The Mail pick the best XI of players never to win the Premier League title after Steven Gerrard announces his decision to leave Liverpool.
There is no doubt that Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard’s decision to leave the Anfield club at the end of the season will be tinged with regret, after Gerrard never managed to lift the Premier League title with the club where he has spent his entire career to date.
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He is far from the only great to miss out on lifting the big one, however, as this XI of players never to have won the Premier League title, courtesy of the Mail, shows:
GK) Brad Friedel (Liverpool, Blackburn Rovers, Aston Villa and Tottenham Hotspur)
Evergreen goalkeeper Brad Friedel is still yet to hang up his gloves, but the experienced American certainly doesn’t look like winning a first Premier League medal now he’s in his fourties. A consistent and solid Premier League goalkeeper, Friedel is now cover at White Hart Lane, but his most impressive spell came with Blackburn.
CB) Jamie Carragher (Liverpool)
Former Liverpool central defender Jamie Carragher is a player who has been synonymous with Gerrard during the duo’s playing career, after they led the Reds to the incredible Champions League triumph of 2005. A solid and commanding central defender, Carragher spent his entire career at Anfield and never lifted the big one.
CB) Marcel Desailly (Chelsea)
World Cup winning Frenchman was one of the finest defenders on show in the Premier League during his time with Chelsea, but had moved on by the time they really began winning trophies under the management of Jose Mourinho.
CB) Ledley King (Tottenham Hotspur)
Another one club man, central defender Ledley King spent his entire career with Tottenham Hotspur, but never quite fulfilled his full potential due to a succession of serious knee injuries. They would eventually force his premature retirement, with King now involved in the White Hart Lane coaching set up.
DCM) Steven Gerrard (Liverpool)
After announcing his decision to leave Liverpool at the end of the season, and not sign for another Premier League club, Steven Gerrard has ensured that he will end his career without lifting English football’s greatest trophy. The Champions League triumph in 2005 will provide some degree of consolation, however.
CM) Cesc Fabregas (Arsenal and Chelsea)
It is a situation that he may well be able to put right with Chelsea this season, but midfielder Cesc Fabregas is yet to win the Premier League trophy, after his ultimately disappointing spell with Arsenal that began just after their most recent Premier League triumph.
CM) Matt Le Tissier (Southampton)
A genuine Premier League legend, Southampton attacking midfielder Matt Le Tissier may not have been the most energetic or determined footballer around – but he scored some of the Premier League’s most memorable goals and was synonymous with Southampton during his career.
ARM) David Ginola (Newcastle United, Tottenham Hotspur, Aston Villa, Everton)
Another attacking maverick who tended to light up smaller teams rather than excel for title winning ones, French winger David Ginola scored some breathtaking goals during his spell in English football – but never won the biggest trophy.
ALM) Gareth Bale (Tottenham Hotspur)
He may be the most expensive footballer in the world and a reigning Champions League winner, but Welsh international Gareth Bale never even came close to leading Tottenham Hotspur to the Premier League crown during his time at the club.
SC) Robbie Fowler (Liverpool, Leeds United, Manchester City)
A genuine Liverpool legend he may well be, but goalscorer Robbie Fowler never got his hands on the famous Premier League silverware during his long spell at Anfield and brief sojourns with Leeds and Manchester City.
SC) Gianfranco Zola (Chelsea)
Former Chelsea forward Gianfranco Zola is certainly one of the greatest players of the Premier League era – his wizardry and goalscoring lit up numerous seasons, but never one that ended in the trophy landing at Stamford Bridge.