Picking a Best XI of Former Liverpool Players Now at Different Clubs

After another managerial change, bringing Brendan Rodgers in to replace Kenny Dalglish, Liverpool have seen another large turnover of playing staff as the new boss shapes the team to his preference.

Some real fan favourites, including Dirk Kuyt, Maxi Rodriguez and Craig Bellamy, made way for the new selection of incoming players.

Clubs never want to lose their better players, be they first-team regulars or important squad members, but at times, either because of the request of the player or the natural evolution of a club, those big names do move on.

Here is a best XI of former Liverpool players still in action elsewhere.

Goalkeeper: Brad Friedel

Big bad Brad Friedel was Liverpool's first-choice stopper for all of about half a season in 1998. When he failed to establish himself as consistent enough for Gerard Houllier's liking, he was let go on a free transfer to Blackburn Rovers.

What a piece of business by the Reds that turned out to be.

Now 41, Friedel is still one of the top goalkeepers in the Premier League and has made more than 300 consecutive appearances for Rovers, Aston Villa and Tottenham Hotspur.

Full-Backs: Alvaro Arbeloa and John Arne Riise

Liverpool haven't had too much success with left-backs over the past half a decade or so.

Andrea Dossena was John Arne Riise's eventual replacement when the Norwegian lost his previously impeccable form in his final two seasons at Anfield, but the Italian never lived up to his billing.

Emiliano Insua was discarded too soon. Fabio Aurelio couldn't steer clear of injuries and the less said about Paul Konchesky the better.

Riise enjoyed a spell at Roma after leaving England, but is now back in the Premier League with Fulham, once more providing those thrusting runs from deep and well-struck but wayward shots from distance.

On the right, Liverpool have been more consistent over the years, with Steve Finnan providing excellent service for years before Alvaro Arbeloa did the same.

Glen Johnson and Martin Kelly now give the Reds excellent depth—but Arbeloa has gone on to win the Spanish League, the Copa del Rey, the 2010 World Cup and the recent 2012 European Championships.

Not bad going, really.

Centre-Backs: Javier Mascherano and Mikel San Jose

These two players are now plying their trade in Spain.

Barcelona's Javier Mascherano, one-quarter of Liverpool's former "best midfield in the world," plays a deeper role for his current club than he did in England, where he was an anchor man. But his style of play is no less aggressive.

The powerful, fearless and defensive-minded foil to the more stylish and composed Gerard Pique, Mascherano has overcome initial difficulties in Catalonia to make himself an important part of the best footballing team on the planet.

Alongside him we'll go for a former Red, Mikel San Jose, who made not a single appearance for the club, though he was on the bench against Chelsea once.

Since leaving Liverpool for Athletic Bilbao, though, initially on loan and later on a permanent deal, he has flourished into a very capable defender and was featured in last season's successful twin Cup run, though he was an unused substitute in both Copa del Rey and Europa League final defeats.

Central Midfielders: Xabi Alonso and Momo Sissoko

One-half of Liverpool's "best midfield in the world" now rears their head.

From Mascherano, Steven Gerrard, Xabi Alonso and Momo Sissoko to Gerrard, Charlie Adam, Jay Spearing and Lucas Leiva in the space of just three seasons, Liverpool fans will be hoping that things are turning around now.

With recent additions Joe Allen and Nuri Sahin, the centre of the park at Anfield will soon look as talented as it did not too long ago.

Since leaving for Real Madrid in 2009, Alonso has been an integral part of Real Madrid, cementing his status as one of the bona-fide top players in world football.

He has won the 2010 World Cup and 2012 European Championships—alongside Arbeloa—with Spain and three domestic titles with his club.

Sissoko moved first to Juventus, where he spent three years, finishing as league runner up in 2009, before moving to free-spending PSG last season. He also finished last season with a league runner-up medal in Ligue 1.

Wide Midfielders: Maxi Rodriguez and Craig Bellamy

As two of the elder squad members who Brendan Rodgers has seen leave his team this summer, Maxi Rodriguez and Craig Bellamy were flickering bright spots over the past couple of years for Liverpool as the club searched for continuity and consistency.

Bellamy played from the flanks more often than not, though his League Cup semifinal-winning goal came while playing as a striker.

His pace, aggression and excellent movement made him a constant threat, and his application and attitude during matches were second to none.

While Liverpool rebuild with improved technique and tactics, they would do well to replace that side of Bellamy and one or two others who have left the club along the way.

Rodriguez was a fine passer and a scorer of important goals in his final two seasons at the club. But a lack of first-team opportunities—perhaps undeserved—saw him leave for his hometown club, Newell's Old Boys, in summer.

Still a fine player.

Forwards: Dirk Kuyt and Fernando Torres

Fernando Torres has had something of an up-and-down time since joining Chelsea.

Long stretches without scoring and playing second fiddle to Didier Drogba saw him labelled a flop, but goals early this season and regular playing time give Chelsea fans hope that he will become the feared goal-getter he always was during his time in Red.

Dirk Kuyt was, along with Maxi and Bellamy, another who chose to leave the club this summer following an unsatisfying last campaign on Merseyside.

Kuyt was in and out the team last year but scored important goals in both domestic cups, including the League Cup final.

Having now joined Fenerbahce in Turkey, he has returned to playing as a central striker and has already hit the goal trail for his new team.

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