Picking Liverpool's Ultimate European XI
Liverpool FC may have been overtaken by Manchester United when it comes to domestic league titles in recent years, but the Reds remain firmly ahead of their north-west rivals when it comes to European success.
The Merseysiders have lifted the European Cup five times—most recently in Istanbul in 2005—which is twice more than United.
In addition, Liverpool have won the UEFA Cup three times, which is also a British record.
Much of Liverpool's European success arrived under the management of Bob Paisley and Joe Fagan in the late seventies and early eighties, when they built on the foundations put in place by Bill Shankly to lead the club to four European titles in eight years (1977, 1978, 1981 and 1984).
The Reds' first European trophy arrived under Shankly's tutelage in 1973, lifting the UEFA Cup—as they did again three years later and then in 2001 under Gerard Houllier's reign.
With so much success, picking a Liverpool ultimate European XI isn't easy given the pedigree of players who brought the silverware to the club.
With no European participation in the late eighties due to the Heysel disaster ban, players such as John Barnes—who played just 12 times in Europe—aren't included in this XI.
Instead, the XI is made up of those players who contributed most to Liverpool's successes in continental competition down the years, featuring in a 4-3-3 formation.
GK: Ray Clemence
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When you think of Liverpool goalkeepers in Europe, you immediately think of Bruce Grobbelaar and his spaghetti legs in the penalty shootout in the 1984 European Cup final.
You may also think of Jerzy Dudek's heroics in Istanbul in 2005.
While the two of them contributed vastly, neither can match Ray Clemence's three European Cup successes.
Clemence is Liverpool's greatest-ever goalkeeper and rightly finds himself in any ultimate Liverpool XI.
RB: Phil Neal
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No Englishman has lifted the European Cup as many times as Liverpool's Phil Neal. Indeed, no Englishman has more medals than Neal.
The Reds' most decorated player, he won 22 trophies in 455 appearances from 1974 to 1985.
He was the only player to feature in the four European Cup triumphs from 1977 to 1984. It's difficult to see any Englishman matching this achievement in the future.
CB: Alan Hansen
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Alan Hansen is arguably Liverpool's greatest-ever defender, and like Clemence and Neal, he should be found in any ultimate Liverpool XI.
He won three European Cups in his 15 years at Anfield—not bad for somebody who the club signed for £110,000.
Arriving months after the Reds' first European Cup success, Hansen didn't immediately go into the team—making 18 league appearances in his first season—but he was selected in the 1978 final against Bruges at Wembley. He was an almost ever-present thereafter.
CB: Emlyn Hughes
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Alongside Hansen is the man who lifted the European Cup as captain in 1977 and 1978, Emlyn Hughes.
Hughes is one of Liverpool's greatest-ever servants and most decorated players; adding a UEFA Super Cup in 1977 and two UEFA Cups (1973 and 1976) to his European collection.
While not necessarily a centre-back, Hughes was a versatile player and can fill that role in this theoretical XI.
His selection is ahead of 1981 captain Phil Thompson, and one of the heroes of Istanbul, Jamie Carragher. The local duo miss out due to Hughes being in the unique position of lifting the European Cup two years in a row as captain.
LB: Alan Kennedy
5 of 11Not many players, let alone defenders, have scored the winning goal in two European Cup finals—but Liverpool's Alan Kennedy has.
Admittedly his winning goal in 1984 was in the penalty shootout against Roma, but his strike against Real Madrid in the 1981 final is the stuff of fairytale in itself.
CM: Graeme Souness
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Graeme Souness, the Reds' three-time European Cup-winning midfielder, is an easy selection.
The combative Scotsman loved the big occasion, and European nights brought the best out of him, as many opponents found in the early eighties.
Souness lifted the trophy as captain in 1984 and is one of Liverpool's greatest-ever players.
CM: Steven Gerrard
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Steven Gerrard is the only player to score in a FA Cup final, League Cup final, UEFA Cup final and a Champions League final.
It's impossible to leave Gerrard out when you consider his contributions throughout the run to Istanbul in 2005, including his heroic performance against Olympiakos—even though he faces competition from players such as Terry McDermott, who won the European Cup three times.
Gerrard produced the goods for Liverpool on plenty of European nights after Istanbul, with memorable displays in the 4-0 demolition of Real Madrid, against Inter Milan, and plenty of others. His goal against Alaves in 2001 wasn't bad, either.
CM: Ian Callaghan
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There's plenty who could line up alongside Souness and Gerrard in midfield; McDermott, Jimmy Case and Ray Kennedy all won the European Cup three times.
But we're giving the nod to Ian Callaghan—the Reds' record appearance holder and the man who won the European Cup in '77 and '78.
Versatile enough to play on the wing or in midfield, Callaghan would work well in this XI—where we have three forwards in order to accommodate the incredible goalscoring options.
CF: Kenny Dalglish
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The first of those forwards is, of course, Kenny Dalglish.
King Kenny, as he's known among the Reds' faithful, was instrumental in the European Cup successes of 1978, 1981 and 1984.
Dalglish scored the winning goal in the final in '78—a nice way to cap his first season at the club. He also scored in the thrashing of Hamburg in the two-leg Super Cup final earlier that season.
CF: Kevin Keegan
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Joining Dalglish in attack is the man the Scotsman replaced at Anfield, Kevin Keegan.
Keegan was key to the club's first European Cup title in 1977, including winning a penalty in the final against Borussia Monchengladbach.
With two UEFA Cup successes, too, Keegan lit up Europe, being crowned the Football Writers' Association footballer of the year in 1976.
He then moved to Hamburg, where he was named European football of the year in 1978 and 1979. Quite an achievement.
CF: Ian Rush
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Rounding off the attack, and this XI, is the prolific Ian Rush.
The Welshman was Liverpool's top goalscorer in eight seasons from 1982 to 1994, lifting the European Cup in '81 and '84.
His two goals in the semi-final against Dinamo Bucharest in 1984 is considered by many to be his greatest-ever performance for the club, earning him the Football Writers' Association footballer of the year award.
