'Got to go in': Carragher names two current Liverpool players in his best ever Reds XI and might add two more
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Liverpool have been lucky enough to boast some fantastic players on their books over recent years.
The Reds won just about everything they could under Jurgen Klopp, leading to several players earning legendary status with the club.
They join a pantheon of great, great players who have littered Liverpool’s trophy laden history. Since 1892 right through to the present day, it has been a catwalk of excellence.
Because of the Liverpool legends to have graced the club and the litany of trophies won, picking an all-time Liverpool XI is a tricky business.
One man who is well-placed to select it, though, is Jamie Carragher. Although he grew up an Everton fan, Carragher has long since become a Red.
A fountain of football knowledge, when the former centre-back speaks about Liverpool, it’s always worth listening. And that’s exactly what Carragher has been doing, picking his best Liverpool XI ever, with one or two interesting inclusions.
Jamie Carragher picks all-time Liverpool XI
Carragher is Liverpool’s second highest appearance maker of all time and played with some fantastic players across 17 years in the first-team squad.
Having become synonymous with the club, the 46-year-old is also fully aware of its history and the greats who came before him.
As a result, when asked to pick his all-time Liverpool XI by the Stick To Football podcast, you knew you’d get a good and well thought out answer and that’s exactly what happened. Starting with the goalkeeper.
“I would go with Ray Clemence just over Alisson just the fact that we won so many trophies,” Carragher began.
“Right-back, Phil Neal. I think if I was asked this question at the end of his career I would probably say Trent [Alexander-Arnold]. But I’ll go with Phil Neal for the fact he won four European Cups.
“I would go with Virgil van Dijk and Alan Hansen [at centre-back], I think that would be a great partnership.
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“Andy Robertson may come into the equation,” he adds. “I don’t think Liverpool have had a history of unbelievable left-backs even when they were really successful. I’m going to go for Steve Nicol, he had a great combination with John Barnes.
“Souey has to be in central midfield, so John Barnes on the left Graeme Souness in the middle alongside Steven Gerrard.
“On the right, I think there’s two options; Ian Callaghan, he’s the only player to play more games than me. But Mo Salah’s got to go in on that right side and Kenny Dalglish has got to play.
“I think Ian Rush goes in because of what he won. I think if Luis Suarez had got a league title and European cup to his name I think I’d have put him.”
Did Jamie Carragher get it right?
Obviously, people will have their own versions of this, but it’s hard to argue too much with Carragher’s choices.
Possibly the most fascinating thing the former defender says is that Luis Suarez almost made it into his greatest ever side.
In terms of talent, Suarez is perhaps right up there with the best Liverpool players of all time. But his stint at the club was not all that long.
Nevertheless, had he stayed longer and been part of the Jurgen Klopp era, for example, you can see an argument forming for him to be Liverpool’s greatest ever. Carragher obviously thinks so.
Otherwise, it’s nice to see Van Dijk and Salah getting their dues. It only underlines what a special couple of players they are. New contracts please, Liverpool.
