Liverpool: Picking an All-Time Best XI

Following yet another masterclass from Liverpool’s current No. 7, Luis Suarez, on Wednesday night to take three points from Sunderland’s visit to Anfield, Reds fans now have every right to champion Suarez’s cause to be considered one of Liverpool’s most talented players.

But would he fit in an all-time best Liverpool XI?

Considering the rich history at the club, not quite yet: Those championship-winning teams from glorious eras featured name after illustrious name, player after brilliant player to have run out at Anfield.

As Brendan Rodgers’ team kickstarted the new year with a tidy 3-0 home win and Liverpool fans have more to be optimistic about in the future, let’s take a look at years bygone and pick an all-time best 11.

We’ve gone with a standard 4-4-2 formation and thrown in a seven-man bench in there for kicks as well. Enjoy the read, and let us know your picks in the comments below.

Goalkeeper: Ray Clemence

Ray Clemence signed for Liverpool from Scunthorpe in 1967. Following his debut in 1968, he cemented himself as one of Europe’s finest goalkeepers in the 1970s and early 1980s.

He took a permanent place between the Anfield sticks during Liverpool’s most illustrious periods in their history, winning five league titles and three European Cups, and all the while he missed just six league matches.

As part of an all-conquering defence, Clemence’s key attributes were his concentration and reaction saves, contributing to a mere 16 goals conceded during 1978-79’s 42-match league season.

Right-Back: Phil Neal

In Ray Clemence’s tradition of winning practically everything, Phil Neal adds his silverware collection to this all-time best XI. He had eight league titles, four European Cups, one UEFA Cup, one European Super Cup, one UEFA Cup and one Charity Shield.

But Neal deserves his place based on his attributes alone: He was an uncompromising defender that Bob Paisley made his first signing in 1974.

In his 11 years at the club, Neal made a whopping 650 appearances for Liverpool—including an eye-watering 417 games in a row from 1976 to 1983—and scored an impressive 59 goals.

Left-Back: Steve Nicol

Back in 1981, Steve Nicol was brought in by Joe Fagan to challenge Phil Neal for the regular right-back slot, but such was Nicol’s versatility and ability to play across the back four that no Reds fans would be surprised to see him make the starting left-back position in a best XI.

Just like Neal, Nicol was a consistent full-back who put in 468 total appearances and chipped in with a tidy 46 goals, including a hat-trick against Newcastle in 1987.

His versatility saw him fill in at center-back when Alan Hansen was out injured in the 1988-89 season, and his personality saw him make as many friends off the pitch as he gained admirers on it.

Center-Back: Sami Hyypia

By the time Sami Hyypia left for Bayer Leverkusen in 2009, he had cemented himself as one of the best defenders in Liverpool history, one of the Reds’ best-ever signings, and one of the best-ever foreign players in the Premier League era. Such was the profound impact and contribution that he had made at Anfield over his 10-year stay at the club.

After his low-profile move from Willem II, Hyypia formed a rock-solid defensive partnership with Stephane Henchoz under Gerard Houllier, and then with Jamie Carragher under Rafa Benitez.

His composure, all-round reading of the game and heading ability made him a fans’ favorite. It also contributed numerous goals from the back.

Center-Back: Alan Hansen

Just like Hyypia, Alan Hansen had composure, reading and heading in abundance, and his classy play from the center of defence was a hallmark of the all-conquering Reds sides in the 1970s and 1980s.

In an era and a country that prided themselves on hard, rugged defending (and arguably still do), Hansen’s calm and cultured style meant that his bringing the ball out from the defence started many a Liverpool attack from the back.

He succeeded Phil Neal as captain in 1985 and promptly led the Reds to a league and FA Cup double at the end of his first season as skipper.

Right Midfielder: Ian Callaghan

Ian Callaghan graced the Anfield pitch both on the right wing and in central midfield (after a knee operation in 1971). It was on the wing that he made his name in a Red shirt, and so it is on the right that he finds himself starting in this lineup.

A local Liverpudlian, Callaghan was the readymade replacement for the prolific Billy Liddell on the wing, both in terms of shirt number (No. 7) and importance to the side.

For all of his achievements and contributions on the pitch, Callaghan—only booked once during his Liverpool career—will also be remembered for his graceful off-pitch presence and his club-record 857 appearances for the club.

Left Midfielder: John Barnes

The most iconic wearer of the No. 10 shirt at Anfield, John Barnes was truly a wing wizard who graced the pitch with his pace, dribbling and goal scoring. He formed a fearsome attacking partnership with Peter Beardsley and John Aldridge.

The driving force behind many a mazy run down the left wing, Barnes made football look easy as he delivered two league titles and won multiple individual accolades.

He will also go down in history as one of the first black footballing superstars of the English game, as he brushed off racist abuse to cement himself as a Liverpool legend.

Central Midfielder: Steven Gerrard

There will be no arguments whatsoever against Steven Gerrard’s inclusion as Liverpool’s greatest midfielder of all time.

Those familiar with modern football will be well acquainted with Gerrard’s fabled leadership, passing and long-range shooting. Memories of sublime match-winning strikes against Olympiakos and West Ham will live long in the memory.

His crowning achievement will have been to lift the Champions League title (as the second-youngest ever captain to do so), bringing it back to Anfield for permanent display. The story of a Liverpool skipper so inspirational will be told for generations to come.

Central Midfielder: Graeme Souness

His three years in charge of Liverpool will have turned many supporters off, but Graeme Souness was one of the finest midfielders to ever play at Anfield, where he started out as a replacement for the evergreen Ian Callaghan.

Famous for his physical and direct playing style, Souness won five league titles, three European Cups and four League Cups during his seven-year stay at Liverpool.

His leadership from the center of midfield earned him the captaincy after Phil Thompson, while he ended his Liverpool career with 55 goals in 359 games.

Striker: Kenny Dalglish

The only King around Liverpool parts, Kenny Dalglish is still much revered by the Anfield faithful for all he has contributed to the club as both player and manager. He is regarded by many as Liverpool’s greatest-ever player.

Wearing the No. 7 shirt with pride, Dalglish delivered goals, assists and creativity as he took his Celtic fame to unprecedented heights with Liverpool.

With 172 goals in 515 games, Dalglish was considered one of the best forwards in all of Europe during his time. He continued his adopted club’s silverware success during his stint as player/manager and then manager.

Striker: Ian Rush

Alongside Kenny Dalglish, and then playing under him, was legendary Reds forward Ian Rush, who scored a club-record 346 goals during his time at Anfield and is still involved as club ambassador.

Signed from Chester City for a then-British record fee for a teenager, Rush took his time to establish himself in the team, asking for a move away from the club and needing nine games before scoring his first goal.

A year at Juventus after a prolific seven seasons at Liverpool had Rush angling for a move back to England, and it was Liverpool who took him on again. He duly scored 90 league goals in 245 appearances in his second spell at Anfield.

Substitutes Bench

Goalkeeper: Pepe Reina

Defenders: Jamie Carragher, Emlyn Hughes

Midfielders: Jan Molby, Billy Liddell

Strikers: Robbie Fowler, Roger Hunt

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For extensive coverage on the Premier League, please check out my Bleacher Report writer’s profile and my weekly roundup of English football on SoccerWithoutLimits.com.

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