Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher has picked the all-time best XI of the Reds. Among the present-generation stars, centre-back Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah have found a place in Carragher’s team. The former footballer, however, has ignored Luis Suarez, who had been a vital cog in the Liverpool attack from 2011 to 2014. The Uruguayan striker joined the Reds following the departure of Fernando Torres and scored 82 goals in his 133 appearances across all competitions.
Jamie Carragher revealed his choices during a recent interview on the Overlap’s Stick to Football podcast. He chose Virgil van Dijk as the captain of his Liverpool team while Rey Clemence made the cut as the first-choice goalkeeper. About preferring Clemence over the current shot-stopper Alisson Becker, Carragher said (via Sportskeeda), “I would go with Ray Clemence just over Alisson (Becker), just for the fact he won so many trophies.”
Caragher further named the players who would feature in the backline of the team. The former Liverpool defender didn’t include himself. Instead, he picked Alan Hansel as Van Dijk’s partner at the heart of the defence. Carragher feels Steve Nicol would be the best fit for the left-back role while Phil Neal would operate from the other flank.
“I’ll go with Neal due to the fact he’s won four European Cups. Virgil van Dijk and Alan Hansen – that would be a great partnership. I’m going to go for Nicol at left-back. He had a great combination with the guy in front of him who’s going to play, John Barnes in that late 80’s team. Nicol was a player a little similar to me – right back, centre-back, left back, but he was that good for Liverpool,” Carragher explained.
Carragher chose Graeme Souness to link up with Steven Gerrard in central midfield. “On the right, there’s two options. Before Mo Salah joined the club, Ian Callaghan,” the 46-year-old said about the wingers. For the forward line, the Liverpool legend opted for Ian Rush along with Kenny Dalglish. About leaving out Luis Suarez, he noted, “ If he would have won the league with Liverpool – he won one trophy. If he had a league title and a European Cup to his name, I would have put Suarez in. But you think about what Rush did in those cup finals against Everton – I was crying on the way home.”
Fast forwarding the clock to the present, Liverpool were last seen in action in the Champions League. They scripted a roaring comeback against AC Milan at San Siro and claimed a 3-1 victory. Arne Slot’s men are next set to face Bournemouth in a Premier League fixture on September 21.
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