Wow! Rooney picked Liverpool PL XI and included seven current players. Liverpool’s current team may be the best they’ve ever had in Premier League history.
Caoimhin Kelleher, Luis Diaz, Roberto Firmino, Joe Gomez, Jordan Henderson, Naby Keita, Joel Matip, James Milner, Takumi Minamino, Divock Origi, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, and Kostas Tsimikas were on the bench during Wednesday’s 2-0 Champions League victory against Inter Milan.
Liverpool is still in with a possibility of achieving the quadruple this season because of their depth.
Okay, they’re a distant second in the Premier League behind Manchester City, but they’re in the Carabao Cup final next week, expected to defeat Norwich to advance to the FA Cup quarter-finals, and they’ve already qualified for the Champions League quarter-finals courtesy to their win against Inter.
Jurgen Klopp has his job cut out for him with only 11 players to choose from each week.
Imagine having to select an XI from the current Liverpool side while also having to select an XI from Liverpool’s Premier League history.
That assignment was entrusted to Wayne Rooney ahead of a Merseyside Derby in 2020. Rooney chose an Everton XI from Premier League history for his Times column, as well as a Liverpool XI from the same timeframe.
Let’s take a look at who he chose — and why he chose them (Remember, Rooney, picked this XI more than 18 months ago so some of the quotes may seem a little outdated).
Goalkeeper | Alisson
Rooney said: “Pepe Reina was good but Alisson and Virgil van Dijk were the signings Liverpool had needed for 20 years, bringing authority and calmness at the back as well as great ability. Those two took Liverpool to the next level.”
Centre-back | Jamie Carragher
Rooney said: “As Van Dijk’s partner I’ve picked Jamie Carragher. It was between him and Sami Hyypia but Carra’s leadership was key. Stevie Gerrard was Liverpool’s captain but I imagine Carra was captain alongside him — in the dressing room and on the pitch. I still have a few scars off Carra. Where I said Jagielka wouldn’t intentionally hurt you, I think Carra did! I always thought “if you get the chance to go through Carra or Stevie then take it, because you knew if they had the same chance, they wouldn’t hesitate to leave one on you.”
Centre-back | Virgil van Dijk
Rooney said: “Van Dijk is massive. Yet he’s quick and has great ability on the ball. I don’t think he’s best against sharp types like Sergio Agüero, who can make little runs down the side of you in the box. But the way Liverpool play suits him perfectly.”
Full-backs | Andy Robertson & Trent Alexander-Arnold
Rooney said: “Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson are not the greatest defenders but, like Patrice Evra, they are so good going forward that any defensive weaknesses do not matter. With the way modern fullbacks are used as attacking outlets, those two are perfect — maybe the best two fullbacks in the world at the minute.“
Centre midfield | Xabi Alonso
Rooney said: “Xabi Alonso was just a very, very intelligent footballer. An unbelievable passer. I loved watching him play. There was a pass he used to do, low across the pitch that I would watch, then go out on the training pitch to work out how he did it — he would almost kick it with his big toe, with a little bit of curl that would bring it back to the full-back. Fans might think the high cross-field pass looks more spectacular but as a professional, I used to love that unique low pass of his.”
Centre midfield | Steven Gerrard
Rooney said: “Gerrard was a must in midfield. Some of his through passes, especially to Michael Owen, were just brilliant. Defensively he was very good — he loved a tackle — and he was quicker than people realized. Technically he was outstanding and that combination of ability and character — which he had — is what truly makes players world-class.”
Centre midfield | Xabi Alonso
Rooney said: “Xabi Alonso was just a very, very intelligent footballer. An unbelievable passer. I loved watching him play. There was a pass he used to do, low across the pitch that I would watch, then go out on the training pitch to work out how he did it — he would almost kick it with his big toe, with a little bit of curl that would bring it back to the full-back. Fans might think the high cross-field pass looks more spectacular but as a professional, I used to love that unique low pass of his.”
Right wing | Mohamed Salah
Rooney said: “Mo Salah is starting to do what Ronaldo did for Manchester United, in terms of just being there and not really getting back to defend but always being a threat so that if you’re a defender or midfielder playing against him. You’re terrified of him on the counterattack.“
Attacking midfield | Roberto Firmino
Rooney said: “Then you have Roberto Firmino with his intelligence and work ethic creating spaces for those two.“
Left wing | Sadio Mane
Rooney said: “A couple of years ago, Sadio Mané was in the shadow of Salah. He has shown great character to come out of it and in my opinion, has been Liverpool’s best player this season (19/20 season).”
Striker | Luis Suarez
Rooney said: “Luis Suárez, for me, is one of the best strikers in Premier League history. I know he wasn’t there long but he was the start of a change in mentality in Liverpool, bringing passion and fight — and maybe nastiness sometimes — but certainly a winning edge. He was a great goalscorer and I loved watching him.”
Continue >>> Rooney picked Liverpool PL XI
