PEPE REINA (goalkeeper): There is an age-old mantra that you have to be mad to be a goalkeeper and Reina appears to be as crazy as they come which is probably why he is considered to be one of the best keepers in the modern game at this moment in time. With three consecutive Golden Glove awards to his name, the Spaniard enjoys legend-like status in his adopted city as well as that of a national treasure in his homeland after leading the celebrations like a man possessed when his country lifted the European Championship in 2008.
STEVE FINNAN (right-back): One of the biggest unsung heroes of the past decade at Anfield. Branded by some as Mr Consistency, Finnan gave six years of loyal service to the Reds before leaving for a failed stint in Spain with RCD Espanyol. Currently with Premiership strugglers Portsmouth after securing a return to England in the summer transfer window.
SAMI HYYPIA (centre-back): A man who epitomised the spirit of Liverpool Football Club both on and off the pitch. The big-hearted Finn was a model pro during his decade at the club and showed the extent of his generosity by pledging £23,000 to rescue a charity appeal by Arrowe Park Hospital. You would be hard pressed to find anyone with a bad word to say about the 36-year-old, currently plying his trade with German outfit Bayer Leverkusen; the team he scored against for the Reds in the 2002 Champions League.
JAMIE CARRAGHER (centre-back): The Bootle-born defender has been a veteran of all things defensive during the 12 years he has donned the red shirt. Despite a shaky start to the 2009/10 season, Carra has regained form and continues to gain adulation from the Kop with strong-blooded performances. At the tender age of 31 he still has the measure of the likes of Didier Drogba and Wayne Rooney, demonstrating that old dogs can be taught new tricks. A consistent performer any club would love to have in their ranks.
JOHN ARNE RIISE (left-back): Norwegian full-back Riise occupied the Reds’ defensive left side for seven years with 300 appearances to his name. Netting a grand total of 31 goals, he was not scared of demonstrating his ability in front of goal with countless long-range efforts, including the infamous blast against Manchester United in November 2001. Despite bowing out of Anfield on a low note after several defensive lapses in recent times, including an own goal that sealed Liverpool’s Champions League exit in 2008, Riise is still considered one of the best left-backs in the club’s recent history.
STEVEN GERRARD (right midfield): The timeless theory that no player is bigger than the club is in danger of being dispelled thanks in part to the Huyton-born midfielder. To say that Gerrard has been a key factor in Liverpool’s progress over the past decade would be an insult to the 29-year-old. No other player has left such an impression on a team as the captain. Despite coming close to leaving on two occasions, the boyhood Red has stuck with his club and has led them to historic victories such as the FA Cup win of 2006 and the miracle of Istanbul in 2005.
DIETMAR HAMANN (defensive midfield): A German with a Scouse heart. The midfield dynamo was more Wavertree than Waldsassen because of his affiliation to the Kop. A truly old school player whose lifestyle reflected that of the supporters he played for. ‘The Kaiser’ was one of the greatest players to grace the middle of the park in the noughties and showed great courage by taking a penalty in the 2005 Champions League final with a broken foot. Despite a three-year spell at Manchester City, Hamann still hold Liverpool in a high regard and returned to the club briefly earlier this year to help coach the youth team.
XABI ALONSO (centre midfield): The ex-Real Sociedad playmaker gained a reputation for his defence-splitting passes within weeks of making his Liverpool debut. Alonso is a creative midfielder with a fantastic eye for goal. It was this vision that he demonstrated on several occasions in 2006, scoring three spectacular efforts from inside his own half. Now with Real Madrid following a year-long courtship, his presence has been sorely missed by the Reds this season.
GARY MCALLISTER (left midfield): Etched his name into Anfield folklore in the treble-winning season of 2000/01 with a series of pivotal goals; especially a hattrick of winners in the space of a week in April of that campaign. Tottenham Hotspur and Barcelona both fell foul of the veteran Scot’s clinical penalty-taking ability but not before he delivered the sweetest of Merseyside derby victories when, aged 36, he curled a 44-yard free kick past helpless Everton goalkeeper Paul Gerrard in the dying seconds at Goodison Park to give Liverpool an emphatic 3-2 win. The Scot has since had unsuccessful managerial spells with former clubs Coventry City and Leeds United.
JARI LITMANEN (striker): Part of Ajax’s European Cup-winning side of 1995, the Finn moved to Merseyside after being deemed surplus to requirements by Barcelona. Like his spell at the Nou Camp, his time at L4 was plagued by injuries which saw him miss all three finals of the treble-winning season. Despite being vastly underused by Houllier, with only 43 appearances to his name, 30-year-old Litmanen was a fantastic finisher in the box and showed some fantastic ability and vision. His finest hour in a red shirt was a finely-struck goal from outside the area against Tottenham Hotspur in September 2001. Still going strong at the age of 38, Litmanen is back in his homeland with FC Lahti after spells with Ajax, Hansa Rostock, SS Malmo and Fulham.
FERNANDO TORRES (striker): Possibly the only foreign striker to arrive at Liverpool and almost immediately justify his extravagant price tag and endear himself to the Kop at the same time. At £20.2 million, it was money very well spent by Rafael Benitez on his compatriot. Despite failing to lift any silverware, he is already enjoying legendary stature after 61 goals in 100 appearances for the Reds since joining from Atletico Madrid in 2007.
SUBS BENCH:
JERZY DUDEK (goalkeeper): Gained something of a reputation for being a questionable stopper after failing to thwart Manchester United’s Diego Forlan in December 2002 but managed to hold onto the number one spot for a further three years. Enjoyed his finest hour in a red shirt in Istanbul where his Bruce Grobbelaar-like antics during the penalty shootout helped the club to their 2005 Champions League triumph. Moved to Real Madrid in the summer of 2007 as cover for Iker Casillas but has made only one appearance for Los Blancos.
STEPHANE HENCHOZ (centre-back): Formed part of the legendary defensive partnership with Sami Hyypia during Houllier’s reign but was replaced by Carragher after Benitez took over. In the 2001 League Cup final, Birmingham City pull level from the penalty spot after the Swiss defender handled the ball, something he did on several occasions during his Liverpool career. After leaving Anfield, Henchoz enjoyed spells with Celtic and Wigan Athletic before hanging up his boots in 2008 following a return to Blackburn Rovers.
MARKUS BABBEL (right-back): A consistent performer who turned down the overtures of Real Madrid to join the Reds from Bayern Munich. Babbel was a key member of the 2001 treble-winning side with the occasional goal and several assists. Unfortunately he was stricken down with Guillain-Barré syndrome at the beginning of the 01-02 season and spent most of the season recovering. Upon returning the German played for Blackburn Rovers before hanging up his boots with VfB Stuttgart, where he became manager until he was sacked at the beginning of December.
LUIS GARCIA (left midfield): Like Litmanen, another arrival from Barcelona who proved to be an instant hit. The diminutive Spaniard was a talismanic figure during the successful run to the Champions League final in 2005 with goals against Bayer Leverkusen, a thunderbolt against Juventus and, more famously, 'that goal' against Chelsea in the semi final. The debate over whether Garcia's hooked shot crossed the line before William Gallas cleared it away but the goal stood and the winger, now with Atletico Madrid, saw his name written into Anfield folklore.
MICHAEL OWEN (striker): A controversial choice given the manner in which he left Liverpool and snubbed a return in favour of moves to Newcastle and Manchester United. Despite prioritising club over country, the Chester-born striker was one of the finest finishers on his day between 2000 and 2003. His two goals in the 2001 FA Cup final should have sealed his Anfield legacy but an acrimonious exit followed by a move to Old Trafford in the summer of 2009 has tarnished his Reds reputation.
