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Coming in at number 97 in our countdown of 100 Players Who Shook The Kop is the big summer signing of 1993, Nigel Clough.
Four years after our ground-breaking '100 Days That Shook The Kop', we are delighted to invite you to enjoy our new '100 Players Who Shook The Kop' series – the definitive countdown of the 100 players who have made the biggest impact at Liverpool.
Over 110,000 supporters have all nominated their own personal Top 10 players in order of impact made and now the definitive top 100 countdown is underway.
Every player who has made the top 100 – and there are some surprises in there - will be honoured on this website via the e-Season ticket console with a specially produced video clip, including archive footage and exclusive interviews.
Since 1892 hundreds of players have represented this club but everyone has their own particular favourites so don't expect this list to be based solely on talent. The greatness of a player can be measured in many ways – obviously, his ability on the pitch is the most important, but 100 PWSTK is much more than that. It's about the impact the individuals chosen have had on this club, be it for a variety of reasons. Maybe it was because of their unique rapport with the crowd, a specific incident that has never been forgotten or anything else that has left a lasting impression.
Name: Nigel Clough
Years at Liverpool: 1993 to 1995
Position: Forward/Midfield
Date-of-birth: 19/3/1966
Birthplace: Sunderland
Signed from: Nottingham Forest (July 1993)
Games played: 44
Goals scored: 9
Honours won: None
There was an unfair weight of expectation on the shoulders of Nigel Clough when he joined the Reds from Nottingham Forest during the summer of 1993. Signed from Nottingham Forest for £2.275 million, manager Graeme Souness had visions of him filling the Kenny Dalglish role alongside Ian Rush in attack. If that was not enough, Clough also inherited Kenny's famous number seven shirt. The son of managerial legend Brian, he made an explosive start to his Reds career when netting twice on his debut at home to Sheffield Wednesday, then followed that up with another two strikes in his next three games. These goals only served to heighten the belief that Souness had acquired a Kop legend in the making but, unfortunately, it was to be a false dawn. A loss of form, coupled with the emergence of young striking sensation Robbie Fowler didn't help his cause and Clough was forced to drop back into an unfamiliar midfield role, although it was from this position that he enjoyed his finest moment in a red shirt. In January 1994 it was his magical brace that sparked the famous three-goal comeback against Manchester United at Anfield. But that was as good as it got for the former England international. After the sacking of Souness and appointment of Roy Evans, Clough found himself pushed out of the first team picture. So much so, that by January 1996 he left to join Manchester City in a £1.5 million deal, having never really fulfilled him potential at Liverpool.
Sold to: Manchester City (January 1996)
Claim to fame: Sparking the never-to-be-forgotten comeback against United
Did you know? He won more England caps than his illustrious father
Where is he now? Manager of non-league Burton Albion
Peter Hooton on Nigel Clough: "Nigel Clough came to Liverpool with a bit of baggage, should we say. Probably because of his father, and various things his father said or implied over the years in interviews, especially over Hillsborough. But I liked Nigel Clough as a player. I thought he was a very talented midfield player and he was also the type of player Liverpool needed at that time, the type of player who could split defences."
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