Liverpool legend and the club’s all-time leading goalscorer, Ian Rush, is recovering after being hospitalised with the flu, the club has confirmed.
Rush, 64, spent two days in intensive care after being admitted to the Countess of Chester Hospital last week due to breathing difficulties.
BBC Sport reported on Sunday that the former striker was taken to hospital as a precaution after his condition worsened.
Liverpool said the former Wales international is now responding to treatment and on the path to recovery.
A spokesperson for the club said, “We would like to thank the staff at the Countess of Chester Hospital for providing the best care possible, and everyone at Liverpool wishes Ian a speedy recovery.”
Rush remains one of the most celebrated players in Liverpool’s history. He scored a club-record 346 goals in 660 appearances during two successful spells at Anfield in the 1980s, with a short period at Juventus in between.
During his time with the Reds, he won five First Division titles and two European Cups, cementing his status as one of the club’s greatest ever players.
Rush also enjoyed a long international career with Wales, earning 73 caps and scoring 28 goals. He held the record as Wales’ highest goalscorer until Gareth Bale surpassed it in 2018.
At club level, Rush also played for Leeds United, Newcastle United and Wrexham, bringing an end to his 22-year playing career in 2000.
After retiring from football, he briefly moved into management and spent eight months in charge of Chester. He currently serves as a Liverpool ambassador and is a regular presence at matches at Anfield.
Rush’s illness comes amid a sharp rise in flu cases across the United Kingdom. According to NHS England, an average of 2,660 patients were hospitalised with flu each day last week, the highest figure recorded for this time of year since 2021.
The health body said the figure represents a 55 per cent increase compared to the previous week, raising concerns about pressure on hospitals during the winter period.
