Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher named Virgil van Dijk, Trent Alexander-Arnold, and Mohamed Salah in his all-time Reds’ starting eleven.
The Merseyside trio are pillars of Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool side which remains on course for a historic Quarduple. Despite a late scare, the Reds’ ensured progress into the Champions League semi-final with a nail biting 3-3 home draw against Benfica.
They will face a dangerous Villarreal side who have already knocked Juventus and Bayern Munich out of the competition this season. And three of the players who have not only guided Liverpool’s progress, but also won the Premier League, the Champions League, and the League Cup under Klopp have earned themselves a place in Carragher’s all-time starting eleven.
“Then you go to the back four, and that is where I have two of the current back four are in,” Carragher said while talking to CBS Sports. “I’ve gone for Trent Alexander-Arnold ahead of Phil Neil who won four European Cups.
“But I’ve gone with that because the influence Alexander-Arnold has on this team is greater. Alan Hansen, before Virgil van Dijk came in, was one of the greatest centre-backs to ever play for Liverpool, so he is alongside Van Dijk.
“Mo Salah has got to go in. He is a Liverpool legend with everything he has done with this Jurgen Klopp team.”
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Current goalkeeper Alisson was very close to forcing his way into Carragher’s all-time list, but the former England international opted for three-time European cup winner Ray Clemence instead. He was a firm and assured presence in the Reds’ goal between 1967 and 1981, where he also played a huge hand in five English League titles, the FA Cup, and the League Cup.
In the Reds’ defence, Carragher snubbed current left-back sensation Andrew Robertson for legendary Liverpool full-back Steve Nicol. The Scottish defender spent 14 years at Anfield, playing a huge role in the Reds’ 1983-84 European Cup Winners’ Cup victory as well as four League titles and three FA Cups.
John Barnes, Graeme Souness, Steven Gerrard, and Salah make up an incredible midfield four in Carragher’s dream starting eleven, while Ian Rush and Kenny Dalglish provide the main attacking threat for the Reds. However, only Salah, Van Dijk, and Alexander-Arnold will be at Klopp’s disposal for the remainder of a potentially unprecedented season for Liverpool.
They remain in firm contention to add the Premier League, the FA Cup, and the Champions League to the League Cup they won in February. Klopp’s side will face Villarreal in the semi-final of European Football’s elite competition.
While Klopp was eager to not under-estimate Unai Emery’s side, the Reds will certainly be the firm favourites to progress past the Europa League holders. "If I could do an analysis of Villarreal right now that would be very strange,” Klopp said after the contest.
“I saw the results, the game was very impressive. I only picked up pieces but to beat Juventus and Bayern Munich they deserve to be in the Champions League semi-finals.
“Unai Emery is the king of the cups, it is unbelievable what he is doing.”
