by Chris Wood
Ephraim was one of the most consistent defenders Liverpool have ever had on their books and his career at Anfield from start to finish covered a remarkable 18 years. Had the First World War not taken away so much of his professional career, he would certainly have played in over 500 league and cup matches for the club he served so loyally for so long.
He made his name at Bolton before moving to Southern League side Leyton, from whom Liverpool signed him at the start of the 1910-11 season, during which he made the first 34 of his 370 first-team appearances for the club.
One of only a handful of Liverpool players to ever captain his country, Ephraim's composed style of play meant that his position at right-back was rarely threatened during his early years on Merseyside. He played in the F.A. cup final against Burnley in 1914 and would continue to be a key member of the team for several seasons after the war, winning League championship medals in both 1922 & 1923.
Longworth played for England five times but remarkably, considering the number of matches he played, he never scored a single goal for Liverpool during his lengthy association with the club.
Ephraim's final selection for a Liverpool first-team, at Birmingham on 21st April 1928, came over SEVENTEEN and a half years after he had been handed his debut in an away match at Bramall Lane, Sheffield on 19th September 1910.
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