As with the right back position, there's three stand out contenders. Unfortunately though, all three were long before my lifetime.
Gerry Byrne, one of the greatest stories in Liverpool history. The 65 Cup final. Breaks his collar bone in the first couple of minutes and still goes on to play the entire game - that went to extra time an all. Was also part of the 66 World Cup winning squad. Not surprising considering he was in the team that won promotion in 62, won the League in 64, FA Cup in 65 and regained the League in 66.
Alan Kennedy, lets face it if you score two European Cup winning goals you're gonna be held in the highest regard. Especially when one of those goals is against the world's second biggest club (Real Madrid) and the other is a winning penalty against a side in their own back yard (Roma). Quite the turnaround for a fella who was told on his debut by Bob Paisley that they'd shot the wrong Kennedy. Still involved with the club on the media side, which shows his loyalty to Liverpool. Barney will win this by a landslide - at least he should.
Third mention is to one of Liverpool's greatest servants - Ronnie Moran. Words can't express how much I love this man and truth be told, every Liverpool fan should. Devoted his entire life to the club he loves. Just having a quick look down the appearance list, Ronnie is the highest ranked for any out and out left back. He retired some 50 years ago, and he's still played more than any out and out left back. Says it all really. That's before what you consider he did on the coaching staff and to this day he still goes to Melwood. F***ing hell I love him.
Honourable mentions to Joey Jones and Steve Nicol. Joey has the greatest banner of any Liverpool player. He was brave enough to take on the entire Barcelona crowd on his todd when they were throwing cushions at the players - even though they were throwing them at their own players. He'd never shirk a tackle, it's exactly the sort of player we could do with now. And Steve Nicol, who I think will get a lot of votes. He was quality on the left, despite being a right back by trade. His versatility would be invaluable, though I think we've had better left backs that were before my time.
From 91, we've had some F***ing dross. I've seen people saying Aurelio as a possibility, he was a F***ing joke. Absolute sh*te. And probably looked slightly better because of the other sh*t we've had recently. Moreno, Dossena, Insua, Konchesky, Vignal, Traore. God it hurts to keep going. Even Warnock and Ziege were average, though I must admit I did like both during their time here. Staunton was way past his best when he came back - thought he did alright for Villa before we got him back though.
When you're seriously considering putting a right back or centre half out there, it shows just how poor we have been in that position. Riise will probably win for those who are judging it Premier League only and he was alright we he first arrived, grew into the role then after a couple of years gradually got worse. I'd be disappointed if Riise is our best left back.
I could throw Arbeloa there. His first Liverpool start and he keeps Messi in his pocket all game at the Nou Camp. I could pick Carra because it's easier to find a centre half to join Sami Hyypia, then it is to decide on a left back so throwing Carra out there makes the centre half decison easier. I know he hated it and I know he struggled at times but he has to be in the team and like I said it's easier to find another centre half.
In the end though I've gone for Stig. I thought he was always a decent hand, a defender first who went forward when he could. And what a F***ing cross he had on him. I think he really benefited from Roy Evans' wingback style. Solid, no frills. Very much like Steve Finnan who I picked for the right.
So my pick is Stig Inge Bjornebye although in reality it could be anybody pre-90 because even the sh*t left backs back then (Ablett, Venison, Burrows) were better than what we've had since.
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