Liverpool’s best Premier League XI of all time: Robbie Fowler in but Luis Suarez misses out

Liverpool are one of the most successful clubs in English football, with 20 league titles and six major European Cups among their glittering collection of honours.

Since the Premier League was rebranded in 1992, however, the Reds have lifted the title just twice. That hardly tells the full story, though, with Anfield having witnessed an extraordinary procession of world-class talent across the past three decades.

Picking Liverpool's best Premier League XI is therefore no easy task, with several club legends inevitably missing out and plenty of room for debate.

With that in mind, FootballWhispers selects Liverpool's best-ever Premier League XI, with trophies, influence, individual brilliance, longevity and overall impact all taken into consideration.

Liverpool’s best all-time Premier League XI

Best XI — Premier League Era

Liverpool

4-3-3

Fowler

ST

Mane

LW

Salah

RW

Henderson

LCM

Alonso

CM

Gerrard

RCM

Robertson

LB

van Dijk

LCB

Carragher

RCB

Alexander-Arnold

RB

Alisson

GK

Liverpool's greatest Premier League-era XI, as picked by Football Whispers: Alisson — Alexander-Arnold, Carragher, van Dijk, Robertson — Gerrard, Alonso, Henderson — Salah, Fowler, Mane.

GK

Alisson

RB

Trent Alexander-Arnold

RCB

Jamie Carragher

LCB

Virgil van Dijk

LB

Andy Robertson

RCM

Steven Gerrard

CM

Xabi Alonso

LCM

Jordan Henderson

LW

Sadio Mane

RW

Mo Salah

ST

Robbie Fowler

GK: Alisson Becker

Signed from AS Roma for around £66.8m, Alisson has established himself as an immovable presence between the posts and arguably one of the finest goalkeepers in world football. The Brazilian is particularly exceptional in one-on-one situations and has repeatedly produced when Liverpool have needed him most.

Alisson is not necessarily a goalkeeper who relies on spectacular, gallery-worthy saves to make his mark. Instead, his positioning, composure, distribution and remarkable consistency are fundamental to the way Liverpool play, making him far more than just a last line of defence.

Arguably the finest goalkeeper Liverpool have had during the Premier League era, Alisson has earned his place among the club's greatest goalkeeping legends, alongside icons such as Ray Clemence, Bruce Grobbelaar and Tommy Lawrence.

RB: Trent Alexander-Arnold

Liverpool's very own academy graduate may have left the club in a manner that divided opinion, but that should not overshadow what he achieved during his remarkable spell at Anfield.

Alexander-Arnold did more than simply excel at right-back; he helped redefine the position altogether. His defensive abilities were occasionally questioned, but his extraordinary range of passing, creativity and attacking influence more than compensated for those shortcomings.

With 23 goals and 92 assists across all competitions, Alexander-Arnold produced numbers that would be impressive for an attacking midfielder, let alone a full-back.

The England defender was quite simply in a league of his own and, arguably, the greatest right-back Liverpool have ever had.

RCB: Jamie Carragher

This selection is certain to stir some debate, because there is an argument that Liverpool have had more naturally gifted centre-backs than Jamie Carragher. But when assessing the best Premier League XI, it is impossible to overlook what the one-club legend gave to the Reds.

Carragher made 737 appearances for Liverpool, a remarkable testament to his longevity, consistency and commitment. After establishing himself in the first team in 1996, he remained a trusted presence at the heart of the defence for another 17 years.

He may never have possessed the elegance or technical brilliance of some of his defensive contemporaries, such as Sami Hyypia, but Carragher compensated with his reading of the game, leadership, determination and an unwavering willingness to put his body on the line for Liverpool.

To leave him out after everything he gave to the club he loved would feel like a genuine injustice. Carragher was the embodiment of Liverpool's fighting spirit, and his place in this XI is as much about his extraordinary service as it is his ability.

LCB: Virgil van Dijk

Many consider Virgil van Dijk to be the finest centre-back the Premier League has ever seen, and it is difficult to argue that such praise is exaggerated. Even if one disagrees with that lofty assessment, there can be little doubt that the Dutchman belongs among the finest defenders of the modern era.

Liverpool paid Southampton £75m for his services in January 2018, a fee that looked enormous at the time but has since proved to be an absolute bargain given what Van Dijk has delivered. His arrival transformed the Reds' defence and provided the foundation for one of the most successful periods in the club's modern history.

Van Dijk's influence stretches far beyond his defending. His composure, authority, leadership and ability to make those around him better have made him the natural leader of Liverpool's backline. Even at 35, he continues to defy expectations and show remarkably few signs of slowing down.

In an ideal world, a Van Dijk and Alan Hansen partnership would have been a sight to behold. For Liverpool, having both names among their greatest-ever centre-backs is a privilege, and Van Dijk has done more than enough to stand alongside Hansen at the very top of that list.

LB: Andy Robertson

Signed from Hull City for just £8m, few could have imagined that Andy Robertson would go on to become one of the defining figures of Liverpool's modern era. Perhaps not even Robertson himself could have predicted just how far his journey at Anfield would take him.

The Scottish full-back made 378 appearances for the Reds, scoring 14 goals and providing 69 assists before eventually bringing his Liverpool adventure to an end with a free transfer to Tottenham.

Robertson's game was built on courage, relentless energy and an infectious passion for the badge. His overlapping runs, defensive tenacity and willingness to keep charging forward made him an integral part of Jurgen Klopp's greatest Liverpool side.

His world-class qualities may not always receive the recognition they deserve outside Merseyside, but that hardly matters. At Liverpool, Robertson's contribution was never underestimated. Not then. Not now. Never.

CM: Xabi Alonso

Arguably the most technically gifted midfielder Liverpool have had over the past two decades, Xabi Alonso earns his place in this XI on sheer class alone. Few players have ever made controlling a football pitch look quite as effortless as the Spaniard.

Renowned for his extraordinary passing range and ability to dictate the tempo from deep, Alonso was the metronome of Liverpool's midfield. His vision allowed him to pick out passes that others simply could not see, while his composure gave the Reds a sense of control in the biggest matches.

Alongside Javier Mascherano and Steven Gerrard, Alonso played a pivotal role in the 2008-09 campaign, when Liverpool pushed Manchester United all the way before ultimately finishing runners-up in the Premier League.

Alonso arrived during an era when Liverpool were still searching for the consistency required to challenge for the biggest domestic honours, but his intelligence, discipline and technical excellence helped elevate the side.

He was the kind of midfielder who could make those around him better, while giving Liverpool the tactical foundation to compete at the highest level in England and Europe.

RCM: Jordan Henderson

Henderson's Liverpool career did not begin with the promise of what was eventually to come. After moving from Sunderland, the midfielder struggled for consistency and showed his quality only in fleeting bursts, leaving plenty to wonder whether he would ever fulfil his potential at Anfield.

But the talent was always there. What Henderson needed was the right guidance, and the arrival of Jurgen Klopp proved to be the catalyst that changed everything. Under the German, he evolved from an inconsistent midfielder into a commanding presence and, eventually, a leader capable of driving Liverpool forward.

Henderson became the heartbeat of Klopp's midfield, combining relentless energy with tactical discipline and an extraordinary appetite for the hard work that often goes unnoticed.

As captain, he played a central role in Liverpool's greatest modern successes, lifting the Premier League, Champions League and a host of other major trophies. His transformation from a struggling young signing into the captain who led Liverpool back to the summit is a story that perfectly captures his place in the club's history.

LCM: Steven Gerrard

No Liverpool best XI can be complete without Mr Liverpool himself, Steven Gerrard.

Arguably the greatest Liverpool captain of the modern era, Gerrard was also one of the finest midfielders the Premier League has ever produced. He possessed everything: power, technique, vision, leadership, an extraordinary passing range and an uncanny ability to produce something special when his team needed it most.

Gerrard was not simply a great player who happened to play for Liverpool. He was made for Liverpool, and Liverpool felt made for him. From his academy beginnings to becoming the heartbeat and captain of the club, his entire career was intertwined with the identity of the Reds.

LW: Sadio Mane

In Liverpool's halcyon days, the Kopites were treated to the brilliance of Peter Beardsley and John Barnes terrorising defences from the flanks. In the Premier League era, that same sense of magic, excitement and menace was revived by another devastating duo: Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah.

Signed from Southampton for £34m, Mane quickly established himself as one of the most dangerous forwards in English football. His blistering pace, explosive movement and ruthless finishing made him a nightmare for defenders and a perfect fit for Klopp's high-intensity Liverpool.

Across his six years at Anfield, the Senegalese forward made 269 appearances, scoring 120 goals and providing 46 assists in all competitions. More importantly, he was instrumental in Liverpool's return to the summit, playing a starring role in their Premier League and Champions League triumphs.

For everything he delivered, Mane deserves his place on the left flank of Liverpool's best Premier League XI. Alongside Salah on the opposite wing, he formed one half of an attacking partnership that will live long in the memory of the Kop.

RW: Mo Salah

Arguably Liverpool's greatest signing of the Premier League era, Mo Salah became to the Reds what Achilles was to the Greeks: a figure of extraordinary talent, power and almost mythical importance.

The Liverpool fans idol-worshipped him from the very beginning, and what followed was a remarkable alchemy between player and club. The goals came, then the assists, the individual accolades, the trophies and, eventually, a place in Liverpool folklore. Salah did not simply enjoy success at Anfield; he helped define an era.

The Egyptian has become Liverpool's all-time leading Premier League goalscorer, while his extraordinary consistency has seen him rewrite record after record during his time on Merseyside.

Alongside Gerrard and Dalglish, Salah now occupies a place on Liverpool's golden throne. Few players have left such an indelible mark on Anfield, and there can be little doubt that he belongs among the greatest players ever to grace the famous red shirt.

FW: Robbie Fowler

Luis Suarez was a maverick who came agonisingly close to dragging Liverpool to Premier League glory almost single-handedly, and his place in any discussion of the club's greatest forwards deserves serious consideration.

On pure ability, the Uruguayan may well have been the most gifted of the contenders, perhaps even edging Fernando Torres, Michael Owen and Robbie Fowler.

But this is not simply a list about ability. Torres and Owen left behind complicated legacies because of the manner of their departures and what followed in their careers, while Suarez's extraordinary impact at Liverpool, although spectacular, was ultimately short-lived.

Fowler, meanwhile, built something deeper. Across two spells at Liverpool, the beloved striker scored 171 goals in 330 appearances and became an idol of almost mythical status.

His cult following was perfectly captured by a famous Anfield banner that read: “All those who have a Red heart can rejoice, for they have seen – God.”

When Fowler returned for a second spell in 2006, the Kop welcomed him with another unforgettable message: “God – number eleven, welcome back to heaven.”

So how can you construct Liverpool's greatest XI and leave out a man the supporters themselves immortalised as God? Robbie ‘God' Fowler sits above the criteria. His place is not simply earned by goals, longevity or quality, but by the unique bond shared between the Almighty and his devotees.