out, but we should have won that game easily.
10 Jul 2026 13:55:03
Saw both of those boyos playing for us back in the good old days! And in Wembley! They were both mighty! I always remember McMahon signalling '1 minute!' in the title decider v Arsenal back in 89. Paisley bought Whelan for peanuts from a club called Home Farm. If my memory is correct?
10 Jul 2026 14:19:28
McMahon scored some quality goals, so had that in his pocket, as well as his sheer willingness to win every single challenge.
Cannot believe he isn't talked about as much as he should be. 3 league titles with us, as well as 2 FA Cups, and so close to the "double-double" on two occasions.
Think we let him go too soon.
10 Jul 2026 14:44:01
Whelan was treated terribly by the club. He was 32 and asked for a two year contract. The club offered him a 1 year deal, and when Whelan countered and asked for 2 years, the club went back on their word of a 12 month deal, and he left.
Horrible way to treat a legend. He was a fantastic player and a credit to Liverpool Football Club.
10 Jul 2026 15:59:54
It was there when Ronnie Whelan bent one in the top corner against United in the Milk Cup final.
We went one down to a Norman Whiteside goal before Alan Kennedy equalised with a daisy cutter.
It was great beating United in a cup final.
Steve McMahon was an excellent player.
He could mix it, and more than play a bit. He's also remembered for the one minute gesturing when we lost the League to Arsenal in the last minute in '89. I went into shock when Michael Thomas scored for them. ?
10 Jul 2026 16:17:36
Good shout, both great players, weirdly McMahon played for Everton before us so quite unusual.
Whelan played in 2 great eras also, played left midfield at first then adapted to play central.