Source: Liverpool_Echo
Mersey Hard Men: Liverpool FC legend Graeme Souness was the complete midfielder
Graeme Souness (158)[LNB]WITHIN days of joining Liverpool, Alan Kennedy was left in no doubt as to who was setting the standards he would live or die by.[LNB]It was August 1978 and Bob Paisley was in the midst of dismantling one great team while building another.[LNB]While the likes of Steve Heighway and Emlyn Hughes were now mere reminders of the Shankly era, stars of the future such as Alan Hansen and Kenny Dalglish were beginning to make their mark.[LNB]Another Scot had arrived from Middlesbrough seven months earlier but, by the way he carried himself, it was as if he'd been at the club a lot longer.[LNB]Graeme Souness was ruling the roost already.[LNB]Kennedy hit it off immediately with his new teammate, although by way of introductions this wasn't quite what he had in mind.[LNB]Eager to impress in one of his first training sessions, Kennedy accidentally glanced Souness' knee as they played a keep-ball exercise at Melwood.[LNB]When it was Souness' turn to chase the ball down, he followed through on Kennedy, totally cleaning him out.[LNB]'You couldn't back down in that situation,' recalls Kennedy. 'I had to prove my worth to the lads, show them I was one of them.'[LNB]With that, the new boy gritted his teeth and launched himself at Souness, throwing a punch before Ray Kennedy and the coaching staff stepped in.[LNB]It was over in seconds but Kennedy had passed his induction with flying colours.[LNB]Anyone with the bottle to take Souness on like that must be worth his place in the trenches.
