Liverpool FC V Sunderland: Top 5 Well-Known Players to Play for Both Clubs

As Jordan Henderson puts on his Liverpool shirt tomorrow, he will be lining up to face his old club Sunderland for the first time since his summer move.

Jordan will be forgiven if his mind drifts back to his time with Sunderland. Since his £16 million move, things have not gone as planned and Jordan is yet to make the massive impact many believed he would.

Although his Anfield career is only beginning, pressure is on the young kid to produce the goods expected at a top club. Thankfully, a winners' medal for the League Cup may have eased any fears that he made the wrong move.

Henderson should study some old Liverpool and Sunderland favorites who have played for both teams. In the following slideshow, I will show five well-known players to play for both teams.

5. Phil Babb

Like Jordan Henderson, Phil Babb came to Liverpool with a big price tag making him the most expensive defender in Britian at the time. Babb played 128 times for Liverpool before moving to Sporting Lisbon. Eventually, he ended his career in Sunderland where they got relegated in 2003.

Unfortunately, Babb never reached the heights expected of him. In fact, he fell fairly short. In 1994, Babb had a great game against one of the best, Roberto Baggio. Liverpool broke the cardinal rule of purchasing a player based on a good international tournament. Paul McGrath was the main reason for Babb's impressive displays and without his talented international partner, Phil Babb turned into Phil Bad.

Babb will most likely be remembered for those white suits and the whole Spice Boy persona.

4. Bolo Zenden

Bolo Zenden was a surprise signing under Rafa Bentiez on a free transfer. Knee injuries restricted the Dutch midfielder to just 23 appearances for Liverpool before he joined Marseille.

Zenden picked up a runners-up medal in the Champions League and a winners' medal in the FA cup during his time at Anfield. Zenden joined Sunderland in 2009, making an impressive 47 appearances for the Black Cats.

Bolo is currently being courted by Blackburn.

3. Jason McAteer

Another "Spice Boy," McAteer was bought to Liverpool for £4.5 million. McAteer had a high work rate, could play in the center or on the right and had a high-fee haunt his every game. Sound familiar?

McAteer left Liverpool for Blackburn before joining Sunderland in 2001. McAteer suffered relegation with Sunderland in 2003. He played a total of 53 games for the Black Cats.

McAteer will be foundly remembered for not being the brightest spark. His stories of stupidity are now legendary.

Some of my personal favorites

Jason McAteer being asked at a take-away if he wanted his pizza cut into eight slices or four and answering, “Four. I’m not that hungry.”

When he locked himself out of his Porsche, his mate told him to get a coat-hanger so he could pick the lock and he came back with a wooden one. 

"What is your position at the company?" 
"Right back." — Jason McAteer on a credit card form 

2. Djibril Cissé

Cisse was a Kop idol, not for his performances but for his indomitable will to come back from a career-threatening injury to scoring a penalty in that famous night in Istanbul.

Cisse never reached the potential he could have for Liverpool, but his time will be fondly remembered. After being shifted out to the right wing for much of the season, he left Liverpool and went back to France to join Marseille.

In 2009, he joined Sunderland on loan, scoring 10 goals in 35 games for the club.

Cisse currently plays for OPR.

1.Alan Kennedy

A Sunderland native who is a Liverpool legend, what better way to end the slideshow? Alan Kennedy has the knack of scoring in major cup finals, winning countless trophies during the glory days of the 1970s and 80s.  

Kennedy played for Liverpool in a total of 251 appearances before making the switch to Sunderland. He went on to appear 54 times in a Sunderland jersey.

Trophies Won

English Champion: 1978–79, 1979–80, 1981–82, 1983–84
Charity Shield: 1979, 1980, 1982, 1984
Football League Cup: 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984
European Cup: 1981, 1984
European Super Cup: 1984