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Liverpool FC's mantra has always been 'no-one is bigger than the club.' While that has continued to be true, there is perhaps one squad number which has represented something more than the rest over the years.

From Ian Callaghan, through Kenny Dalglish and now to Luis Suarez, the number seven shirt has largely been graced by a succession of special talents.

Click below for our bumper picture gallery with seven pictures of seven great LFC sevens, and see further down for profiles of each Liverpool man.

Ian Callaghan - 1960-78

When the great Billy Liddell was retiring, he was quizzed about his successor and offered a prompt reply: “There is a 17-year-old called Ian Callaghan who looks like taking over from me.”

How right he was. Cally took the number seven shirt and went on to make a stunning 857 appearances for the Reds, notching 68 goals.

Callaghan’s journey defined Liverpool in the mid-twentieth century; he was the only player to progress all the way from Second Division champion to European Cup winner in 1977.

Not just one of LFC’s finest players, Cally was a true gentleman of the game, only being booked once in his entire career.

Kenny Dalglish - 1977-90

The undisputed King of Liverpool FC. Bill Shankly laid the foundations for decades of success at Anfield, but in the Dalglish era – as both a player and a manager – Shanks’ seeds bore arguably their finest fruit.

His trophy cabinet is as glittering as his skills on the pitch: six leagues, three European Cups and an FA Cup with the Reds as a player; three leagues, two FA Cups and a League Cup over two spells as boss.

He was, and remains, as dedicated to the families of the 96 Hillsborough disaster victims as he was dedicated to the Liverbird on his chest; for Kenny, who lives LFC, they were one and the same thing.

Kevin Keegan - 1971-77

Part of what made Dalglish such a special player was the fact that he replaced the irreplaceable. Kevin Keegan wore the number seven shirt and was the darling of the Kop between 1971-77.

A goal against Forest just 12 minutes into his debut set the tone for an incredible spell with LFC. In six seasons at Anfield he won three leagues, a European Cup, an FA Cup and two UEFA Cups.

Perhaps this quote from Keegan best sums up his undying passion for the club: “The only thing I fear is missing an open goal in front of the Kop. I would die if that were to happen. When they start singing 'You'll Never Walk Alone' my eyes start to water. There have been times when I've actually been crying while I've been playing.”

Paul Walsh - 1984-88

"Paul Walsh can play teams on his own some days. When he's buzzing and bubbling he whizzes around the field like a cartoon character with the ball tied to his boot. It's like watching a film that's running too fast."

So said the great Bob Paisley. Paul Walsh was signed by Joe Fagan in May 1984 after impressing at Anfield as a Luton Town player.

Despite being behind several other number sevens - Dalglish and Beardsley included - in the pecking order at times, Walsh made a significant impact for the Reds.

Overall he scored 37 goals in 112 games and collected a league title medal for the 1985/86 triumph.

Peter Beardsley - 1987-91

When Peter Beardsley and John Barnes walked into Anfield at the start of the 1987 season, it didn’t take long for Reds to realise something special was brewing.

Kenny Dalglish and Ian Rush had been an unbeatable partnership upfront for LFC, but Beardsley and John Aldridge gave them a run for their money, with Barnes working his magic on the wing.

In his first season Beardsley helped the Reds to the title at a canter, the team losing just two games. He went on to score 59 goals in a magnificent 179-game spell at Anfield, winning two league titles and an FA Cup along the way.

Steve McManaman - 1990-99

Bootle-born Steve McManaman was the Reds mercurial winger for nearly all of the 1990s.

McManaman was part of Liverpool’s FA Cup triumph in 1992 and League Cup win in 1995; the latter being referred to as 'the McManaman final' due to him scoring both goals in a 2-1 win.

As with many players of that era, there was a sense of potential unfulfilled with Macca at Liverpool, especially given his time in Spain. McManaman’s biggest successes came with Real Madrid where he won the Champions League twice, becoming the first British player to do so.

Nevertheless, 66 goals in 364 appearances for the Reds as well as an assist almost every other game made him a memorable seven.

Luis Suarez - 2011-present

In 96 games with the Reds so far, Luis Suarez has gone a long way to proving he is a worthy successor to the number seven shirt.

His appearances have yielded 51 goals and 24 assists, and the gifted striker has scooped a League Cup winners medal.

But controversies and bans - as well as speculation linking him with a move to Real Madrid this summer - have also put him in the spotlight for the wrong reasons.