The path to legend status is very rarely linear in football.
Sure, there are a few examples in Liverpool history of individuals who started well, got even better and seemingly effortlessly developed their greatness step-by-step to write their names into the fabric of England’s most successful club - Kenny Dalglish, anyone - although the iconic and modest Scot would no doubt be the first to say there were bumps in the road even if they weren’t always evident from the outside.
For the majority of those whose achievements have written their names into the Anfield pantheon though, there have often been hurdles and obstacles for them to overcome before glory happened. Often that has been part of the charm, the idea of triumphing over adversity striking a chord with many within a club and city that over the years has almost made beating the odds something of a mission statement.
