Topic: BBC Sport - Pick your all-time Liverpool XI

[ToneLa]

Jose Enrique

Jose Enrique again, Julian Dicks, Nicky Tanner, Cisokkho

Spearing, Poulsen, Ferri

Markovic, Borini
Balotelli

[Lotus Eater]

-------------- Clemence------------

Nicol     Hansen     Van Dijk      Robertson

Liddel     Gerrard     Souness       Barnes

----------- Dalglish    Rush -------------

[put the wheelie bins out]

Whenever these all-time Liverpool X1's are picked a player who very rarely gets picked or mentioned is - Kevin Keegan (Mighty Mouse). I don't know if it's because he played for us from 71 - 77 and people 'forget' about him or maybe there is still a bit of acrimony over the way he left us for SV Hamburg  but i thought he was absolutely superb for Liverpool. He was our 'star' player from 72 - 77 (during which we won the 1st div 3 times in 73, 76 and 77) and his performances were consistently 'good' and he almost always produced performances when it really mattered: he was superb in the FA cup final win in 74, UEFA cup final wins in 73 and 76 and the European cup final win in 77 (he really was world class that night when he ran poor Bertie Vogts ragged who 3 years previously had successfully man marked the great Johan Cruyff in the 74 World Cup Final). In my opinion the way he performed for Liverpool he definitely deserves to be mentioned in the same breath as other 'greats'. He really was that good for Liverpool and he also won the ballon d'or twice in 78 and 79 (though admittedly he was at SV Hamburg at the time).

[Eeyore]

Whenever these all-time Liverpool X1's are picked a player who very rarely gets picked or mentioned is - Kevin Keegan (Mighty Mouse). I don't know if it's because he played for us from 71 - 77 and people 'forget' about him or maybe there is still a bit of acrimony over the way he left us for SV Hamburg  but i thought he was absolutely superb for Liverpool. He was our 'star' player from 72 - 77 (during which we won the 1st div 3 times in 73, 76 and 77) and his performances were consistently 'good' and he almost always produced performances when it really mattered: he was superb in the FA cup final win in 74, UEFA cup final wins in 73 and 76 and the European cup final win in 77 (he really was world class that night when he ran poor Bertie Vogts ragged who 3 years previously had successfully man marked the great Johan Cruyff in the 74 World Cup Final). In my opinion the way he performed for Liverpool he definitely deserves to be mentioned in the same breath as other 'greats'. He really was that good for Liverpool and he also won the ballon d'or twice in 78 and 79 (though admittedly he was at SV Hamburg at the time).

Keegan's problem in terms of getting into an all-time 11 is that Kenny came in as his replacement and was quite simply levels above Keegan.

[redmark]

Whenever these all-time Liverpool X1's are picked a player who very rarely gets picked or mentioned is - Kevin Keegan (Mighty Mouse). I don't know if it's because he played for us from 71 - 77 and people 'forget' about him or maybe there is still a bit of acrimony over the way he left us for SV Hamburg  but i thought he was absolutely superb for Liverpool. He was our 'star' player from 72 - 77 (during which we won the 1st div 3 times in 73, 76 and 77) and his performances were consistently 'good' and he almost always produced performances when it really mattered: he was superb in the FA cup final win in 74, UEFA cup final wins in 73 and 76 and the European cup final win in 77 (he really was world class that night when he ran poor Bertie Vogts ragged who 3 years previously had successfully man marked the great Johan Cruyff in the 74 World Cup Final). In my opinion the way he performed for Liverpool he definitely deserves to be mentioned in the same breath as other 'greats'. He really was that good for Liverpool and he also won the ballon d'or twice in 78 and 79 (though admittedly he was at SV Hamburg at the time).

In one sense, Kevin Keegan is the reason I support Liverpool: born in the same village, my uncle (a few years younger than Keegan, early teens when I was born) supported us, along with most of the rest of the village I suspect. My mum went on a date with Keegan, once, when he was just starting out at Scunthorpe. Ok, it was a double date and it was her mate who was with him, but still...

The first two games I saw were his farewell in the 77 Cup Finals. I've seen clips, compilations, the odd game highlight package, but not enough to really force him into an all time XI. And I can't imagine suddenly being granted a full history of his performances for Liverpool would elevate him to the vision, elegance and sheer brilliance of Dalglish - who is the main reason for my attachment to the club in the formative years after that; the first and biggest 'favourite player', whose iconic image has been my profile image on and off all over the internet and the only real bit of football art in the house and whose song I still tap out to calm my nerves in the biggest, most tense games. Like tomorrow's. Tonight's!

I guess I've seen just enough to have Keegan in consideration for a 433 along with the long list of other superb forwards we've had - Fowler, Torres, Suarez, Mane, Salah, a couple of other possibilities - for the position not filled by Dalglish and Rush. But like several of the older posters in here, I suppose I'd revert to the 4411/4231, to pick an XI; and there are really only two names for the forwards in that side, in my era.

Anyway, a bit of reminiscing after watching a repeat of the 2018 ITV programme about 77/78...

[Bobinhood]

Its not doable, this puzzle. we need 18 or 22. Crazy trying to whittle that down to 11.

[Red Dane]

Clemence, Nicol, Hansen, VVD, Riise, Mølby, Gerrard, Souness, Dalglish, Rush, Barnes.

[NarutoReds]

Clemence,

Neal, Hansen, Van Dijk, Hughes,

Keegan, Gerrard, Souness,

Barnes, Dalglish, Hunt.

[Barneylfc∗]

Emlyn Hughes at left back is a big shout.

[Billy Elliot]

The first two games I saw were his farewell in the 77 Cup Finals.

I guess I've seen just enough to have Keegan in consideration for a 433 along with the long list of other superb forwards we've had

Paisley changed to 4-3-3 for the 77 FA Cup Final. It cost us the match, FA Cup and the treble.

Four days later we went back to 4-4-2 and battered Munchengladbach.

 Stick to 4-4-2 and put Keegan on the bench.

[Billy Elliot]

Emlyn Hughes at left back is a big shout.

He could play anywhere in defence or midfield, bit like Lawrenson or Smith. All hard to leave out.

[rhysd]

Clemence

Nicol
Hansen
Van Dijk
Hughes

Liddell
Souness
Gerrard
Barnes

Dalglish
Rush

[fowlermagic]

Going to pick a Liverpool First team who are going to see if they are good enough to beat my reserve 11

....... ..Clemence
Neal Hansen Virgil Hughes (good shout)
Gerrard.. Liddell Souness Barnes
......Rush Kenny

V

........ Alisson
Trent Yeats Smith Robertson
Liddell Alonso Kennedy
Salah Fowler Suarez

You could pick a third team that probably would beat the current Arsenal side 5-0 after they had a pregame drink or ten

[SvenJohansen]

In my lifetime:

Allison

Alex-Arnold
Hyppia
Van Dijk
Robertson

Gerrard
Alonso
Barnes

Salah
Rush
Fowler

[Billy Elliot]

Going to pick a Liverpool First team who are going to see if they are good enough to beat my reserve 11

....... ..Clemence
Neal Hansen Virgil Hughes (good shout)
Gerrard.. Liddell Souness Barnes
......Rush Kenny

V

........ Alisson
Trent Yeats Smith Robertson
Liddell Alonso Kennedy
Salah Fowler Suarez

You could pick a third team that probably would beat the current Arsenal side 5-0 after they had a pregame drink or ten

I'll pick a third team

      Lawrence

Jones (Joey) Thompson  Hypia Kennedy (Alan)

Heighway Callaghan McDermott Case

Hunt  Keegan

[number 168]

On players I have seen play for us, and the best team as opposed to the best players per se:

Clemence
Nicol
Hansen
VVD
Hughes
Case
McDermott
Souness
R. Kennedy
Dalglish
Rush

Hard to leave Digger out but that is the best midfield I have seen from any club,

[kavah]

Jones Joey

I used to love watching Joey and his antics from the paddock but I think he'd struggle on the right.
You could have Chris Lawler who to be fair to him is up there with any of our right sided players

[faisfais]

My frame of reference starts in 1984.. but this line-up will look like recency bias.

Allison
Trent AA - VanDijk - Hansen - Robertson
Mascherano - Alonso - Wijnaldum
Salah - Suarez - Mane

[Onward Liverpudlian]

Clemence;

Neal, Lawrenson, Hansen, Emlyn Hughes,

Gerrard, McDermott, Souness (C), Kennedy R,

Rush, Dalglish.

Subs; Allison, Nicol, Van Djik, Hyppia, Kennedy A (needed esp for CL finals), Salah, Molby, Barnes, Suarez, Mane and Keegan.

Would blow every other clubs best teams out of the water.

[fowlermagic]

I'll pick a third team

      Lawrence

Jones (Joey) Thompson  Hypia Kennedy (Alan)

Heighway Callaghan McDermott Case

Hunt  Keegan

That side has class everywhere. Callaghan could be in any best 11 ever. The legends i didn't pick.... Shameful

[Ravishing Rick Dude]