Anfield mourning their wing wizard

PETER THOMPSON 1942-2018

FORMER Liverpool and England winger Peter Thompson has died at the age of 76.

Signed by Bill Shankly from Preston in 1963, Thompson became a mainstay on the left flank, scoring 54 goals in 416 outings and winning two First Division titles during his decade-long stay at Anfield.

Liverpool wrote on their official Twitter feed: “We’re deeply saddened by the passing of former winger Peter Thompson. RIP Peter.”

Carlisle-born Thompson, who was capped 16 times by England between 1964 and 1970 but was not part of Sir Alf Ramsey’s 1966 World Cup-winning squad, made his Preston debut aged 17 in August 1960.

He scored 20 goals in 121 games before his switch to Liverpool, where he was an ever-present in his first term, helping them to the league title in 1963-64.

Thompson was key to the

Reds first-ever

FA Cup win the next season, scoring in a 2-0 semi-final win over Chelsea and playing in the final against Leeds. He helped the Reds to the league crown in 1965-66. Shankly once said about Thompson in the latter’s testimonial brochure: “If Peter Thompson would not have taken up football he could have competed in the Olympic Games. That’s how good an athlete he was.

“He could run forever, but more importantly in football he could run with the ball – probably the hardest thing to do. His work rate was outstanding, his fitness unequalled, his balance like a ballet dancer. I have no hesitation in placing Peter up among the all-time greats – alongside such players as Tom Finney, Stanley Matthews and George Best.” Thompson lost his first team spot because of a knee injury and, in 1973, joined Bolton, playing 117 games for them.