24 Apr 2024 12:08:55
Question for Ed1.
Was reading a post from 2023 about Ramario v Suarez.
You're always an insightful read.
Got to thinking.
Who's your all time Liverpool FC picks for
Striker
Mid
CB/ FB
Keeper
I'm a child of the 80s, so I think back to Rush and Barnes, King Kenny then Torres, Suarez, and now of course Salah. Hard to pick.
Mids, Stevie G, Alonso. But so many across the decades.
Defenders, Hansen? Hypiia? VVD?
I know the game has changed, so where does someone like Trent fit in to this?
Keepers. We've had some diamonds but I've got a special place in my heart for Bruce (I'm a Zimbo), but is Becker perhaps the only true worldie we've had?
{Ed001's Note - keepers is the easy one, I loved Brucie, met him a few times and he was a great keeper, but Alisson is the best I have ever seen. I believe him to be the GOAT keeper in the whole of football, not just with us, so it has to be him.
Full-back is difficult. Rob Jones was by far the best defensively I have seen but Trent's delivery is unbelievable. I would still pick Jones though, because he was just so good as a defender.
Centre-back has to be Hansen. Hyypia was too slow and simply not as good as Hansen anyway. Lawrenson and van Dijk would be the two close to him, but I just think overall it would be Hansen. Very close though.
Midfield would be Souness. Alonso was a better player overall, but not until after he left us. Gerrard would be the best if he had just had the right mindset when it came to defending. He had the technical ability at every level of the game and in every way to be the best, but would get caught napping defensively far too often. That led to dangerous tackles in the box when he just needed to be alert to the danger and see it out.
Left side would be Barnes by a mile. Mane was great, but Barnes was unbelievably good.
Right side would be Salah. Though if Gerrard had stayed there, instead of throwing his toys out of the pram and refusing to play there, I think he would have been the best we had there.
Striker is Fowler. He was special, just injuries that cost him. Torres was close but just didn't do it for long enough. Suarez was too much of a problem for the club, which ruined his time with us. Firmino didn't score enough. Rush was sensational but Fowler just had magic in his boots and could do it all, beat a man on the dribble, put a free kick top bin, pretty much anything. Actually no, Dalglish. It has to be Dalglish. Truly legendary player.}
24 Apr 2024 12:55:58
I would love to have Prime Fowler in our current team. He would ruin riot.
I often see people on Facebook suggesting Owen was a better player than Fowler. Absolutely blows my mind.
24 Apr 2024 13:01:07
Difficult so many great players so cannot disagree with Ed at all there. KK was special though
Up the pool.
24 Apr 2024 13:15:40
"Digger" was immense. He would be untouchable had he played in this era, IMO.
24 Apr 2024 13:27:36
Agree on all but Trent, Ed. He's a unicorn and has to be ahead of Jones.
Left back? Is Robbo in the reckoning? Aurelio was brilliant but always injured. Phil Neal used to play left back from time to time, apparently. Alan Kennedy probably gets it.
24 Apr 2024 13:44:03
Great reply Ed. Ta.
Obviously I loved God also, maybe it was just a pity we didn't have home long enough and he was with us when we were a bit. lost? . After Kenny's time, which was the end of an era of our great managers.
Shame it went so wrong second time around.
Big love, Reds.
24 Apr 2024 14:16:16
Rob Jones was excellent but it's Steve Nicol at right back, for me.
Poor pundit, mind.
Mark Lawrenson was that good he could play left back and that would allow VVD to play alongside Hansen.
24 Apr 2024 14:18:27
It’s mental how Rushie who will likely be our highest goal scorer forever never seems to get thought of amongst our greatest players.
When we mention our best strikers automatically we think Fowler, Suarez and Torres etc.
We even nicknamed a forward that came after him god despite him scoring only just over half the amount that Rushie did.
Let’s be honest though as fans we have certainly been spoilt over the years with some absolute fabulous footballers.
24 Apr 2024 12:44:53
Love it Ed, especially the twist at the end!
Great question Robboz, I'm also of the same vintage, started following the side in the early-mid 80s.
Hansen was just so majestic, whilst looking like a Bambi on ice when he ran - all angles and knees! I'd definitely pick him, as well as agreeing with Becker in goal.
Midfield is a really tough one, and as I sit here looking at a signed photo of Stevie from 2005, it has to be him. Souness was on the way out or had left by the time I registered our players - earliest midfield I remember was McMahon and Molby - so it'd definitely be Stevie for me.
Has to be Fowler for me up front - King Kenny was slightly before my time, was was player-managing mainly, and Rush was close, but as Ed001 said, God could do EVERYTHING!
Prime Fowler with prime Gerrard behind him - just amazing! A pity that by the time Gerrard established himself in midfield, God was suffering from injuries and falling out of favour with Ged in favour of the blue eyed boy - Owen (*spit*)
{Ed001's Note - I can't believe I forgot left-back! But that is the toughest one as we never really had great left-backs. Even Robbo, much as I love him, has a lot of flaws. But it would have to be Robbo I think. Aurelio was never fit. And none of the others that I can remember were outstanding. In fact I would say Nicol is probably the best I can remember. Or Lawrenson, but I only really remember him at centre-back. So I would have to go with Robertson.
As for the twist, Dalglish was fading by my time, so I wasn't going to say him, but then I remembered how good he was even in his final days. He was just a player ahead of his time. He was a Firmino who scored regularly. Paisley would move him around to suit the opposition because he knew Dalglish was so good he could play whatever role he was asked to.}
24 Apr 2024 13:40:48
Left back ed1? Robbo not doubt best I've seen in my time anyway.
{Ed001's Note - yeah it would have to be him, we haven't really been blessed in terms of left-back in terms of outright ability.}
24 Apr 2024 15:29:49
Kennedy for his European cup winner.
24 Apr 2024 17:54:08
Rush would be my number 9, without a doubt.
Dalglish as 7. He was an unbelievable player. He had a fantastic football brain but he was incredibly strong which often gets overlooked. Opponents would talk about him backing into them with his big backside. He could be a target man and a brilliant number 10 all in one.
24 Apr 2024 18:01:51
Alan kennedy left back for me over robbo Kennedy scored important goals that won us big trophies and was a top defender . The late great Ray Kennedy should be in any midfield what a left peg he had . jockey and larwo
Outstanding right back Chris lawler he was a attacking full back before it was invented and a goal scorer.
24 Apr 2024 18:29:57
Lb stig or riise where decent to be honest, Steve Staunton was very good too. But robbo takes it for me 2nd I’d have riise.
24 Apr 2024 19:02:27
Alison is the best keeper I've ever seen in my life. Full stop. Some are better shot stoppers, some are better passers.
There has never been such a good one on one keeper while I've been alive. Also when do you see him drop shots, crosses or corner? Extremely rare.
Hansen is the best defender we've ever had and people who it's van dijk never saw Hansen play.
Midfield goes to Gerrard for me, had the talent and influence to change games alone and did so with often inferior team mates.
Striker is probably the hardest, my heart says Fowler or Torres but if we are being really really honest it's rush. He was a pressing forward at a time when almost nobody did it, scored massive amounts of goals in all kinds of games at all levels and was unbelievably dependable. Very rare rush went more than three games with no goals, and even when he did he turned up other aspects of his game.
Rush is probably the most complete striker ever to play for Liverpool.
24 Apr 2024 19:14:21
Edd001 what would you call robertsons flaws?
{Ed001's Note - his delivery is extremely inconsistent, brilliant at times, dreadful at others. But his biggest flaw is his rashness, he gets caught up field constantly chasing when he should have dropped off, or rushing out to cut out a ball he is never getting to. His positional sense is good, but he will forget it to rush out far too often. The other flaw is that he rarely, if ever, cuts out crosses. He stands off and lets the wideman put the ball in under little pressure. Though I think that must be an instruction as Trent does the same. I don't understand it though as it does not take much to get a step closer and pressure the man on the ball.}
24 Apr 2024 21:17:18
GK is a straight contest between Clemence and Alison. Only other worth consideration is Elisha Scott from way back in the day.
RB you'd happily take Trent and Rob Jones, after that your looking at Steve Finnan, Marcus Babbel, Phil Neal and Alvaro Arbeloa.
LB Alec Lindsay is the best we've had in the position, Emlyn Hughes was versatile enough to play CB and LB. John Arne Riise had that free kick but I'd be happy with Robbo backing up Lindsay.
CB it's a squad you'd be looking at Hansen, Van Dijk, Phil Thompson, Emlyn Hughes, Mark Lawrenson - and I have high hopes Quansah will eventually be amongst these legends.
CM Souness, Alonso, Gerrard, Mascherano and maybe Ronnie Whelan although I did love Jan Molby and Jimmy Case
RM/ LM Terry McDermott was different gravy getting 15+ goals year in, year out. Steve Heighway was as smooth as silk on the left Billy Liddell could play wide or up front. McManaman probably had his best days at Madrid. I love Luiz Diaz and Mo would probably get in here as a RM/ RW and of course John Barnes
Strikers: Dalglish, Rush, Kevin Keegan, John Aldridge, Fowler, Owen, Peter Beardsley, Torres, Sturridge, Suarez, Mane, Firmino - take your pick
Manager: Paisley, Klopp, Shankly - that would be a hell of a boot room lol.