Arne Slot has named Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard in his all-time Champions League XI, forward of Andres Iniesta and Zinedine Zidane.
Though he by no means gained the Premier League, Gerrard dragged Liverpool to unimaginable success in opposition to the chances within the Champions League.
The previous England worldwide notched 21 objectives and 14 assists in 73 competitors appearances — in addition to an extra 9g/4a in 14 qualifiers — profitable the 2005 remaining in opposition to AC Milan and ending runner-up to the identical opponent two years later.
That got here at a time when Liverpool’s staff was a far cry from the star-studded unit Slot has inherited from Jurgen Klopp and Gerrard has lengthy been hailed because the catalyst and purpose behind their success beneath Rafa Benitez.
In actual fact, many Liverpool followers maintain Gerrard among the many membership’s greatest-ever gamers, alongside the likes of Kenny Dalglish and Mohamed Salah.
Requested to choose his all-time Champions League XI for Amazon Prime, Slot outlined his reasoning behind choosing Gerrard over the likes of Iniesta and Zidane.
“For those who would have requested me this a 12 months in the past I’d have in all probability mentioned Iniesta, however I feel now I’m going to go for Steven Gerrard, being Liverpool supervisor!” mentioned Slot (through That is Anfield).
“Why he may should be in my staff is that the opposite ones, like Iniesta, like Zidane, they performed with unimaginable teammates, and naturally, Steven Gerrard performed with good to essentially good teammates, however I don’t assume he performed with the identical degree of gamers.
“Then nonetheless being so particular for the membership, lifting the trophy as soon as, enjoying so lengthy for this membership, he meant a lot for it.”
Arne Slot picks 4 present Liverpool gamers in UCL XI
Whether or not it’s bias, worry of enraging his new followers or just being wowed by the gamers he’s inherited, Slot picked no fewer than 4 present Liverpool gamers for his mixed XI.
Brazilian goalkeeper Alisson is between the sticks, with Trent Alexander-Arnold and Virgil van Dijk lining up in defence alongside Barcelona nice Gerard Pique and Dutch legend Frank de Boer.
Sergio Busquets and Luka Modric run the midfield alongside Gerrard, whereas there’s a fearsome entrance three that includes Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and, after all, Mohamed Salah.
Right here was Slot’s reasoning for his 4 present Liverpool stars, who every helped the Reds win the 2019 title:
On Alisson: “I work with him now, however he was additionally actually necessary once they gained the Champions League a number of years in the past. Since I’ve labored with him, I see how particular he’s and what number of necessary saves he already made. He’s been excellent for Liverpool in all these years, it’s a simple decide for me to go for Alisson.”
On Alexander-Arnold: “I’m going to go for Trent in the correct full-back place, for apparent causes. I feel he’s been so particular for Liverpool in all these years, coming from the academy [to] profitable the Champions League at this membership.”
On Van Dijk: “Virgil must be there. He has had a whole lot of influence on this membership. I feel when he and Alisson got here in was the final step the staff wanted to make. Spectacular centre-back, actually good within the air, he has all of the attributes a centre-back ought to have. So he’s for certain in it.”
On Salah: “For me, it’s clear that Mo Salah ought to be in. Eight or 9 years on such a excessive degree within the current historical past of this membership, he’s scored so many objectives. He’s been actually particular for this membership.”
High photograph by Michael Regan/Getty Pictures
