Tommy Smith on Liverpool FC: We have a history of sharing the goal-getting load!

Nov 19 2011 Liverpool Echo

GREAT goalscorers are an asset to any side. Liverpool have had more of their fair share of them down the years and in Luis Suarez (pictured inset) it seems we have another.

When I started out in the sixties it was Roger Hunt and Ian St John hitting the back of the net for us game after game. But they were never the only ones.

Ian Callaghan and Peter Thompson helped out, as did a fair few of us. Even full back Chris Lawler chipped in with no fewer than 61 goals in his Anfield career!

In the seventies it was Keegan and Toshack who led the line and thumped them in. But again, they were not alone - Stevie Heighway, Terry McDermott and Ray Kennedy were just some of the lads who would get on the score sheet regularly. As would another full back, Phil Neal.

On into the 80s and while Ian Rush was starting to break records alongside Kenny Dalglish, helping share the load were Graeme Souness, Ronnie Whelan, John Barnes and John Wark - to name but a few.

I’m sure you get the point. It is that Dalglish is dead right today to remind his players that they all have to help get us goals.

The pressure and expectancy at Liverpool FC is very high but it’s because of some of those names I’ve mentioned and the trophies they helped us win.

There are players this season who - so far at least - haven’t hit the net but who must now start doing so.

I’m a big fan of Stuart Downing - he got tons of ability and to be fair, has laid on a bucketload this season which haven’t been taken.

But he’ll want to get off the mark now.

Charlie Adam we know has got goals in him - but you can’t say that yet of Lucas Leiva and it shouldn’t be the case.

There are of course many others who must help hit the net. And perhaps when we are missing Steven Gerrard as much as we have this year, it just highlights the fact.

So come on lads, let’s try and give Luis a bit more of a hand please!