The LFC Reds Greatest Ever Team: Central Midfield

Keeper and defence done.  Only reasonable that we stick with the formation that served the reds best during their most successful periods - a 4-4-2.

When the poll is added you will be able to select two players from the list.

Who are your nominations for LFC's best ever men in the middle?

Souness and Gerrard, was tempted to put Kenny in cm with souness and Stevie on the right in order to fit another striker alongside rushie, remember Kenny playing games in a deeper role. Honourable mentions to terry mac, Ronnie whelan, Steve mcmahon, xabi Alonso, mash,

Just too many fantastic midfielders at the Club over the years but the 4 who always stick in my mind as pivotal to our success during the 70s and 80s were Emlyn, Jimmy Case, McMahon and Souness.

As much as I love them all, and others too, I just can't have a best 11 without including Emlyn and Souness.

I know loads will be shouting it has to be Stevie but I can stick him in my team as either a 2nd striker or right midfield, so don't worry even though I've chosen all my best players so far from the 70s 80s period, Stevie won't be overlooked 

We're do I start Souness, Whelan, McMahon, Molby, Gerrard, McAllister (even if only for one season) Alonso and Mascherano and that's just from the players I've seen play. Obvious other inclusions would be Case, McDermott and Ray Kennedy!

Molby, Alonso would pass teams to death, but hard to leave Gerrard out, Molby and Gerrard.

Hughes,Cormack,McDermot,Souness,Whelan,Molby .....I give up

Has to be Souness and Gerrard I suppose. Plenty of other great midfielders but these two are the standouts even among the great. Tempted to pick three in midfield but that would only lead to bigger problems upfront later and JD said 4-4-2 formation anyway.

It has to be Souness or Gerrard, they are both similar for me but I have to go with Souness, put simply, the best captain we have ever had.

So we have the fighters, we now need the creativity, Jan Molby. The guy was a genius, and they way he adopted the scouse accent, you would never know he was a dane!

So there are my choices, If we had them two today, we would dominate every game.

I've voted on here using the "from what I've actually seen" excuse but Souness I'm having. Soz.

Souness and Gerrard.

Maybe similar but Stevie can be what you want him to be.

Gerrard and Alonso

Hamann 3rd.

sh*t what a choice we have been blessed.

Tempted to shift Stevie out to the right so I can fit another here but can't do it, Stevies in the middle! What a player he was, the best we have ever had in my opinion.

Alongside him to comes down to Alonso, Masch, Hamann or Gary Mac.

F**k it can't choose, will stick Hamann in there, one of my favourite ever players for us and what a footballer he was. 

Gerrard has to be my first pick, he is simply put the best all round midfielder ive ever witnessed. Second pick is much more difficult.
Molby, McMahon and Whelan all stand out as player I grew up watching, then of course Alonso was, pretty decent as well.
I've seen enough of Souness to know that he and Gerrard would have made and incredible midfield paring, so thats my choices at the minute, but McMahon is currently trying to change my mind.

Might take a while for me to decide on this one.

I'm tempted to leave Stevie for one of the other positions simply because of the quality we have had in CM and I personally think his best position has been further forward.

Might take a while for me to decide on this one.

I'm tempted to leave Stevie for one of the other positions simply because of the quality we have had in CM and I personally think his best position has been further forward.

Exactly my thoughts too Si.

Might take a while for me to decide on this one.

I'm tempted to leave Stevie for one of the other positions simply because of the quality we have had in CM and I personally think his best position has been further forward.

I thought that too mate but then started thinking I'd have to leave out Torres or Suarez up top! Could move him out to the right but he only played 1 season there and I personally preferred him in the middle.

So many great players to choose from, it will make it a very difficult task. Look forward to see who is in the list.

What a headache this is! I'd love to put Souness in but I can't, I didn't see him in a red shirt but he's everything I personally want in a captain/player/midfielder.

If we're going 4-4-2 I'm not messing about shifting Stevie to the right he's too good for that. So it's got to be Stevie +1.

But who's the +1?

McMahon, a leader of men a true midfield general who had a lot more in his locker than people gave him credit for.
Whelan, I feel I didn't see his best days so hard to comment as he was in and out of the team through injury.
Molby, he was majestic his range of passing and ability from a dead ball was scary!
Redknapp, often gets forgotten about due to injury but he was a player, could mix it if needed and was a excellent passer of the ball.
Hamann, was a excellent signing and quietly and consistently a 7-8/10 every game.
Alonso, for me is right up there with any midfielder in the current game, the way he dictates the tempo of a game and his passing with either foot is second to none. Strange how he was in and out of favour at the club to the extent Gareth Barry was seen as a better option before the deal fell through!
Mascherano, a pitbull of a player I feel with us though he was never truly in control of his temper. The Old Trafford game sticks out a mile, I believe since he went to Barca he's managed this and become a better player for it.

I'm pairing Stevie back with his mate Xabi in the middle.

This would have been a lot easier if we'd gone for the trusted 2-4-4 formation.

Salif Diao anyone?

Salif Diao anyone?

I give you Igor

Souness + (insert name).

Christ, what a difficult topic to grip with! I suspect Souness and Gerrard will be the top picks, but even then that leaves out the likes of Alonso, Mascherano, Molby, Whelan, etc.

We've had some seriously talented players at CM!

Which smartarse thought this thread up, it's given me yet another f***in headache ya barsteward,  ,

Just don't know where to start, it's not easy being the f***in best yanno, Emlyn, Souy, Case, Mcmahon, Molby, Alonso, Gerrard, Ray Kennedy, Masch, with a very heavy heart tho I have to go with Souness & Gerrard, Kenny will be in my front choice, can't leave the King out?

YNWA

Hardest decision ever !!!

Blessed with so many brilliant midfield players over the years, Stevie would have course have to be my number one, but like so many have already mentioned the likes of Case, McDermott, Ray Kennedy, Souness, Whelan, Alonso, Mascherano etc etc..oh my head hurts, how lucky have we been though over the years to see such quality in our midfield.

Souness and Stevie g central Barnes left stuck for da other hi ms g

Ray Kennedy right

I give you Igor

A Diao/Poulsen axis .. the stuff of dreams : (

Gerrard and Souness are the two standout ones here. Second to me would be to play Masch and Alonso, as you have to have the right pair. I reckon Souness and Stevie in a 4 4 2 would be horrible to play against.

I will go back to the 1960s to start with Willy Stevenson,on of the best passers of a ball in the old first division,Shanks bought him from Rangers and he was an immediate success.Also Bob Paisley was not a bad player either, ask Everton about the 1950 F.A.Cup semi final.One player who really stands out for me was Ray Kennedy he was pure class in midfield for a converted striker.

I will go back to the 1960s to start with Willy Stevenson,on of the best passers of a ball in the old first division,Shanks bought him from Rangers and he was an immediate success.Also Bob Paisley was not a bad player either.One player who really stands out for me was Ray Kennedy he was pure class in midfield for a converted striker.

this thread is proving to be a real history lesson and it would be worth Jürgen going through it. For me its  highlighting what a winning team looks like and its clear we have been short for over 20 years . I agree with the Ray Kennedy shout he was such a classy player and seemed to just waft about the pitch maybe sometimes not having blistering pace can be a good thing as long as the thing between the ears is fast.

this thread is proving to be a real history lesson and it would be worth Jürgen going through it. For me its  highlighting what a winning team looks like and its clear we have been short for over 20 years . I agree with the Ray Kennedy shout he was such a classy player and seemed to just waft about the pitch maybe sometimes not having blistering pace can be a good thing as long as the thing between the ears is fast.

I think it should be remembered that all the midfielders mentioned in this thread could and did score goals for us.A thing that has been missing in recent years is goals from midfiield,Ray Kennedy scored 51 goals for us.

I think it should be remembered that all the midfielders mentioned in this thread could and did score goals for us.A thing that has been missing in recent years is goals from midfiield,Ray Kennedy scored 51 goals for us.

and the defenders could defend we could be on to something here next thing we know we will be saying the strikers scored lots of goals

Souness and Gerrard in the middle would dominate any midfield in the world ever. Both would most probably be in an all time top 10 world midfield, so to have both in our Xi is frightening.

Molby was also a brilliant midfielder, used to run games from the centre circle.

Like most posts have said, we have been blessed with centre midfielders.

During my era, Gerrard, Alonso, Mascherano, Hamann in this order. My father has videos of Sammy Lee and I liked his style not saying that he was the best of his era because I do not have any  other evidence.

My father has videos of Sammy Lee and I liked his style not saying that he was the best of his era because I do not have any  other evidence.

Souness was the best of that era, an absolute monster in the midfield for us and a cracking player too.

Souness was the best of that era, an absolute monster in the midfield for us and a cracking player too.

I Know he is a big name but never saw him play.

We're do I start Souness, Whelan, McMahon, Molby, Gerrard, McAllister (even if only for one season) Alonso and Mascherano and that's just from the players I've seen play. Obvious other inclusions would be Case, McDermott and Ray Kennedy!

This is a hard one. All of the above .

I'll put Stevie into this category  and then there has to be one other.

For me the unsung hero of the late seventies team was Jimmy Case. He had an engine and would work tirelessly all day.

A  local lad from Allerton he was the only one in a star studded team of Reds that didnt have an International cap.

I will never forget his thunderbolt shot for our goal in the 77 FA Cup Final v the Scum .

So my heart says Jimmy but my head says Mascher.


I have never seen a Defensive Midfielder who could sit in front of the back four and break down attack after attack.
There is no equal.

So its Macherano for me .

You dont realise what you have until its gone.

Gerrard & Alonso.

I do love Hamann though.

Voting now open.

Had to go with Molby and Gerrard. Xabi was also a contender but he's Molby lite (much lighter when you see the size of Molby now days)

Would of had Souness but he's such a miserable b***ard.

Ok two pairings - one for the Best XI and one for the "alternative XI"

Gerrard & Molby

Souness & Alonso

Going for SG and Souness

would love to pick Terry Mac but just cant get him in there

would love to pick Terry Mac but just cant get him in there

Just been talking to my dad telling him my picks so far , and that was one thats came up , I named the one's I just couldn't get in  , I mean like you how can you not get a Terry Macca in your team , but I had to go with the two who I think would destroy any midfield  SG and  GS  would in my opinion be unplayable , the goals from this pair would be the bonus .

Would of had Souness but he's such a miserable b***ard.

But isn't that what makes him so great?

Plenty of players to choose from, although in the end, decided to go for Gerrard and Molby.

You have to pick Souness he just is the rock on which so much was built.I am also keen to keep the local lads in Terry Mac for me he had everything and then some.

Went for Souness for defensive mid ..A beast of a man .Did the dirty jobs and was the Rock to protect the back four..
And gone for Gerrard nothing to said about this man, Legend#

I could spend all day praising each and every one of the candidates in an extremely difficult section but I won't so...

Steven Gerrard and Graeme Souness

This is definitely the toughest one so far.

You have to pick Souness he just is the rock on which so much was built

Indeed Walt. I know we live in an age where the odd Priscilla [Queen of the desert] is happy to proudly proclaim that they jizz themselves over "sexy" looking players but we really have missed a player like Souness for years now. 

This is definitely the toughest one so far.

Every managers' dream for these resources that are given. But the problem is I can't decide who to pick, because I can only choose two!

Gerrard & souness.

Plenty great names there but those 2 win for me.

Only seen a few videos of Souness but my god you can see exactly what a player he was and what a leader.

One of them players that I truly wish I could have seen in the flesh!

Indeed Walt. I know we live in an age where the odd Priscilla [Queen of the desert] is happy to proudly proclaim that they jizz themselves over "sexy" looking players but we really have missed a player like Souness for years now. 

Old Souey wasn't so bad looking  curly perm an all .

Picked Souness and Gerrard. Fell like ive cheated on McMahon though!
Can we have 5 subs as well?

Also go for Souness and Gerrard. Too many others who had a good claim though, and it's not going to get any easier.

Don't know if it's too much too sort out , but at the end of this and the favoured team comes out would it be possible to have an over 25 team and an under25 team just to see how far apart the split would be I think there would be quite a big difference in teams ,

What a tough choice, we really have been blessed with some great midfielders. it would have to be Stevie & Souness for me, i can't think of many teams that would like to play against those 2.  LFC LEGENDS

Stevie and Souey for me.

Took all of 10 seconds on that one. No slight on those who missed out but for me those two were that good.

Would have allowed Stevie to bomb on........

Going with souness as my first pick, one of  the best midfielders I've ever seen, he could also hit a ball  & he was also  one player you didn't F**k with,, he was also  part of one of the best midfields I've ever seen, him alongside Case,,Kennedy & McDermott was unreal,  souness was also part  of our next  great midfield  consisting of  ronnie whelan, sammy lee and craig johno ,My second pick has to be Gerrard who needs no introduction whatsoever.

I give you Igor

Didn't do too bad for us in the Champions League 2005 mind. Obviously not putting him up there amongst the greats but not that bad!

If I'd have known we'd been going 4-4-2 I'd have selected differently.
Oh sh*t.