Steven Gerrard’s 17-year career with the Liverpool first-team comes to an end in less than two weeks times. Our long-serving midfield general will play his final game at Anfield this Saturday, when the Reds face Crystal Palace.
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He’ll most likely be playing alongside Jordan Henderson, his regular midfield partner over the last couple of years.
Henderson, who will likely succeed Gerrard as captain, is certainly one of the better partners our famous No.8 has had during his time at the club. The 34-year-old has gone through a lot of teammates over the last two decades and you can see the best of them in the list below…
Remember, we have only included regular central midfield players – rather than anyone that has ever played there occasionally. Our list is also ranked in order of each player’s success alongside Gerrard, rather than in their careers as a whole, so no complaining! Here’s out top 23 candidates…
23) Christian Poulsen
Brought to Liverpool by Roy Hodgson in 2010. He managed just 12 Premier League appearances in his single season at the club, joining Evian a year later. The former Danish international is now back with Copenhagen.
22) Bruno Cheyrou
The French international was once dubbed the ‘new Zidane’ but it never came good for him. He managed just 31 Premier League appearances in four years, two of which he spent on loan. Has been without a club since 2012.
21) Salif Diao
Was brought off the back of his successful World Cup campaign with Senegal in 2002. He spent five years at Liverpool but only played 37 times in the league. He ended up joining Stoke City, where he stayed until 2012.
20) Alberto Aquilani
The Italian international was meant to be Xabi Alonso’s successor in the Liverpool midfield. Unfortunately, injury hugely restricted his progress. He made just 18 league appearances in three years before joining Fiorentina.
19) Jay Spearing
The academy graduate played 30 league games for Liverpool, mostly under Kenny Dalglish. He eventually joined Bolton Wanderers in 2013 and has since joined Blackburn Rovers on loan. A solid Championship midfielder.
18) Nick Barmby
Spent two years at Liverpool between 2000 and 2002, joining us from neighbours Everton. He was never a regular on Merseyside. He played just 32 times in the league before joining Leeds United in 2002, then Hull in 2004.
17) Boudewijn Zenden
Struggled with injuries during his time at Liverpool, playing just 23 league games during his two years at the club. Nonetheless, he started both the 2006 FA Cup final and the 2007 Champions League final, winning the former.
16) Igor Biscan
The Croatian played 72 times in the league during a five-year stay at the club. He moved to Greece after helping us win the Champions League in 2005 and returned to his native country three years later. He retired in 2012.
15) Charlie Adam
Signed off the back of a brilliant season with Blackpool. He lasted just a single season at Liverpool, playing 28 times in the league and scoring twice. He’s since found a home at Stoke City, where he’s been since 2012.
14) Jonjo Shelvey
Joined us as a teenager in 2010, after impressing for Charlton Athletic. He always looked decent, even earning a call-up to the England team in 2012. However, he was sold to Swansea City the following summer.
13) Mohamed Sissoko
The Mali international was once expected to follow in the footsteps of Patrick Vieira but was never quite able to deliver. He played 51 Premier League games for us and subsequently joined Juventus and Paris Saint Germain.
12) Jamie Redknapp
The former England international was coming towards the end of his Liverpool career by the time Gerrard burst onto the scene. Indeed, it was an injury to Redknapp that first allowed Gerrard into the team in the late 1990s.
11) Paul Ince
The former Manchester United stalwart only spent two years at Liverpool, leaving in 1999, the year after Gerrard made his debut. However, there was still time for them to influence each others careers for the better.
10) Yossi Benayoun
The Israeli played almost 100 league games for Liverpool, playing for us between 2007 and 2010. He finished his Premier League career with Chelsea, Arsenal, West Ham and QPR before returning home to Maccabi Haifa.
9) Joe Allen
He might not yet have lived up to his reputation as the ‘Welsh Xavi’, but the little midfielder always keeps things ticking over nicely in the centre of the park. He followed Brendan Rodgers to the club from Swansea in 2012.
8) Raul Meireles
The Portuguese international only spend a year at Anfield but had a big impact, scoring against Everton in Kenny Dalglish’s first game back in charge, as well as against Chelsea. He won the PFA Fans’ Player of the Year award.
7) Lucas Leiva
The Brazilian has been criminally underrated over the years. He always does a job in front of the defence and very rarely puts in a bad performance. He’s never been a regular scorer but will try and press and help in every area.
6) Gary McAllister
Surprisingly signed for Liverpool at the age of 35 but made a huge contribution during his two years at the club. He scored five league goals during his 55 appearances and also played a critical role in securing the treble in 2001,
5) Danny Murphy
Played 170 league games for the Reds during a seven year spell at the club. He scored 25 goals and was another significant part of our 2001 treble winning side. He often played out wide due to the competition in the squad.
4) Dietmar Hamann
Spent seven years at Liverpool from 1999 to 2006. He played just under 200 league games, scoring eight goals. The German international won the Champions League and FA Cup before he left, scoring in both shootouts.
3) Jordan Henderson
One of the stars of our current squad. He’s been in fine form so far this season, with his superb campaign including a lengthy unbeaten streak at the start of 2015, in which he regularly wore the captain’s armband.
2) Javier Mascherano
Did an incredible job of containing the opposition. The dream holding midfield player, the Argentine World Cup star has since gone on to enjoy huge success with Barcelona, winning La Liga and the Champions League.
1) Xabi Alonso
One of the heroes of our triumphant Champions League run, despite only joining us that season. He scored the equaliser against Milan and went on to have four further years of success with us before joining Real Madrid.
