Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher would have been a terrific player for Jurgen Klopp.
Carragher retired from playing just over two years before Klopp replaced Brendan Rodgers at Anfield.
In truth, the academy graduate could likely have gone on playing for a year or two longer. However, having dropped down the pecking order under Rodgers, Carragher decided to call it a day.
Just like Steven Gerrard though, it would have been superb to have seen Carra in Klopp’s first squad at Liverpool.
Even if it had just been for a short period, the passing of the baton from one era to the next would have been iconic. Still, at least Gerrard got to play for Klopp once and, as it turns out, Carragher did too.
Jamie Carragher recalls Jurgen Klopp friendly
Gerrard has previously spoken about how he was so impressed with Klopp’s team talk for an end of season friendly in Australia back in 2017.
Although the game was played with most of the ordinary Liverpool squad, Carragher, Gerrard and Steve McManaman were all invited to boost ticket sales.
It gave Klopp an insight into what it would have been liked to have had all three Scousers as part of his team.
Carragher started the game at centre-back alongside Dejan Lovren, with Trent Alexander-Arnold at right-back and Alberto Moreno on the left.
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At the end of this surreal affair, Carragher told the BOSS Podcast that Klopp had some ‘surprising’ words for the veteran defender.
“We played the game and went to have a bevvy in the night and all that,” says the 46-yearold.
“Jurgen Klopp knows who we are and he probably thinks he knows me as a player, everyone thinks Carra puts his foot in, he’ll have a go and all that.
“So, I’ve had the ball a few times, played a few passes. So we’re in this bar and he just sort of whispered and he went ‘your passing surprised me’. I said ‘yeah it surprises a lot of people, I don’t get credit for my passing’. He went, ‘hmm not bad!”
Who else was in Liverpool’s starting XI?
As opposed to one of the ‘Legends’ games which both Gerrard and Carragher have regularly attended over the years, this was a first-team game with a few extras added.
It must have been fantastic for Alexander-Arnold in particular, who was able to play with two of his boyhood idols.
Academy boys Harry Wilson and Ben Woodburn were also in the side which Klopp picked to start that day.
There was also a sprinkling of star quality, with Roberto Firmino beginning the game alongside Daniel Sturridge up front.
Lucas Leiva joined Gerrard in midfield, with Loris Karius filling in between the sticks. An interesting XI to say the least!
