Which team is stronger on paper?
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This season is the 10th anniversary of the European campaign Liverpool famously lifted the Champions League, beating AC Milan in the final on penalties, after clawing back a three goal deficit.
Barring Steven Gerrard, the side that will likely play for Liverpool this evening against Ludogrets is totally different to the one that won back in 2005.
We’ve compared the two, and would choose six stars from the 2005 XI, and five from this evening’s side in our perfect combined team!
Here’s who we went for:
GK) Jerzey Dudek v Simon Mignolet
Vote: Dudek
The Polish stopper’s heroics in the final helped the Reds win the shoot-out, and Mignolet is far too uncertain on crosses.
DR) Steve Finnan v Javier Manquillo
Vote: Finnan
No competition. Manquillo has virtually no experience, while Finnan was one of the Reds’ most underrated players.
DL) Djimi Traore v Alberto Moreno
Vote: Moreno
Traore is probably the worst player ever to win a Champions League medal!
DC) Sami Hyypia v Dejan Lovren
Vote: Hyypia
Lovren can only hope to enjoy as successful a time on Merseyside as the legendary Finn.
DC) Jamie Carragher v Mamadou Sakho
Vote: Carragher
Again, Sakho is not yet yet fit to tie Carragher’s boots, who in 2005, was at his peak.
MC) Steven Gerrard (2005) v Steven Gerrard (2014)
Vote: Gerrard (2005)
In 2005, Gerrard was the brilliant barnstorming midfielder he’ll forever be remembered as, and arguably the best in the world in the position. How the Reds could do with a 24-year-old Gerrard in their side now!
MC) Xabi Alonso v Jordan Henderson
Vote: Alonso
Henderson is a terrifically hard worker, but Alonso is one of the most fluid and elegant midfielders of his generation.
AMC) Harry Kewell v Coutinho
Vote: Coutinho
Kewell earned a rare start in that Champions League final, but was hauled off very early due to injury. He never performed well with Liverpool, unlike Brazilian Coutinho, who’s showing enormous potential.
AMR) Adam Lallana v Luis Garcia
Vote: Lallana
While Luis Garcia was a cult hero at Anfield because of some great goals, he wasn’t actually consistently very good. In fact, when he was off colour, he was dire! Lallana has work-rate and technical ability, and we’d rather have the Englishman than the diminutive Spaniard.
AML) John Arne Riise v Raheem Sterling
Vote: Sterling
No competition. Sterling is far, far more dangerous an attacker than Riise, despite the Norwegian’s thunderous left boot.
FC) Milan Baros v Maio Balotelli
Vote: Balotelli
Daniel Sturridge is better than both of these strikers, but with the Englishman unavailable for tonight’s clash, we’d have to choose the maverick Italian, despite his poor start at Anfield.
