The magic of Barnes - A to Z with BBC Radio Merseyside

He was a Liverpool and England legend who terrified defenders with his pace and power.

John Barnes is a firm favourite on Merseyside and his time with the Reds has been discussed by BBC Radio Merseyside’s Paul Salt, Mike Hughes and Ian Kennedy as part of their A to Z series.

“I remember John Barnes signing because I was a kid and I think there was the excitement about John Barnes because he’d already been a very, very good footballer with Watford,” Salt said.

“He’d had some decent games against Liverpool for Watford and when he came into Liverpool in 1987, it was the dawning of a new era with Ian Rush leaving and Barnes, Beardsley and Aldridge.

“I think we had four seasons of peak John Barnes, which was 87 to 91, where he was arguably the best player in the world. I don’t think I’m exaggerating with that, you know, on a consistent basis.”

BBC Radio Merseyside’s Ian Kennedy replied: “Whenever I’m asked to pick my all-time Liverpool XI with players in the right position, John Barnes is in that team on the left-hand side for me. One of the greatest players I’ve seen.

“We’d seen a bit of it at Watford but we’d seen a bit with England. You remember the goal he scored against Brazil in the Maracana? That was three years before he came to Liverpool so we knew he was a great player but the impact that he had straight away – that 87-88 season was one of Liverpool’s greatest seasons.”

BBC Radio Merseyside’s Mike Hughes said: “Explosive pace. Unbelievable ability to get away from defenders straight away. His control and touch when the ball would come to him. He’d be on the run, he’d be brave with the ball. He was good in the air. An all-round footballer.

“He was an absolute world-class talent, one of the very, very best that I’ve ever seen. A real match winner, scored so many great goals, the famous ones against Queen’s Park Rangers and even later on the in the famous 4-4 draw at Goodison Park.

“The relationship that Barnes had with Aldridge and others, because not only was he quick, not only was he a wonderful talent with the ball at his feet, he had perception, he saw things earlier than most people do or did and that, it invites so many different possibilities.”

A to Z – Barnes: Listen to the full conversation here