The Daily Mail have put together a list of players for Liverpool’s best Premier League XI. There’s doesn’t seem to be any particular reason for the timing of the story – the article itself is based around the fact that we’re still waiting on our first top flight title since the league structure was redesigned in the early 1990s.
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However, they have at least gone a little off track with their suggestions, a couple of which particularly stand out. In the list below, we debate their picks and suggest who we might have gone with instead.
GK) Pepe Reina
Despite only winning two trophies during his time at the club – the FA Cup and the League Cup – the Spaniard was undoubtedly the most consistent of the goalkeepers we’ve had over the last two decades. Jerzy Dudek will, in the future, perhaps be better remembered for his penalty saves in Istanbul; but Reina was surely the superior keeper.
RB) Markus Babbel
Where’s this one come from? The German only played 42 league games in four years at Anfield. He played an important role in helping us win five trophies in 2001 but in terms of longevity and consistency there’s no doubting the fact that Steve Finnan has been by far our best right-backs of the Premier League era.
CB) Jamie Carragher
An automatic pick, who wouldn’t be far away from an all-time Liverpool XI. He might not have had the same natural talent as some of the greats of the past but in terms of heart, work-rate and commitment to the cause, no one can beat him. He played over 700 games for us before eventually hanging up his boots two years ago.
CB) Sami Hyypia
Martin Skrtel is probably one of the few players in the current crop of Liverpool stars who might have been close to this side. However, the big Finn is undoubtedly ahead of him for the time being. He helped us win the treble in 2001, as well as the Champions League four years later – and everyone remembers that goal against Juventus.
LB) John Arne Riise
The Scandinavian full-back spent seven years at Liverpool, where he became renowned for his powerful runs down the left-hand side and his impossible to stop shots from distance – a statement former Manchester United forward Alan Smith will definitely agree with. We’re arguably still attempting to replace him, with no one coming close.
DM) Javier Mascherano
The Argentine kick-starts a fairly predictable midfield line-up. Mascherano, who has enjoyed even greater success since moving to Barcelona, arguably made his name as a Liverpool player. Having flopped at West Ham, he looked much more at home at Anfield, taking a stranglehold of our midfield and making it look incredibly solid.
CM) Steven Gerrard
Our outgoing captain is still the man to which all other Liverpool midfielders are measured against. His qualities, both on and off the pitch, surpass anything that came before them and possibly – although we very much hope not – anything that will come again in the future. Another player to move past 700 games as well as almost 200 goals.
CM) Xabi Alonso
Surely Gerrard’s favourite midfield partner. As good as Jordan Henderson has been in recent years, there’s no way he’s getting in ahead of the Spanish icon. Since leaving Liverpool, Alonso has enjoyed further success with Real Madrid and Bayern Munich, winning a whole host of major honours. What would we give to take him back now?
AM) Steve McManaman
Another surprise inclusion in our forward line… there’s no Fernando Torres, no Michael Owen. As good as McManaman was during his nine years at Anfield, his greatest successes arguably only came since leaving Liverpool. He won the Champions League twice during his time with Madrid, as well as two La Liga titles.
ST) Robbie Fowler
The iconic striker was one of our all-time favourites. He scored 128 league goals during two spells at Anfield, with his best years coming between 1994 and 1997, when he netted 98 times in all competitions. The England international eventually finished his career in Australia in 2012 and is now looking into coaching.
ST) Luis Suarez
Never short on controversy, as well as goals, the Uruguayan will surely always hold a special place in Liverpool hearts. The dislike felt by supporters of other clubs only intensified our love for him, while he rewarded us with 82 goals in just 133 games before eventually moving to Barcelona last summer.
