Liverpool's best ever XI ... The second centre-back 💪 | OneFootball

With the football on hold at the moment, we’ve been thinking about who gets in Liverpool’s all-time XI.

Yesterday we chose Alan Hansen as the first centre-back. Today we’re choosing his partner.

Here are the nominees …

3rd – Jamie Carragher

The local lad. The Everton fan who became a Liverpool legend.

Bootle-born Carragher spent the earlier part of his Reds’ career operating as a full-back. It was only the arrival of Rafa Benítez in 2004 that saw ‘Carra’ establish himself as a centre-back for Liverpool.

500 appearances. Two FA Cups, three League Cups and that night in Istanbul.

Carragher was pivotal to winning the 2005 Champions League through a number of last-gasp challenges and relentlessly putting his body on the line. One of the true Liverpool greats.

2nd – Mark Lawrenson

Mark Lawrenson as a TV pundit may divide opinion.

However, Mark Lawrenson – the footballer – was an incredible defender during his playing days.

Signed for a club record at the time of £900,000 from Preston North End in 1981, Lawrenson formed a formidable partnership alongside Alan Hansen which spurred Liverpool on to five league titles.

Lawro also played his part in Liverpool conceding just five goals on the way to winning their fourth European Cup in 1984.

And the winner is … Virgil van Dijk

Van Dijk’s time at Liverpool may be short in comparison to Carragher and Lawrenson but no one can dispute the impact the Dutchman has had at Anfield.

Liverpool got themselves in a bit of a trouble for pursuing Van Dijk initially with Southampton reporting the club to the FA for allegedly ‘tapping up’ the defender.

That put the brakes on a potential transfer, but he finally got his move in January 2018.

The 28-year-old’s debut couldn’t have been any better. A winner in the FA Cup at the Kop end over local rivals Everton. He was always destined to be a club legend.

Van Dijk has transformed the club.

His strength and dominance of the Liverpool backline has turned Jürgen Klopp’s side from flakey challengers to one of the best teams in the world.

The quality of his performances led to him winning the Player of the Year award last season, and then came the club’s sixth Champions League.

At some point, Van Dijk will lift the Premier League title. Liverpool’s first league title in 30 years.

Without Van Dijk, maybe Liverpool would be waiting even longer.

Here’s how the team is looking so far …

GK: Ray Clemence RB: Phil Neal LB: Andy Robertson CB: Alan Hansen CB: Virgil van Dijk

Check back tomorrow when we will be choosing the first … midfielder!