There have been some wonderful players to represent the Reds since the Premier League‘s inception in 1992. Henry Jackson (@OnFootballTweet) selects his best XI (An unbalanced 4-3-3). Do you agree?
Goalkeeper: PEPE REINA
The Spaniard was a superb servant to the club between 2006 and 2013. He was incredibly consistent, a terrific shot stopper and a great influence in the dressing room.
His expertise at saving penalties helped Liverpool win the 2006 FA Cup and 2012 Carling Cup. He also won the Premier League Golden Glove award- given to the ‘keeper with the most clean sheets in a season- three times.
Right-back: MARKUS BABBEL
Steve Finnan comes close, but Babbel was a classy full-back who rarely put a foot wrong.
He was a key player in the 2000/1 treble-winning season, scoring a terrific goal in the famous 3-2 win over Everton and a header in the UEFA Cup Final.
Illness robbed him of a large chunk of his career, but he was still a great servant to Liverpool in the short time he spent there.
Centre-back: JAMIE CARRAGHER
One of the greatest defenders in the club’s history, Carragher played between 1997 and 2013 and was a colossus at the back.
He had a will to win and a passion that was unrivalled compared to most, and was a hugely important player throughout the reigns of both Gerard Houllier and Rafa Benitez.
Centre-back: SAMI HYYPIA
Surely Liverpool’s greatest bargain buy of all time. The big Finn signed for just £2.5m in 1999, and went on to become one of the greatest centre-backs of the Premier League era.
Dominant in the air and cultured on the ball, many compared him to Alan Hansen in his prime. He was part of two great defensive pairings, firstly with Stephane Henchoz then with Carragher.
A likeable man who had a genuine love for Liverpool Football Club, Hyypia was a fantastic player.
Left-back: JON ARNE RIISE
His form may have dipped during his final season at the club, but it’s easy to forget how good Riise was for five years or so.
A brilliant attacking left-back with a thunderous shot, who could forget the unstoppable free-kick against Manchester United at Anfield in 2001, or the solo effort against Everton at Goodison Park.
If you put Riise at his peak into the current Liverpool side, it would give them a huge amount extra both in attack and defence.
Centre-midfield: JAVIER MASCHERANO
Many would say Didi Hamann because of the years of excellent service he gave to the club, but Mascherano was absolutely brilliant in his three and a half years at Liverpool.
The Argentinian joined after failing, somehow, to get into West Ham‘s side. Under Benitez’s management, he became arguably the best holding midfielder in the world between 2008 and 2010.
His energy and ability to win tackles was great to watch, and the partnership he built with Xabi Alonso in defensive midfield was almost perfect.
Centre-midfield: XABI ALONSO
Alonso was one of the classiest, most elegant midfielders to have played for Liverpool, and was possibly the greatest signing Benitez made in his six years at the club.
The Spaniard arrived as a youngster, but slotted straight into the side rather than being fazed by the physicality of the Premier League. He got better and better, peaking in the late 2000s.
His vision and eye for the spectacular- his halfway line effort against Newcastle in 2006 springs to mind immediately- were a joy to watch, and it was a sad, sad day when he departed for Real Madrid in the summer of 2009.
Centre-midfield: STEVEN GERRARD
What can you say about Gerrard that hasn’t already been said. Not only is he the greatest Liverpool player of his generation, but also the best of all time in my opinion.
As a footballer he has everything: pace, power, skill, goals, assists, work-rate, leadership. I could go on.
He has won countless games by himself over the last 15 years, often playing in average Liverpool sides, and has invariably saved his greatest moments for the biggest games. Just ask fans of United, Chelsea, Arsenal and Everton.
He has been Liverpool captain for over a decade now, and is an incredible footballer.
Striker: LUIS SUAREZ
Has there ever been a more naturally gifted player to represent Liverpool? It’s hard to argue against it. The Uruguayan may only have been at Anfield for three years, but he has been extraordinary in that time.
He has scored 71 goals in just 113 appearances for the Reds, and many of those have been absolutely spectacular. His dribbling, trickery and finishing are all world-class, and he is an absolute certainly to win the PFA Player of the Year award this season (barring some sort of conspiracy against him.)
On current form, only Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are better than the 26-year-old genius, and if he stays at Liverpool for many years he could even leapfrog Gerrard and Kenny Dalglish as the greatest of all time.
Striker: FERNANDO TORRES
Ok, so Torres left for Chelsea in 2011 and it left a bitter taste among Liverpool fans, but if we’re honest, he was a fantastic player for Liverpool in his time at the club.
As soon as he joined in the summer of 2007 he settled in immediately, scoring 33 goals in his debut season. His finishing was immaculate and he had a turn of pace that could trouble any defender in world football. At his best he was the finest striker on the planet for a short while.
81 goals in 142 games is an excellent return, and deep down, he must wish he’d stayed at Liverpool.
Striker: ROBBIE FOWLER
‘God’ is one of the most popular players to have ever worn the famous Liverpool shirt, and along with Ian Rush he is the finest finisher in the club’s history.
Fowler was a prodigious young talent when he first came into the side, and he scored goals for fun. He found the net over 30 times three seasons in a row (94/95, 95/96 and 96/97) and was absolutely unstoppable. It was a crime that he didn’t play for England more at this point.
He was still only in his early 20s then, but, sadly, that ended up being his peak. Injuries caught up with him in the late 1990s and he was never quite the same player again. He returned to Anfield in 2006, and managed 12 more goals to bring his Liverpool career total to a hugely impressive 183.
Honourable menions: John Barnes, Steve Mcmanaman, Michael Owen, Didi Hamann, Dirk Kuyt, Steve Finnan
What would your XI be? Where do you disagree with Henry?
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