Topic: Liverpool's best 11 from the 3 most recent runners up teams.

[downtown]

Gross under rating of sturridge here . He had better stats last season than torres in 08-09.

[Redman0151]

Gross under rating of sturridge here . He had better stats last season than torres in 08-09.

Sturridge was in a much more attacking team

[Durlmints]

Gross under rating of sturridge here . He had better stats last season than torres in 08-09.

Would like to have a player who can stay fit though, like.

[downtown]

^ Torres missed more games through injury in 08-09 than Daniel did last year . It really Irks me, has Torres gotten a single injury since leaving us ?? If he had that fitness rate with us, we would have had a PL and Europa League trophy to our name for sure.

[Durlmints]

^ Torres missed more games through injury in 08-09 than Daniel did last year

I'll take Milan Baroš then. 

[Cantona]

Reina, Arbeloa, Hyypia, Carragher, Riise, Mascherano, Gerrard, Alonso, Suarez, Torres, Owen.
Manager Benitez.

Not much love for Owen on here, he may have pissed you off but at LFC he was immense.

[Durlmints]

Reina, Arbeloa, Hyypia, Carragher, Riise, Mascherano, Gerrard, Alonso, Suarez, Torres, Owen.
Manager Benitez.

Not much love for Owen on here, he may have pissed you off but at LFC he was immense.

It's an odd one, would you say our 2009 team was overall better than our one last year?

The 2009 team felt like an expected title challenge to me, where as last year was just a complete surprise, spearheaded by a maverick talent.

Is that how you see it as an opposition fan?

[Cantona]

It's an odd one, would you say our 2009 team was overall better than our one last year?

The 2009 team felt like an expected title challenge to me, where as last year was just a complete surprise, spearheaded by a maverick talent.

Is that how you see it as an opposition fan?

Yeah, for me 2009 was better and more balanced. Quality throughout the first XI and Benitez is by far the best manager you've had for a long time.

[Halcyon Lissome]

Reina
Arbeloa - Carra - Hyypia - Aurelio
Mascherano - Alonso
Sterling - Gerrard - Suarez
Sturridge

People are picking a manager; and while I think Rafa has a much better record/repute overall as manager I think a Rodgers team attacking-wise with the above back 5 would have been nuts.

[DangerScouse]

It's an odd one, would you say our 2009 team was overall better than our one last year?

The 2009 team felt like an expected title challenge to me, where as last year was just a complete surprise, spearheaded by a maverick talent.

Is that how you see it as an opposition fan?

The 2008-2009 competed in the cl too. Knocked out in the quarters against Chelsea iirc.

[DangerScouse]

Rafa without question would be the manager. Had 2 cl finals and an fa cup after 3 seasons in charge.

[Halcyon Lissome]

Have to factor in European games tohttp://m.bleacherreport.com/articles/2268782-boxer-spike-osullivan-celebrates-win-gets-stool-thrown-at-him?utm_source=twitter.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=programming-national?is_shared=trueRafa without question would be the manager. Had 2 cl finals and an fa cup after 3 seasons in charge.

Although I agree it's certainly relevant; I am not sure how to measure that. We also had a better/bigger squad then too. Rightly or wrongly, I am just looking at the EPL performances.

[Sir Psycho Sexy]

While I don't think the whole of our last season was down to one player, I think that Suarez (and Sturridge but mainly Suarez) papered over a lot of cracks. We came as close in the PL era to winning the title last season, but we didn't have to compete with the 09 Utd team when we had Rafa's team. Undoubtedly, if you put Suarez under Rafa, then we have it won (imo anyway). And has has been mentioned, we had more games under Rafa.'s reign than we did last season.

Anyway my team would probably be:

                         Reina
         
           Carragher         Hyypia

Arbeloa                                     Aurelio

                     Mascherano

           Gerrard                  Alonso


                            Suarez

               Torres               Sturridge

     

[DangerScouse]

Although I agree it's certainly relevant; I am not sure how to measure that. We also had a better/bigger squad then too. Rightly or wrongly, I am just looking at the EPL performances.

It's a no contest mate, a  cl and fa cup in his first 2 seasons.

[irish musicman]

Reina
Arbeloa - Carra - Hyypia - Aurelio
Mascherano - Alonso
Sterling - Gerrard - Suarez
Sturridge

People are picking a manager; and while I think Rafa has a much better record/repute overall as manager I think a Rodgers team attacking-wise with the above back 5 would have been nuts.

es mate but think of that Rafa team with Suarez in it, we would have walked the league and CL, on another note did anyone pick our current keeper or did everybody go for the one we fucked off for a million last summer.

[Redman0151]

es mate but think of that Rafa team with Suarez in it, we would have walked the league and CL, on another note did anyone pick our current keeper or did everybody go for the one we fucked off for a million last summer.

Just because people put Dalglish in their all time XI's doesn't mean they want us to offer him a contract in January

[Halcyon Lissome]

It's a no contest mate, a  cl and fa cup in his first 2 seasons.

I think you've misunderstood me. I clearly think Rafa has the better repute and record. I am only considering the exact seasons in charge when we challenged.

es mate but think of that Rafa team with Suarez in it, we would have walked the league and CL, on another note did anyone pick our current keeper or did everybody go for the one we fucked off for a million last summer.

True, hard to deny. Tough pick.

[Sir Psycho Sexy]

on another note did anyone pick our current keeper or did everybody go for the one we fucked off for a million last summer.

We're picking the keeper that was amazing before he fell off a cliff

[DangerScouse]

I think you've misunderstood me. I clearly think Rafa has the better repute and record. I am only considering the exact seasons in charge when we challenged.

True, hard to deny. Tough pick.

You've missed my point too so, cant ignore simultaneously competing in the latter stages of the cl.

[Samie]

Knew this thread would lead to frikin arguments.

[irish musicman]

Just because people put Dalglish in their all time XI's doesn't mean they want us to offer him a contract in January

Ah but if Kenny was in his early thirties and still playing would you have him in the team, its a bad comparison, Renia would have been brilliant for a quick breaking Sterling this season.

[Halcyon Lissome]

You've missed my point too so, cant ignore simultaneously competing in the latter stages of the cl.

LOL, you pick your team mate and I'll live with mine, flaws and all.

[DangerScouse]

Knew this thread would lead to frikin arguments.

Difference of a opinion and a civilised discussion? God forbid.

[stevieG786]

Great Question!!


 

Subs :

Mignolet
Skrtel
G. Johnson
Kuyt
Sterling
Owen
Hamann

Mentions/Rotation : Henderson, Lucas Leiva, Benayoun, Aurelio, Henchoz, Agger

                                   

Swap Riise for Aurelio and that would be my team

[Sir Psycho Sexy]

The problem with a lot of these teams is Sturridge is not very good when playing from the wing

[rickardinho1]

So basically, the 2008-09 team plus Suarez and one of Sterling/Sturridge.

                  Reina
Arbeloa Hyypia Carragher Riise
                  Masch
           Alonso  Gerrard
               Sterling
          Torres Suarez

[Redman0151]

Ah but if Kenny was in his early thirties and still playing would you have him in the team, its a bad comparison, Renia would have been brilliant for a quick breaking Sterling this season.

My point is that reina was past his best (and clearly didn't get on with the manager). Mignolet might not be the answer,  but neither is the current day reina. For whatever reason Reina seems to have lost his head for the game, and he's chosen to go and sit on a bench in Munich for the biggest pay packet rather than playing football somewhere

[Bolrick]

                  Reina
       Babbel     Carra    Hyppia   Riise
             Hamann  Mascherano
                        Alonso
        Gerrard                    Suarez
                       Torres

1)I don't think any team can go through that midfield.
2)I always preferred Gerrard behind the striker or on the right.
3)I don't think any team can keep out torres (in his prime) or suarez.

This team would win pretty much all the club trophies...

[Sir Psycho Sexy]

Babbel has the same problem as Aurelio. Absolutely brilliant but his injuries mean that it's hard to judge how good he would be in comparison to our other full backs.

[Kashinoda]

Forgot how great that 2009 team was.

[Romford_Red]

Mine...

------------Reina-----------

Arbeloa----Carragher---Hyypia---Riise

--------------Mascherano--------------
--Sterling--------------------Coutinho--
----------------Gerrard*---------------

----------Torres--------Suarez-------


*Gerrard from '09
Subs---

Dudek
Agger
Hamann
Alonso
Litmanen
Kuyt
Owen

Alonso was only omitted, because I just couldn't fit him in the midfield with the attacking lot.

[Bobinhood]

assuming top form I like:

           Riena

Johnson Cara Sami Fabio         

     Mash

Gerrard    Alonso     Suarez


   Torres     Owen




Kuyt and Sturridge first subs.   

I really wanted to play Steve Finnan at rb was gutted he didn't qualify  Arbs was pretty good for us but was actually pretty young at the time and only really blossomed as a player later on. If its Real Madrid Arbeloa then ok, im havin him too....

[arturo_belano]

                                                                Reina
         
              Arbeloa                   Hyppia                            Agger                 Aurelio

                                                              Xabi Alonso
 
                                                  Gerrard                    Coutinho

                                                              Sterling

                                                   Suarez                   Sturridge

Subs: Dudek, Carragher, Johnson, Mascherano, Kuyt, Torres, Owen

Manager: Brendan Rodgers

[rocco]

                  Reina

Glen   Agger  Hyypia  Aurelio
           
           Mascherano  Alonso
                     
                  Gerrard

  Sturridge    Torres     Suarez

[L666KOP]

Yeah, for me 2009 was better and more balanced. Quality throughout the first XI and Benitez is by far the best manager you've had for a long time.

Whilst I agree entirely with your post, I don't think it's fair to say Rafa is by far better than Brendan.

Brendan has had us challenging a lot quicker than anyone else has. I also think Rafa's was a lot better quality first 11 in 2009, and I think that's reflected by the line ups Liverpool fans are posting.

[Lasardine]

                  Reina
Arbeloa Hyppia  Sakho Aurelio
            Masch  Alonso
                Gerrard
  Sterling              M.Rodriguez
               Suarez

Sakho, Maxi and Sterling over Carra, Sturridge, Torres? Lol

[Lasardine]

Rafa only had us challenging for the league in his 5th season. If Rodgers gets that long, it'll be interesting to see the level we're at. Also let's not forget that the league is much, much more competitive now than it was 5-6 years ago.

[FlashingBlade]

 I look at those lists and think Wow!....and sigh, how did we not win the league in this period?... and then recall in amongst all this quality there was also a load of shite and overpriced mediocrity!

[ScouserAtHeart]

               Reina
Arbeloa Carra Hyypia Riise
       Alonso Mascherano
                Gerrard
Kuyt                             Suarez
                  Torres

Basically the 08-09 team with Suarez in it.

[Halcyon Lissome]

I look at those lists and think Wow!....and sigh, how did we not win the league in this period?... and then recall in amongst all this quality there was also a load of shite and overpriced mediocrity!

The reason we didn't win that season was because Torres barely got on the pitch. Even a handful of more games and we would have turned a few of those draws into wins. That season Gerrard was our top scorer and even he got injured for a period. Even worse, the periods they got injured meant even when they were fit they didn't play with each other much.