Jamie Carragher has chosen his Liverpool team of the past decade

Mark-x · December 25, 2019

The Reds are not just champions of Europe, but are certified as the best team on the planet after beating Flamengo in the Club World Cup final. On the pitch, everything has come together for Jurgen Klopp in 2019.

Off it, the club are also in a healthy financial position having started the decade under the threat of administration. The disastrous ownership of Tom Hicks and George Gillett left Liverpool in real trouble and that was reflected by years of mediocrity in the Premier League. Flamengo striker's reaction to marking Van DijkLiverpool are set for a remarkable year in 2020Looking at where every PL club was a decade ago

Let's banish those memories for now, as this has been a stint of growth at Anfield, all beginning with Klopp's arrival in 2015. it's no surprise that in picking his Liverpool team of the decade for Sky Sports, Jamie Carragher has opted for no fewer than nine current players.

Liverpool's problems between the sticks have been well documented enough but Alisson's arrival has completely changed that. Carragher puts him alongside Peter Schmeichel, Edwin van der Sar, Petr Cech in the upper echelon of Premier League greats.

Alexander-Arnold only made his debut three years ago but he is now the best right-back in England with 24 league assists already in his short career. The 21-year-old was also nominated for the 2019 Ballon d'Or. "Towards the end of last season and certainly in the Champions League final, he was even outshining Van Dijk," Carragher writes. There's no higher compliment than that.

Who else? Like Alisson, the Dutchman's impact has been felt all the more because he filled the void in a real problem position. Many Liverpool fans felt it was a travesty he didn't become the first defender since 2006 to win the Ballon d'Or, finishing second behind Lionel Messi.

Signing a Hull full-back for £8 million could well have backfired. Instead, the 25-year-old has been transformed into one of the best left-backs around and has redefined the position going forward. Try and keep him in his own half at your peril.

It took a little while for Kopites to warm to Henderson when he arrived from Sunderland. There were serious doubts over whether he had the credentials to replace Gerrard as captain too. However, a Champions League, a Super Cup, and a Club World Cup in 2019 have made a mockery of claims Henderson isn't a natural leader.

Gerrard may have been in decline towards the end at Liverpool but as one of the club's greatest ever players, there's no way he was being left out. The former England international did win a League Cup in 2012. He has to go down as one of the best ever not to win the league. Salah was voted PFA Player of the Year in 2017/18, scoring 32 goals in 36 league games. Naturally it's been a struggle to repeat those exploits, but only the likes of Alan Shearer and Cristiano Ronaldo have come close.

There was a time when Firmino was underrated but not anymore - now the world is well aware of his talent and it was fitting that the Brazilian scored the winner against his compatriots in the Club World Cup final. At £34 million, Mane has to be one of the bargains of the decade. The Senegal international has scored 54 goals in his last 108 games and is in the midst of his best season yet.

Carragher opts for an extra striker rather than adding to the midfield. In other words, he simply had to make room for the volatile but brilliant Uruguayan, who came so close to leading Liverpool to the title. Suarez had an average of more than a goal every two games and it was a huge blow when he left Merseyside in 2014. Liverpool finish the decade a very different side to how they began it.

There was a time - and not so long ago - when there were quite obvious holes in their line-up at centre-mid, centre-back and in goal. That's no longer the case and it's reflected in the Premier League table. The only question is whether they can earn their just rewards by lifting their first title in three decades.