Who’s the best? Liverpool 1987-88 v Barca 2010-11

CM – Central midfield is perhaps the toughest area, as in this position we have perhaps two of the finest midfielders in living memory.  It is probably the most even match-up as well, given that both Xavi and Molby are playmakers and integral to their side’s style of play.  With Molby, football was effortless.  Whether he was 2 stone overweight or in his peak condition, his level never slipped.  He could though, be accused of being a lazy player at times but that never affected his footballing ability the way it does with some players.  He could be having an off game but still pick out a 70 yard, cross-field ball to the tip of someone’s toe.  Likewise, Xavi is a masterful player.  Over the last 10 years, he has grown from young potential, to Barcelona legend and at the moment (perhaps only Messi aside) he is Barca’s most important player.  Given that Molby missed a lot of games for Liverpool during his time at the club though, and Xavi’s status and importance to Barca, this one should probably – by the tiniest margin – go to Xavi.  Liverpool 5:2 Barcelona

RCM – Given that he left Liverpool in less than ideal circumstances last year, this will be a tough choice for me and no doubt many Liverpool fans but Javier Mascherano vs. Steve McMahon is always going to go in Mascherano’s favour.  McMahon is a Liverpool legend, coming from a long line of hard local players like Smith, Case and McDermott, he was an important cog in the Liverpool machine.  I appreciate that Mascherano hasn’t played a great deal this season for Barca but he is still one of the best players in the world and the fact that McMahon was never really able to test himself against Europe’s best on a regular basis, while Mascherano has played against the best week-in, week-out.  For that reason, Mascherano comes out on top this time.  Liverpool 5:3 Barcelona

LCF – Both Barca and Liverpool offer up 6 of the finest centre forwards between them here, so starting on the left we’ll just get the obvious one out of the way: Lionel Messi vs. Peter Beardsley.  Now, Beardsley was a fine, fine footballer.  He didn’t spend long at Liverpool but the time he was with us was one of the greatest periods in our history.  However, he is up against perhaps the finest example of a naturally gifted footballer since the man himself: Zidane.  Without even having to describe or explain my reasons, there is only one winner: Messi.  Liverpool 5:4 Barcelona

CF – As the main focal point of both attacks, John Aldridge and David Villa are a pair of incredibly similar strikers.  Nifty, tricky, goal-poachers.  They could do sod all for the best part of the 90 minutes and then scramble the ball across the line with a scuffed shot; it is (or was, in the case of Aldridge) their job.  However, given the similarities between the two, it is almost impossible to separate them.  It would be unfair to judge them on goals scored over the season as the La Liga season still has over 3 months to run so this one is going to have be called a draw.  Liverpool 5.5:4.5 Barcelona

RCF – Sadly for Barca, the final battle of the first 11’s comes down to Liverpool’s greatest ever player and one of their up-and-comers Pedro.  Even in the late 80’s, as player-manager, Dalglish was one of the greatest players of his time and even bringing himself off the bench late on, he still had the ability to change the course of a game.  Pedro may well attain this level in the future but for now, Kenny will always win this head-to-head.  Final score: Liverpool 6.5:4.5 Barcelona

Follow us on twitter @live4Liverpool or like us on Facebook

Live4Liverpool is recruiting columnists. For further info contact the site editor at live4liverpool@snack-media.com

INTRODUCING THE WINDOWS PHONE 7!

This week it is Liverpool midfielder Albert Aquilani’s former girlfriend Pamela Camassa!

————–
CLICK ON THE IMAGE OR HERE TO GET TO THE GALLERY
–