Why we love Phil Thompson
On this day 43 years ago, one of Liverpool's greatest ever players began a journey that would see him win three European Cups, seven league titles and two UEFA Cups as well as captaining the club he supported from the Kop as a boy.
His name was Phil Thompson, one of LFC's most decorated and valued players.
Entering the Old Trafford pitch as an 81st minute substitute for John Toshack, it was a memorable day for the travelling Kop and Thommo as Bill Shankly's side won 3-0 against a Manchester United side containing the likes of George Best, Bobby Charlton and Dennis Law.
No-one could have known that day at Old Trafford in 1972 what was ahead for the gangly teenager, but by the time he'd retired Thompson was known as the steady rock on which Liverpool's success throughout the 1970s and early 1980s was built around.
We have picked out some of Thommo's best moments during his time in front of the Kop.
His first experience of glory was in 1972-1973, when Liverpool won a league and UEFA Cup double, as Thommo began to oust Larry Lloyd from Shankly's side.
The experience he gained helped Thompson form an unyielding partnership with Emlyn Hughes - a defensive combination which would take Liverpool to more European glory.
The 1973-74 campaign would bring Thompson's only FA Cup triumph as a Liverpool player as he silenced 'Supermac' Malcolm MacDonald as Shankly's side 'undressed Newcastle United' according to BBC commentator David Coleman.
The 1975-76 season will go down as the one in which Liverpool began to assert their dominance on English football and Europe, winning the league title and UEFA Cup.
Thompson played a key role in one of Bob Paisley's side's most remarkable European victories - beating a Barcelona side that included Johan Neeskens and Cruyff in the semi-final. A superlative defensive performance from Thompson and his teammates saw the team win 1-0 in the Nou Camp, before Thompson scored what proved to be the decisive goal in the tie at Anfield in a 1-1 draw. Bruges were despatched 3-2 in the final in what proved to be a glimpse of glories yet to come.
Thompson then went on to form a partnership with an up and coming young Scot by the name of Alan Hansen and in 1978 the formidable pair shut out Bruges for a 1-0 win which allowed Liverpool to retain the European Cup thanks to a Kenny Dalglish goal at Wembley.
Paisley remarked about Thompson at the time: "I regard Phil as one of the best possible examples of a true professional. His greatest asset as a player is his ability to read the game, he showed that gift even as a teenager. He is not the biggest man physically for his role in defence but his football brain is outstanding."
That professionalism and nous was vital in ensuring that Liverpool's fortunes didn't wane after that incredible success.
An undoubted highlight of his playing career at Anfield was being handed the captain's armband.
As skipper he lifted the European Cup in 1981 after Liverpool defeated Real Madrid in Paris. Once again in a European Cup final a defence marshalled by Thompson proved impassable despite the best efforts of a Real side including England star Laurie Cunningham, as Liverpool won their third final.
Like a true Scouser Thommo celebrated in style as he took the European Cup back to his local boozer in Kirkby 'The Falcon' as Old Big Ears made a surprise appearance behind the bar.
Although he was upset to lose the captaincy to Graeme Souness, Thommo continued to be a mainstay of the Reds defence as two more titles were won, meaning the club had won the championship five times in six years.
The Scouse defender will go down as one of the club's greatest ever players, and with 477 appearances in a red shirt, he sits alongside Jamie Carragher, Phil Neal, Alan Hansen, Emlyn Hughes and Tommy Smith as one of the club's most valued defenders.
Perhaps more important than statistics though is Thompson's connection with the club as a Liverpool man who understands the soul of the club and its success, having played under Shankly and Paisley.
That passion and understanding of what Liverpool means to the supporters were two of the reasons that Gerard Houllier brought him back to the club as his assistant after his 1998 appointment as manager.
While at the club Thompson helped oversee the emergence of two modern Scouse club legends in Carragher and Steven Gerrard.
After the club achieved a remarkable treble in 2000-2001, Thompson then played a big part the following season when following Houllier requiring heart surgery, he took over the team with distinction for several months during the 2001-2002 campaign - overseeing a second place finish in the league and another return to Europe's premier club competition, the Champions League.
This is a lad from Kirkby who after making his debut gave his all for the club in almost every capacity - breaking into the side under Shankly, emerging as a mainstay and captain under Paisley, and going on to play a key role in some of the most iconic trophy wins.