Former Liverpool defender and long-serving football pundit Mark Lawrenson has named which of his old teammates would get into the current Liverpool team.
The centre-back played for the Reds during the 1980s. He began his career with Preston North End, making 73 appearances in three years.
Lawrenson was named as North End’s Player of the Year for the 1976/77 season, before being sold to Brighton for £100,000 that summer.
After helping The Seagulls to promotion from the Second Division, he spent a further two years with the club in the top flight. In 1981, he moved to Liverpool for a club-record fee.
Lawrenson was an integral part of the Reds defence in a team that dominated English football throughout the 1980s. He made over 350 appearances for the club, winning five First Division titles, one FA Cup and the 1984 European Cup.
Unfortunately, the centre-back suffered Achilles tendon damage in 1988 – an injury that would, in those days, usually force a player to retire. Lawrenson retired from football aged just 32, although he did return several years later for a brief spell in non-league.
During his time at Liverpool, he played alongside some of the greats of world football at the time – and arguably of any time. They included John Barnes, Kenny Dalglish, Graeme Souness and Ian Rush.
But which of those players does Mark Lawrenson think would get into the current Liverpool team?
Liverpool then vs Liverpool now
Since his retirement from playing, Lawrenson became a renowned football pundit after a brief spell in management. The Republic of Ireland international retired from punditry at the end of the 2021/22 season after over 30 years.
He has watched a lot of football over the years – and is perhaps the perfect person to compare the Liverpool side that he played in to Jurgen Klopp‘s current side.
The German has re-established Liverpool as one of the strongest forces on the world stage after several years in the footballing wilderness. In 2019, he guided the Reds to their first Champions League triumph in 14 years.
The following season, Liverpool won their first top division title of the Premier League era.
In the most recent campaign, Klopp’s side have won two domestic trophies – the Carabao Cup and the FA Cup. They were one point behind eventual Premier League champions Manchester City and lost in the Champions League Final to Real Madrid.
Mark Lawrenson names the teammates that would get in Liverpool XI
The current Reds stars include the likes of Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk, Alisson and Sadio Mane. The club’s former defender believes that, despite the exceptional nature of today’s side, several of his teammates would get into the current XI.
Mark Lawrenson, speaking on behalf of 888sport, said: “I can only talk about my Eighties team, and I’ll tell you now that lots of my Eighties team would get into the current team.
“Especially when you factor in tactics, diet, travel. You’re not telling me [Alan] Hansen, Souness, Rushie, Kenny, Barnesy, they wouldn’t get in the team.
“It’s always fun to compare from different eras. Look at Sir Tom Finney. He was 5ft 8, and would get kicked to the fences. He could play today and be even better than he was, and by the way, he was already brilliant.
“It really depends on when you grew up, and which Liverpool team you saw. Most people tend to say the Eighties team was the best, but that’s because most people saw them.
“The more modern-day supporters would probably go with this current team. Either way, we’ve been very lucky when you think about it.”
Mark Lawrenson, was speaking on behalf of 888sport. Head to 888sport for the latest Premier League odds.
Featured Image Credit: Getty
