Anfield will play host to an all-star charity game later this month, with teams captained by Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher taking part in an eagerly anticipated match-up, that’s also become know as the Liverpool captain’s second testimonial.
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Earlier today, the two line-ups were announced! So in the list below we compare them and rate both teams chances of success:
GK) Brad Jones (Team Gerrard) vs Pepe Reina (Team Carragher)
Reina might not be at his peak any more, sitting on the bench in Munich rather than playing regularly, but he’s still far superior to the current Liverpool number two.
Jones: 5/10 Reina: 8/10
RCB) Stephen Warnock (Team Gerrard) vs Martin Kelly (Team Carragher)
Warnkock, the former Liverpool youngster, is currently playing in the Championship for Derby County, who he joined from Leeds United. In contrast, Kelly is playing regularly with Premier League side Crystal Palace.
Warnock: 6/10 Kelly: 7/10
CB) John Terry (Team Gerrard) vs Jamie Carragher (Team Carragher)
The Chelsea captain is still one of the most formidable defenders in the country. While Carragher retired a couple of years ago, he’ll be incredibly up for this game and ready to match his former international teammate.
Terry: 9/10 Carragher: 8/10
LCB) John Arne Riise (Team Gerrard) vs Alvaro Arbeloa (Team Carragher)
The Norwegian veteran is currently playing in the Cypriot league, while Arbeloa is on the books of Real Madrid – albeit as something of a fringe player. The Spaniard is still narrowly the better choice.
Riise: 6/10 Arbeloa: 7/10
CM) Xabi Alonso (Team Gerrard) vs Raul Meireles (Team Carragher)
Alonso might be coming towards the end of his playing career, but he’s still more than capable of matching the best around, as he’s shown this year in Munich. Meireles is with Fenerbahce and will have his hands full.
Alonso: 9/10 Meireles: 6/10
CM) Steven Gerrard (Team Gerrard) vs Jonjo Shelvey (Team Carragher)
The current Liverpool captain should enjoy playing against his former teammate, now with Swansea City, who has a reputation for diving into tackles and taking no prisoners – it will be interesting to see if he makes an exception for Gerrard.
Gerrard: 9/10 Shelvey: 7/10
RM) Kevin Nolan (Team Gerrard) vs Luis Garcia (Team Carragher)
This looks to be something of an even match-up, between West Ham’s veteran midfielder and the former Liverpool star, who is now retired. Garcia was one of the heroes of our 2005 Champions League run, does he have any of that magic left?
Nolan: 6/10 Garcia: 6/10
LM) Ryan Babel (Team Gerrard) vs Craig Noone (Team Carragher)
The Dutch winger was a popular figure at Anfield, despite his indifferent record. He’ll be up against the Cardiff City player who one tiled a roof for the Liverpool captain.
Babel: 6/10 Noone: 4/10
RW) Thierry Henry (Team Gerrard) vs Dirk Kuyt (Team Carragher)
The iconic former Arsenal striker recently retired from professional football, while ex-Dutch international Kuyt is also in his twilight years. With that in mind, there’s little to choose between these two.
Henry: 7/10 Kuyt: 7/10
LW) Luis Suarez (Team Gerrard) vs Craig Bellamy (Team Carragher)
There are few better players in the world right now than Luis Suarez, and he’ll be up against the former Reds player who retired at the end of last season. Good luck Craig…
Suarez: 10/10 Bellamy: 5/10
ST) Fernando Torres (Team Gerrard) vs Didier Drogba (Team Carragher)
Another former favourite at Anfield, Torres will lead the line for Gerrard’s side. Carragher will have Chelsea star Drogba leading the line for him, with the two veterans both looking to find the net.
Torres: 7/10 Drogba: 6/10
Final Scores:
Team Gerrard (80/110): Jones, Terry, Riise, Warnock, Alonso, Gerrard, Nolan, Babel, Suarez, Torres, Henry
Team Carragher (71/110): Reina, Carragher, Arbeloa, Kelly, Meireles, Shelvey, Garcia, Noone, Drogba, Kuyt, Bellamy