Some of European football’s biggest names have worn the famous red shirt at Anfield, but who makes our all-time XI?
As English football’s most successful club, and six-times European champions, Liverpool have always been to call upon some of the best players the game has to offer. From the glory days of the 1960s, 70s and 80s, when the likes of Roger Hunt, Kevin Keegan and Kenny Dalglish were the darlings of the Kop, to the modern era, which has seen Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane, Virgil van Dijk and the rest write their names into Anfield folklore, Liverpudlians have never been short of heroes.
Only 11, however, can take their place in GOAL’s greatest ever Reds team…
GettyGK: Ray Clemence
Alisson Becker may one day challenge, and perhaps even supersede, Clemence as Liverpool’s greatest ever goalkeeper, but for now there can only be one choice.
Only three players have made more appearances for the Reds than Clemence, who featured 665 times between 1968 and 1981, and few can boast a better trophy collection.
Clemence won 13 major honours at Anfield, including five league championships and three European Cups. Not bad for someone who cost only £18,000 when signing from Scunthorpe.
AdvertisementGetty ImagesRB: Phil Neal
What, no Trent Alexander-Arnold?! Well, no. Not yet, anyway. Liverpool's home-grown hero will undoubtedly make his way into this XI in the coming years, but how could we possibly overlook the most decorated player in Anfield history?
Phil Neal was Bob Paisley's first signing as Reds boss in 1974, and by the time he left in 1985 he'd won eight league titles, four European Cups, four League Cups, a UEFA Cup and a Super Cup.
He made 650 appearances, scoring 59 goals – including in two separate European Cup finals. He might not have crossed a ball like Trent, but boy is he a Reds legend
GettyCB: Alan Hansen
One of a long line of great Scots to have represented the Reds, Hansen is widely considered as the greatest defender ever to have pulled on the red shirt and is, with 17 major honours to his name, one of the club’s most decorated players too.
Famed for his calmness, reading of the game and ability to bring the ball out from the back, he captained Liverpool nearly 200 times before injury brought an early end to his career in 1991. Later became a highly-respected BBC pundit.
Getty ImagesCB: Virgil van Dijk
Another of the modern-day greats, Van Dijk will surely rival Hansen as Liverpool’s greatest ever centre-back by the time he’s finished at Anfield.
A club-record signing when joining from Southampton in January 2018, the Dutchman has proven to be worth every penny of the £75million ($90m) the Reds paid for him.
Imperious in the air, flawless on the deck and a true leader in every sense. Without him, none of the club’s success under Klopp would have been possible.
