Liverpool have rarely had better midfields than the partnership between Steven Gerrard and Xabi Alonso.
Alonso has been making headlines this season for his wonderous work as a manager with Bayer Leverkusen.
However, what much younger supporters may not remember is that Alonso was a supreme player in his own right. Liverpool enjoyed five years of the Spaniard’s classy midfield play.
Gerrard featured alongside Alonso throughout that half-decade at Anfield. Along with Javier Mascherano and Momo Sissoko, the pair made up what Liverpool fans joyously declared ‘the best midfield in the world.’
Anfield has arguably never seen a better player than Gerrard. The academy graduate is one of Liverpool’s biggest legends. He’s earned the right to be compared with some luminaries of football history.
Xabi Alonso picks between Steven Gerrard and Zinedine Zidane
While Gerrard is a true icon of Liverpool, Alonso is something of a legend himself. The 42-year-old won a Champions League and FA Cup with the Reds and was central to those victories.
It would have been great to see him rock up back at Anfield as successor to Jurgen Klopp this summer. That wasn’t to be, but the door remains open for Alonso.
In the meantime, the Bayer Leverkusen boss has been ranking some midfield greats of the past.
Having enjoyed such a remarkable season with Leverkusen, Alonso looks to be enjoying his time off and has been speaking to GOAL’s TikTok page.
READ MORE: Peter Crouch shares who was the best passer at Liverpool – Xabi Alonso or Steven Gerrard
As they did with Cesc Fabregas and also Roberto Carlos recently, GOAL ask Alonso to choose his favourite in head-to-head battles between players.
The man initially on the stand is Zinedine Zidane, with Alonso choosing the France legend over Andres Iniesta. Liverpool’s former No.14 goes on to be faced with the decision of Zidane or Gerrard.
“Zidane,” says Alonso with a smile. “He’s my favourite,” he later adds, having chosen Zizou over 14 other great midfielders including himself.
Even Steven Gerrard can’t match Zinedine Zidane
We’re often ready to go to war with anyone who picks another midfielder of Gerrard’s generation above the Scouser.
Fabregas chose Andres Iniesta over Stevie G, for example, and although Iniesta was a brilliant player, he was no Gerrard.
But on this occasion, we can’t really argue with Xabi. Zidane is in the conversation for being the greatest footballer of all time.
Having shone with Bordeaux, Juventus and Real Madrid, Zidane also conquered the world with France. Some player. However, it is worth noting that even the great Zidane was mesmerised by Gerrard.
“I think it was the summer of 2004 I was having a conversation with Florentino (Perez) and I told him I wanted him [Gerrard] to partner me in midfield for Madrid,” he said via the Liverpool ECHO. “I know the club tried twice but he wouldn’t leave Liverpool.”
That’s our Stevie. What a partnership they would have been.