BEST EVER TEAMS - No 1: Liverpool's Greatest World XI

Liverpool FC has been blessed with dozens of talented footballers over the years, many of whom came from abroad to dazzle Anfield with sublime skills and superb technique. But who makes the best ever World XI?

The history of overseas footballers at Liverpool starts way back in the mid 1920s, with arrival of two South African players: Arthur Riley in 1925 and Gordon Hodgson in 1926. Goalkeeper Riley was originally brought in as an understudy for the great Elisha Scott, but by the end of the 1928/29 season he had established himself as Liverpool's number one. Riley spent 15 years at Anfield, racking up 338 appearances and playing an integral role in cementing the club's status in the top division.

With a superb record of 241 goals in 358 games, Hodgson is second only to Roger Hunt in the all-time LFC league goals chart, something which may come as a surprise to a few Liverpool fans.

The South African connection continued with the arrival of Berry ‘Nivvy’ Nieuwenhuys, a tricky winger blessed with speed and guile. In pre-war England, overseas players were almost unheard of in the top division, so Liverpool were pace-setters and pioneers in this respect. However, after Nieuwenhuys left Liverpool in 1947, it was (incredibly) 34 years until another overseas player made an impact at Anfield.

That man was Bruce Grobbelaar, who despite a shaky start between the sticks against Wolverhampton Wanderers, won the league title with Liverpool in his first season. Two weeks after Grobbelaar arrived at Anfield, Craig Johnston - another South African (by birth) - signed for the club, and also made his debut in the Wolves game. Three years later, supremely talented Dane Jan Molby arrived at the club, and the three proceeded to play a major part in Liverpool’s domination of the 80s.

Other overseas players began to trickle in after that, with notable arrivals including Israeli powerhouse Ronnie Rosenthal; Elegant Swedish International Glenn Hysen and criminally underrated Norwegian assist specialist Stig Inge Bjornebye.

Over the last 10 years, the number of overseas players at the club has increased at a faster rate than at any time in history, with players such as Sami Hyypia, Xabi Alonso, Dietmar Hamann, Luis Garcia, Javier Mascherano, Dirk Kuyt, Yossi Benayoun and Fernando Torres playing hugely important roles in Liverpool’s continuing progress.

Here is my greatest ever Liverpool World XI:*

---------------------------------- Bruce Grobbelaar

Markus Babbel -- Stephane Henchoz -- Sami Hyppia (c) – Stig Inge Bjornebye

----------------------------------- Dietmar Hamann

------------ Jan Molby -------------Xabi Alonso -------- Patrik Berger

------------------------------- Jari Litmanen

-------------------------------------------- Fernando Torres

Subs:

Jose Reina
Glenn Hysen
Craig Johnstone
Luis Garcia
Gordon Hodgson
John Arne Riise
Daniel Agger
Yossi Benayoun
Ronnie Rosenthal

The team would play a 4-1-3-1-1 formation, with Dietmar Hamann sitting in front of the back four, allowing Xabi Alonso, Jan Molby and the superb Jari Litmanen to utilize their prodigious passing ability to feed Fernando Torres, who would be overwhelmed by the amount of scoring chances created for him!

Patrick Berger and Stig Inge Bjornebye would provide width on the left, whipping in crosses for Torres and Litmanen. Some may see Bjornebye as a surprise inclusion, but in the mid 90s, the Norwegian was regularly top of the club’s assists chart and was a model of consistency.

And who can forget the sublime cross he provided for Robbie Fowler to score the winner in the second 4-3 Newcastle thriller in 1997?

Markus Babbel would provide bombing runs down the right, adding an extra level of creative impetus, which would then give the team two strong attacking full-backs.

Central defence is a no-brainer; it has to be Stephane ‘hand-ball’ Henchoz and Finland’s finest export, Sami Hyypia. Before Jamie Carragher came on the scene, the Henchoz/Hyypia partnership was quite simply the best in the league.

The substitutes bench is filled with players who would come on change the game and/or help the team change shape to counter any tactical eventuality. Special mention has to go to powerful, athletic Israeli Ronnie Rosenthal.

Few can forget the impact Rosenthal had when he arrived in the final months of the 89-90 season - scoring a hat-trick on his full debut and going on to score 7 goals in 8 games - goals which were vital to Liverpool securing the title.

I believe the team I have chosen would be a joy to watch and would give any team in Liverpool’s history a run for its money!

What's your greatest World XI?

*This is a team composed of OVERSEAS players, i.e. NON UK/British Isles players.

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