All time United/Liverpool XI

Also Alonso, Molby and Souness at CM for Liverpool.

No denying Gerrard has been great for Liverpool, but he suffers from the same problem as Rooney - used too many times in too many roles to have any legitimate claim to be the best in any one position.

 

George was a world class player 'in his day' would be nowhere near it on today's field. I don't think it's just a matter of saying if they had the same methods of today but more about the mentality of players back then.

 

But would today's players have the ability to play on the pitches etc that Best did?

Would they have the mental toughness to cope with being kicked in the air week in week out?

 

With respect players like best wouldn't be anywhere near today's pace. I loved watching him and was a rare talent even when chopper kicked the living **** out of him. Great player in his day as were others but now just Spurs players.

 

Since when did performing against Chelsea mean anything?

Gerrard carried us for years. He was in a select group of absolute class players from 2005-2009.

In his pomp he could win you a game out of nowhere. Watched him do it game after game, year after year - be it a burst into the box and assist or a goal.

List of the some of the teams he scored against (most of whom were/are better or as good as Chelsea during this period):

- Man U (9 times as well)
- Real Madrid
- AC Milan
- Inter Milan
- Porto
- Arsenal

He is the only footballer ever to have scored a goal in an FA Cup Final, a League Cup Final, a UEFA Cup Final and a UEFA Champions League Final

He's not a 'goal scorer' as such anyway - playing in many positions yet still scored 186 goals.

What people never recognise is some of the dross he played with.

Its all good and well performing in class squads like those at Chelsea and United during this period but he stood up to be counted often on his own and is why he will always be a legend for us.

 

Skylarker is using the same argument for Firmino. Says he's quality bcos he happens to perform in a poor squad. Does that mean he's a legend also?

 

The rest of my post says Gerrard is

 

But your central argument is heavily weighted towards him being good in a poor side. That seems to be the same for most liverpool fans.

The other problem is we don't know how good he would've been in a side with consistently top players.

 

No it isn't.

You may wish to read my post again.

 

Don't shoot the messenger. I said the same to Skylarker but he just wouldnt listen. He's clearly a massive Firmino fan.

 

That's fine. No one's arguing he is a Liverpool legend for some of his performances over the past 15 years or so.

But that isn't the same as being good enough in one position to make it into the best XI of Utd and Liverpool of the past 70 years. There are too many better players ahead of him in each position.

As I said above, it's not his fault he's been shunted around so much to not have a good enough record in one position. Rooney has been a legend for Utd over the past decade, but he wouldn't get into the best XI for the same reason. Same for Carragher and Keegan - doesn't mean they weren't great players, just not good enough.

 

So by that logic, players like Best, Cruyff, Maradonna and Pele et all shouldn't be considered for the GOAT?

Come on, look how good they were THEN. With today's pitches, training facilities, sports science, nutrition etc, they'd be even better, especially playing against players who aren't allowed to tackle anymore.

 

Nicky Butt was better than Gerrard. Just ask Pele

 

I tried to do the team on the BBC's website, but decided it was an impossible task, too many great players in the same position

you'd probably have to include Schmeichel, Neal, Hansen, Best and Ronaldo in there though, but even then there's and argument for players who are their equivalent.

 

Yep it's fair to say you couldnt do this with United/Liverpool together with any other side in English football. It would probably just end up with the best 11 Manchester United or best 11 Liverpool players.

Pretty piss poor from the rest of the league thinking about it.

 

I think it would be dominated by them, but Cashley, B. Moore, Stan Matthews and John Charles would have a good shout

 

Tom Finney and Terry Henry in with a shout as well, but probably no more than one player from any team other than Utd and Liverpool.

 

Tried to do the BBC version, surprised that John Arne-Rise wasn't a choice for LB.

Also any combined team would have Steven Gerrard in there by a country mile. He is probably the best English midfielder in the 30 years.

 

Mi me they were the very best of their age but by today's standards lacking mak mak.

 

Really? Don't think any Liverpool fan is, guy was no better than an average full back. Finnan was far superior and should be an option along with Sami hyypia