John Aldridge

John Aldridge did not need a complicated attacking map to be dangerous. Give him service, movement around the box and half a yard of separation, and the finish usually arrived. A classic penalty area striker with sharp timing, strong heading ability and a natural instinct for rebounds, he scored heavily at Oxford United before proving himself at Liverpool as Ian Rush’s replacement in one of English football’s most demanding roles. His best Liverpool period showed efficiency rather than extravagance: near post runs, quick finishing, intelligent positioning and enough link play to function inside a strong collective. With the Republic of Ireland, he became part of Jack Charlton’s defining generation, even if international football often asked him to fight for second balls more than enjoy clean service. Aldridge was not a complete modern forward or a great dribbler, but as a finisher he was ruthless, direct and extremely dependable