Liverpool legend Tommy Smith has died at the age of 74, his family have confirmed.

Tommy - who was famously nicknamed the 'Anfield Iron' during a decorated career - passed away on Friday evening following a courageous and dignified battle with dementia.

The 'Anfield Iron', the rock at the heart of some of Liverpool's greatest triumphs, had been suffering from ill health in recent years.

A Liverpool player for 18 years and then a respected ECHO columnist for 35 years, Smithy was one of the most influential figures in the Anfield's club's long history.

Smith forged a fearsome reputation as one of English football's toughest players during his time with the Reds, helping them to four league titles, two FA Cups and the 1977 European Cup in Rome.

Former England international Smith also helped Liverpool to two UEFA Cups in 1973 and 1976.

The tough-tackling midfielder was even on the scoresheet for Bob Paisley's Reds as they beat Borussia Monchengladbach on May 25 1977.

Having initially worked as a groundsman, he joined the club on school boy terms in 1960 before Bill Shankly fast-tracked him through to the Liverpool first team.

Under the iconic Shankly , Smith would go on to eventually captain his boyhood club and made 638 appearances, which places him eighth in the all-time list at Anfield.

Tommy’s daughter Janette Simpson said: "Dad died very peacefully in his sleep shortly after 4.30pm today at Green Heyes Nursing home in Park Road, Waterloo, Crosby.

“I was on my way to see him when he passed a couple of minutes before I arrived.

“Dad was only in here since the end of January and prior to that had been living in a care and sheltered accommodation complex for three years in Maghull.

“He had been growing increasingly frail and suffering from a variety of ailments over the last three months especially.

“We are obviously all devastated."

She added: “Our mum (Sue) died four years ago. Mum’s death did hit dad especially hard and the illness took a bit of a grip of him after that we feel.”

He was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in October 2014 after caring for his late wife Susanne who passed away from the same condition at 71.

Tommy is survived by Janette, son Darren and four grandchildren, Matthew, William, Jessica and Imogen.