This post showcases some of the most distinguished attacking midfielders or playmakers to have represented Liverpool FC between 2000 and 2025.
Disclaimer: This list is based purely on personal perspective and analysis. While many great midfielders have played for Liverpool, I’ve selected those who, in my opinion, had the biggest impact on the club’s success in the 21st century. Feel free to share your thoughts
Date of Publication: 18 May 2025
Attacking Midfielders (AM) / Playmaker
An attacking midfielder, often called a playmaker or No. 10, operates between central midfield and the forward line. Their main role is to create goal-scoring opportunities through vision, passing, and technical ability.
Unlike deeper midfielders, attacking midfielders operate in advanced areas, often behind the striker(s), where they can exploit spaces in the opposition’s defence. They are typically:
Strong at dribbling and ball control
Skilled at through balls and final passes
Capable of shooting from distance
Able to find space in tight areas
Some are primarily creative playmakers, such as Mesut Özil and David Silva, while others combine creativity with a greater goal threat, such as Philippe Coutinho, Kaká, and Ronaldinho.
In modern football, they remain important for unlocking low blocks, breaking down compact defences, and linking midfield with attack.
1. Philippe Coutinho 🇧🇷
Jersey No. 10
Main role(s): Attacking Midfield
Appearances: 201
Years: 2013 – 2018
Goals: 54
Assists: 45
💷🤑 Contribution: £142m (2018)
Nicknamed “The Little Magician,” Philippe Coutinho was Liverpool’s creative spark during his time at Anfield, dazzling fans with his dribbling, long-range screamers, and visionary passing.
Signed under Brendan Rodgers in 2013 for just £8.5 million, he quickly became a fan favourite and one of the Premier League’s most exciting playmakers.
A classic No. 10, Coutinho’s strengths lie in his close control, forward creativity, and trademark curling shots from distance.
He won the Liverpool Fans’ Player of the Season award twice in a row, a testament to his popularity and consistent brilliance.
In 2018, his blockbuster £142 million move to Barcelona became Liverpool’s most lucrative sale.
2. Patrik Berger 🇨🇿
Jersey No. 15
Main role(s): Attacking Midfield/ Left Winger
Appearances: 195
Years: 1996 – 2003
Goals: 35
Assists: 28
Honours:
- UEFA Cup (2001)
- FA Cup (2001)
Patrik Berger is a talented Czech attacker who can play both attacking midfielder and winger. Known for his powerful left foot, long-range shooting, and flair in attack, Berger was a fan favourite in the late ’90s and early 2000s.
Though injuries limited his consistency, his explosive style and eye for spectacular goals made him one of the most entertaining midfielders of his era at Anfield.
3. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain 🏴
Jersey No. 21 → 15
Main role(s): Attacking Midfield/ Center Midfield
Appearances: 146
Years: 2017 – 2023
Goals: 18
Assists: 14
Honours:
- Premier League (2020)
- Champions League (2019)
- FIFA Club World Cup (2019)
- UEFA Super Cup (2019)
- FA Cup (2022)
- EFL Cup (2022)
Signed from Arsenal in 2017, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain was a dynamic and explosive midfielder capable of playing in central midfield, wide midfield, or on the wing.
His best season came in 2017–18, when his energetic performances helped Liverpool reach the Champions League final, including his stunning goal against Manchester City in the quarter-finals, one of his finest moments for the club.
4. Vladimír Šmicer 🇨🇿
Jersey No. 7 → 11
Main role(s): Attacking Midfield
Appearances: 184
Years: 1999 – 2005
Goals: 19
Assists: 33
Honours:
- Champions League (2005)
- UEFA Cup (2001)
- FA Cup (2001)
- EFL Cup (2001, 2003)
Though not a regular starter throughout his Anfield career, Šmicer’s name will forever be etched in Liverpool folklore for his crucial goal in the 2005 UEFA Champions League Final against AC Milan, a long-range strike that brought Liverpool to within one goal of their legendary comeback in Istanbul.
5. Xherdan Shaqiri 
Jersey No. 23
Main role(s): Attacking Midfield/ Winger
Appearances: 63
Years: 2018 – 2021
Goals: 8
Assists: 9
Honours:
- Premier League (2020)
- Champions League (2019)
- UEFA Super Cup (2019)
- FIFA Club World Cup (2019)
A super sub and an “X-factor” player who could change games when brought on, Shaqiri played a crucial squad role in Liverpool’s Premier League and Champions League triumphs.
His most memorable moment? A brace against Manchester United in 2018, which contributed to Jose Mourinho’s downfall at Old Trafford.
Despite limited minutes, his technical brilliance made him an important piece in Liverpool’s 2019 Champions League and 2020 Premier League campaigns.
6. Harvey Elliott 🏴
Jersey No. 67 → 19
Main role(s): Attacking Midfield/ Right Winger
Appearances: 149
Years: 2017 – 2023
Goals: 15
Assists: 21
Honours:
- Premier League (2025)
- FIFA Club World Cup (2019)
- UEFA Super Cup (2019)
- EFL Cup (2022, 2024)
Signed as a 16-year-old prodigy from Fulham in 2019, Harvey Elliott developed into a promising and versatile attacking option at Liverpool, known for his close control, vision, creativity, and work rate.
After spending the 2025–26 season on loan at Aston Villa, Elliott returned to Liverpool before joining Valencia CF on loan for the 2026–27 season, where he will look to gain more regular playing time and continue his development.
7. Harry Kewell 🇦🇺
Jersey No. 7
Main role(s): Attacking Midfield/ Left Winger / Second Striker
Appearances: 139
Years: 2003 – 2008
Goals: 16
Assists: 10
Honours:
- Champions League (2025)
- FA Cup (2006)
Harry Kewell, an Australian footballer. Primarily a winger but also capable in a CAM and second striker role, Kewell was known for his flair, close control, and intelligent movement. Though his Liverpool career was hampered by injuries, he was part of the squad that won the 2005 UEFA Champions League, starting in the final against AC Milan.
8. Yossi Benayoun 🇮🇱
Jersey No. 15
Main role(s): Attacking Midfield
Appearances: 134
Years: 2007 – 2010
Goals: 29
Assists: 18
Known for his creativity, flair, and intelligent movement, Benayoun was a versatile CAM capable of playing centrally or on the right wing.
He had a knack for turning up in big moments, including a memorable hat-trick against Burnley and a dramatic late winner away at Fulham. Though not always a guaranteed starter, he was often a decisive contributor during Rafa Benítez’s later years in charge.
Legendary Mentions:
Kevin Keegan
Jersey No. 7
Main role(s): Attacking Midfield/ Striker
Appearances: 322
Years: 1971 – 1977
Goals: 100
Assists: 88
The late Kevin Keegan was one of Liverpool’s defining players of the 1970s and played a major role in the club’s rise as a dominant force in English and European football. A dynamic and energetic forward, he was known for his pace, direct running, work rate, and ability to score and create goals.
During his time at Liverpool, Mr Keegan won three First Division titles, two UEFA Cups, one FA Cup, and one European Cup, establishing himself as one of the club’s greatest players. His influence during this formative period of Liverpool’s modern history ensures his place among the club’s all-time legends.
Some Thoughts on the Attacking Midfielder Position
Since around 2015, the traditional No. 10 playmaker has become less common in modern football. Many teams now prioritise intensity, pressing, athleticism, and positional versatility, with creative responsibilities often shared among wingers, advanced midfielders, full-backs, and forwards rather than being assigned to one specialist playmaker.
Philippe Coutinho was one of the most creative and skilful playmakers Liverpool had seen in the past three decades, renowned for his dribbling, long-range strikes, and defence-splitting passes. At his peak, he was one of Liverpool’s most exciting attacking players, and many fans still wonder what might have happened had he remained at the club instead of joining Barcelona.
Liverpool have also had relatively few specialist attacking midfielders, as many of the club’s midfielders and wingers have been versatile enough to operate in that role when needed. As a result, the list of traditional No. 10s and attacking midfielders is relatively short.