Philippe Coutinho today became the thirteenth different Liverpool player to make the PFA Team of the Year throughout the course of the Premier League era.
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The 22-year-old Brazilian has been in fine form this season, often single-handedly keeping the Reds ticking from the top of our midfield or just behind a central striker.
In this list below we take a look back at the Reds’ stars past and present who have been honoured with the same recognition. They are ranked according to their number of selections or, in the case of them having been selected the same number of times, they appear in order of time, with the least recent appearing first…
13) Rob Jones – One Selection (1995)
The England international full-back became our first selection of the Premier League era after helping the Reds win the League Cup. He would go on to play 185 league games for us, leaving for West Ham United in 1999.
12) David James – One Selection (1996)
The then youthful goalkeeper was mid-way through his seven year spell with the Reds, which ended in 1999. He played 214 league games for us – the most he played for any club during his journeyman career.
11) Mark Wright – One Selection (1997)
Just a year before his retirement, a 33-year-old Wright made the team. The former Southampton and Derby County man played 160 league games for the Reds after joining us in 1991, while he also won 45 England caps.
10) Stig Inge Bjornebye – One Selection (1997)
The full-back spent eight years at Anfield, playing 139 league games and scoring twice. He left in 2000 and finished his career in English football with Blackburn Rovers, helping them lift the League Cup in 2002.
9) Steve McManaman – One Selection (1997)
Played 272 league games for Liverpool before leaving for Real Madrid in 2003. He was arguably our best player during the 1990s and reached double figures in goals during four of his eight full seasons at the club.
8) Michael Owen – One Selection (1998)
It might come as a slight surprise that Owen only ever managed the one nomination, with that coming shortly before his heroics at the World Cup. He scored 23 goals during the 1997-98 season and despite surpassing that tally three times he never made the team again.
7) Jamie Carragher – One Selection (2006)
Another player who deserved more recognition from the PFA, after making more than 700 appearances for Liverpool, with 508 of those coming in the Premier League. A player who is still sorely misse
6) Daniel Sturridge – One Selection (2014)
Bagged 24 goals in all competitions on his first full season at Anfield, a tally that was only overshadowed by teammate Luis Suarez. He’s managed just five this campaign with his career being stalled by injuries.
5) Philippe Coutinho – One Selection (2015)
The Brazilian has notched seven goals and six assists in all competitions so far this season. His tally included a couple of Premier League stunners against Manchester City and Southampton. Easily our best player this year.
4) Sami Hyypia – Two Selections (2000 & 2002)
A long-standing Liverpool favourite who spent a decade of his career at Anfield, winning the treble in 2001 as well as the Champions League and the FA Cup in 2005 and 2006. Played over 450 games, scoring 35 goals.
3) Fernando Torres – Two Selections (2008 & 2009)
The Spaniard smashed 81 goals in just 142 games for Liverpool during a three-and-a-half year spell on Merseyside. El Nino, has he was affectionately known, was integral part of Rafael Benitez’s side which finished second in 2009.
2) Luis Suarez – Two Selection (2013 & 2014)
Suarez surpassed Torres with 82 goals in 133 games for the Reds, again during a three-and-a-half year spell. His final two seasons yielded 61 goals in just 81 games, including 54 in the Premier League as we again came second.
1) Steven Gerrard – Eight Selections (2001, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2014)
The best midfielder on the planet for a six-year spell between 2004 and 2009. Gerrard recently surpassed 500 Premier League games for Liverpool (over 700 in total), and also has an impressive 117 goals to his name.
