A number of Liverpool fans believe that former Reds winger John Barnes in his prime would easily get into Jurgen Klopp’s current team after the question was posed by Reds fan Craig Evans on Twitter (via @30YearsRed), with one supporter labelling him an “absolute genius“.
Does John Barnes Get In A Klopp Team? https://t.co/dDrSB1IpYQ via @30yearsred
First article is live on the website, and yes, it's about John Barnes. Give it a look if you have a couple of minutes. #LFC #YNWA
— 30 Years Red (@30YearsRed) March 10, 2020
The question was raised a few days after Evans posted a Twitter poll (via @30YearsRed) as to which left-sided winger Kopites would want for the biggest game of the season, with 53% choosing Barnes compared to 40% for Sadio Mane, the current first choice in that position.
Today's 'pass the time til kick off poll' will focus on wingers.
You're heading into the biggest game of the season and you need a wide left forward, which of these fairly recent players are you picking?#LFC #LIVBOU
— 30 Years Red (@30YearsRed) March 7, 2020
The Jamaica-born 56-year-old spent a decade at Liverpool between 1987 and 1997, scoring 108 times in 407 appearances, winning two league titles, an FA Cup and a League Cup in his time with the Reds. He was also named PFA Player of the Year in 1988 (as per lfchistory.net) and was named seventh on the updated 100 Players Who Shook The Kop list in 2013.
Even with Mane scoring 18 goals in total for a Liverpool team that has won 27 out of 29 league matches so far this season, Evans feels that Klopp would love to have peak Barnes in his line-up, a sentiment with which these Reds fans fully agree:
He gets in any lfc side of any era absolute genius. Can only imagine how good he would be on modern pitches with modern training regime. Oh and defenders wouldn’t be able to try and kill him like they could in the 80s
— ted (@westderbyred75) March 10, 2020
Digger moon walks into Klopp team
— nomad@XXX (@nomad56060053) March 10, 2020
Of course he does. He gets in any team .
— ???chris whitehead ??? (@ynwa71) March 10, 2020
Absolutely he does. Skill, pace, power, determination, tactical awareness, quality passing & finishing. Could control a pass like no one I’ve ever seen. Almost 6th sense of whether to pass or shoot. Great fella. Anything else I’ve missed that would appeal to Jurgen? ?
— Pete Ellis (@pete_ellis70) March 10, 2020
Not a Liverpool team peak Barnes does not get in.
— ?Toxteth Kopite??? ?? ? (@unbearablekop) March 10, 2020
Barnes walks into this or any Liverpool team I’ve seen and I’ve seen a few good ones !
— Ste Reid (@Stevereid96Reid) March 10, 2020
John Barnes was ahead of his time. This guy was another level. He would get in any team. His footballing brain and skill. Wow
— Tee (@mr_notorious_t) March 10, 2020
easy, and he’d be our best player by a country mile too. absolute beast of a player.
— ToeKnee78 (@ToKnee78) March 10, 2020
Do you think Barnes would easily get into the current Liverpool side if he were at his peak now? Join in the discussion by commenting below!