Picking a Best XI of Ex-Liverpool Stars Who Are Still Playing

The transfer rumour mill continues to fill up with stories of players coming to Liverpool, but what happens to those who leave?

With both Pepe Reina and Luis Suarez linked to exits from the club this summer, the list of high-profile departures from Anfield in recent years could well grow.

But what if the current Liverpool side faced up to some of their former teammates who are still playing professionally? Who would have the better team?

Should Reina and/or Suarez leave, then the forthcoming XI could look quite different, but here is a best XI of ex-Reds still playing.

Brad Friedel

Current club: Tottenham Hotspur

A Premier League stalwart with Blackburn Rovers and Aston Villa before his few years at Tottenham, it is somewhat easy to forget that Brad Friedel has a fourth English club on his CV.

Signed for Liverpool by Roy Evans from Columbus Crew in 1997, the USA international goalkeeper would play for the Reds 31 times over three years, with a lack of consistency and a battle with David James and Sander Westerveld limiting his opportunities.

In truth, Reds fans didn't think much of Friedel's performances during his time at Anfield, and when he was sold to Blackburn in 2000 there weren't many dissenting voices.

He went on to set the Premier League record for consecutive appearances, playing 310 times for Blackburn, Villa and Tottenham, where he is still on the books as an understudy to Hugo Lloris at the age of 42.

Alvaro Arbeloa

Current club: Real Madrid

Sometimes unkindly referred to as merely the spare part in the all-conquering Spain team, full-back Alvaro Arbeloa has had a fine career, which came to fruition at Liverpool.

A youth player at Real Madrid, Arbeloa moved onto Deportivo before being snapped up by Rafael Benitez for the Reds in January 2007 and immediately thrown into a debut against Barcelona at the Nou Camp marking none other than a young Lionel Messi.

He handled that occasion well as the Reds won 2-1, and Arbeloa's steady if unspectacular performances were a feature of Liverpool's consistent displays under Benitez over the next two years.

Arbeloa played 98 times for Liverpool, scoring twice for the club before moving back to Real in the summer of 2009.

Gabriel Paletta

Current club: Parma

Don't worry if you don't remember Gabriel Paletta's Liverpool career, not many others do either.

The Argentinean centre-back moved from Banfield to Anfield when he left his homeland to join Benitez's Reds in the summer of 2006, but he frequently struggled with the pace of the English game.

He scored his only Liverpool goal in a 4-3 League Cup win over Reading, but a disastrous display in a 6-3 defeat to Arsenal later in the same competition seemingly damaged his Reds career for good, and he left Anfield after only three Premier League games to join Boca Juniors in 2007.

He's done well on his second crack at European football, though, and has been a fixture in the Parma side that has registered three mid-table Serie A finishes since his move to northern Italy in 2010.

Javier Mascherano

Current club: Barcelona

A metronomic and sometimes manic influence in the centre of midfield for Liverpool for three-and-a-half seasons, Javier Mascherano was a terrific player for the Reds.

Plucked from the chaos of his joint-ownership situation with Carlos Tevez at West Ham in early 2007, Mascherano went on to slot into Liverpool's team perfectly in a midfield that featured the passing of Xabi Alonso and the energy of Steven Gerrard.

It was Mascherano's energy that so often set the tone for Liverpool, though, and the terrier-like midfielder was a key part of a team that reached a Champions League final and came second in the Premier League.

Like many, he was agitated by the removal of Benitez and appointment of Roy Hodgson as manager, though, and after he angled for a move away he finally made a switch to Barcelona in the summer of 2010.

He is used in defence at the Nou Camp, but it is his 139 midfield appearances (and two goals) that are remembered at Anfield.

Emiliano Insua

Current club: Atletico Madrid

Plenty of people might be expecting to see Fulham's John Arne Riise here, but moves to clubs such as Galatasaray, Sporting Lisbon and Atletico Madrid see Emiliano Insua take the spot.

The Argentinean left-back paid the price for being thrust into the Liverpool limelight too early due to Riise's poor form and Fabio Aurelio's injury problems, and the then 20-year-old often looked to be a little over-promoted during his 44 matches in the 2009/10 season.

He played 62 for the Reds overall, scoring one fine goal in a League Cup tie at Arsenal.

After Hodgson chose to sign Paul Konchesky for the left-back position, a loan move to Galatasaray was followed by a permanent switch to Sporting Lisbon for Insua, who moved on to Atletico earlier this year after impressing in Portugal.

Maxi Rodriguez

Current club: Newell's Old Boys

One of Liverpool's more astute signings during a period of excess, Benitez signed Maxi Rodriguez on a free transfer from Atletico Madrid in early 2010.

His exploits with Atletico―for whom he once scored against Liverpool―and Argentina were already well-known by supporters, and he quickly found favour with Reds fans thanks to his fine, classy performances.

Many felt that he often wasn't used enough in the side, but hat-tricks at the tail end of Kenny Dalglish's first half-season at the club against Birmingham City and Fulham showcased his talents.

He was an unused substitute in both the League Cup and FA Cup finals of 2012, before completing a move back to his boyhood Argentinean club, Newell's Old Boys, last summer.

Alberto Aquilani

Current club: Fiorentina

Alberto Aquilani was injured when he signed for Liverpool from Roma, and he subsequently spent most of his time at the club on the treatment table.

The 2009/10 season was his only proper campaign at the Reds, but he was unable to inspire his teammates often due to frequent injuries.

The Italian often left a feeling of wasted talent, but both Juventus and AC Milan saw enough in him to take him on loan spells when Liverpool felt he was no longer needed.

He finally left Anfield on a permanent basis last summer, with his displays at Fiorentina proving enough for him to earn a place in Italy squad for the current Confederations Cup tournament.

Xabi Alonso

Current club: Real Madrid

Easily one of the most important Liverpool arrivals of the last decade, Xabi Alonso joined from Real Sociedad for £10.7 million in the summer of 2004.

Benitez quickly made the Basque his key man, with much of Liverpool's play going through him as the Reds remarkably achieved Champions League success―with Alonso scoring in the unforgettable final against AC Milan after his initial penalty kick was saved by AC Milan goalkeeper Dida.

The midfielder remained one of the key men for the Reds for the next few seasons, although a falling-out with Benitez attributed to his eventual sale.

Having won many friends on Merseyside over over 210 appearances and 19 goals, he left for Real Madrid for £30 million in 2009.

Craig Bellamy

Current club: Cardiff City

Being signed once by Liverpool is an honour enough in itself, but being signed twice must be truly special.

Things never quite worked out for Craig Bellamy when Benitez brought him to Anfield in 2006, and he was frequently in and out of the team as he battled with Dirk Kuyt, Peter Crouch and Robbie Fowler for a first-team place.

After the disappointment of being left out of the 2007 Champions League final, Bellamy left for West Ham after just one season and nine goals for the club, including a famous header in the Nou Camp as Liverpool beat Barcelona.

After West Ham he joined Manchester City and then Cardiff City on loan, before he rejoined Liverpool on a free transfer in the summer of 2011, citing a desire to work with Dalglish.

Now an older and wiser player, Bellamy played a pivotal role as the Reds enjoyed good runs in cup competitions in 2011/12, and he scored the decisive goal in the League Cup semi-final win over Manchester City.

He played his part as the Reds beat Cardiff in the final at Wembley, before rejoining his hometown club last summer and helping them gain promotion to the Premier League.

Dirk Kuyt

Current club: Fenerbahce

One of the most reliable players at Liverpool over the past decade, Dirk Kuyt was a terrific signing for the Reds from Feyenoord in 2006.

One of Benitez's most trusted lieutenants, Kuyt was transformed from an out-and-out forward into a hard-working midfielder at the club, and he responded by striving as much as anyone for Liverpool to succeed.

The Reds may not have picked up the amount of trophies that Kuyt deserved for his effort―although he did score in the Carling Cup final win over Cardiff City in his final season―but they did manage a level of consistency that he certainly helped in.

He played 286 times for Liverpool and scored 71 goals before moving on to Fenerbahce last year.

Fernando Torres

Current club: Chelsea

Quite simply one of the deadliest forwards in the world on his day, it is quite clear that most of Fernando Torres' "days" came at Liverpool.

A then club record signing from Atletico Madrid in 2007, Torres exploded into English football with 33 goals in his stellar first season.

In his second, he helped the Reds to their highest Premier League points tally ever, as he gained idol status on the Kop thanks to his terrific performances.

Injuries started to hinder him more and more in his third campaign, though, and when Benitez left at the end of it he never seemed to enjoy life under Hodgson.

His form waning, he joined Chelsea for £50 million in January 2011 having scored 81 goals in 142 games for the Reds.

Having waited 14 games for his first Chelsea goal, he's now scored 34 goals in 131 appearances for the Stamford Bridge club.