Tommy Lawrence

Tommy Lawrence did not look like the future, but in Bill Shankly’s Liverpool he quietly helped build part of it. Stocky, brave and surprisingly quick off his line, he became known as the sweeper keeper long before the term was fashionable enough to annoy everyone on tactical Twitter. His job was not only to save shots, but to read balls behind the defence, rush out with courage and keep Liverpool’s aggressive structure protected. He was not a glamorous goalkeeper in the continental style, nor the most elegant distributor, but his anticipation, reflexes and fearlessness made him a perfect fit for a team learning how to dominate English football. A league champion, FA Cup winner and cult figure at Anfield, Lawrence was practical, sharp and far more modern than his frame suggested.