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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Sport
Hannah Pinnock

'I'd take him back now!' - Paddy Pimblett picks dream Liverpool line-up

UFC fighter and Liverpool supporter Paddy Pimblett has picked his ultimate line-up and eight of the current squad have made the cut.

The entire defence consists of players part of Jurgen Klopp's team, with no room for the likes of Pepe Reina, Sami Hyypia or Jamie Carragher. Pimblett opted for Alisson in goal with Andy Robertson, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Virgil van Dijk and Joel Matip ahead of him.

He told BT Sport : "No questions asked, Alisson Becker. Then the best centre half I've ever seen in the Premier League, Virgil van Dijk. I'd probably go with Matip, to be honest. Trent goes without saying."

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In midfield is where more ex-Liverpool stars get the nod. Alongside current mainstay Fabinho, Pimblett opted for previous captain and club legend Steven Gerrard as well as Xabi Alonso.

He continued: "It was a bit of a tough one between Javier Mascherano and Fabinho, but it has to be Fabinho. That man, what he can do with the ball at his feet. Even when he looses the ball, he tackles someone instantly and gets the ball back.

"Centre midfield is the hardest part, but I can't pick anyone above Gerrard and Alonso. Those two together in the midfield was special. That was the saving grace of being a Liverpool fan 10, 15 years ago, you could watch them two."

Up front, the current crop of players dominate once again with Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane on either flank. Then it was ex-Red Luis Suarez that got the nod in the middle.

"Up top I'd have Suarez," he concluded. "Suarez all day. I'd take him back now!"

Full XI: Alisson; Robertson, Van Dijk, Matip, Alexander-Arnold; Fabinho, Gerrard, Alonso, Salah, Mane, Suarez

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