Liverpool FC's Greatest Players - Steven Gerrard

At the tender age of 9 young Steven Gerrard joined the Liverpool FC youth academy after being spotted by Liverpool scouts playing for his hometown team, Whiston Juniors. He had trials for a few different clubs including Manchester Utd but eventually signed his first professional contract with Liverpool in 1997.

In his first season he made 13 appearances, often looking out of his depth and nervous. It wasn't until the 2000 - 01 season that Gerrard made a real impact, he scored 10 goals and contributed to the team winning the FA Cup and the UEFA Cup. After a trophyless season during 2003 - 04, Gerrard was linked with a move to Chelsea. He finally turned down the £20 million move and decided to stay at Anfield under new coach Rafa Benitez.

Chelsea FC

Benitez built the strong new Liverpool squad that reached the finals of the Champions League in 2005 against AC Milan. Liverpool had a shocking first half and were 3-0 down, only to turn the scoreline around during six minutes of the second half. Gerrard scored one of the goals and was a huge influence throughout the match. Liverpool eventually won the game on penalties and Gerrard won Man Of The Match. Gerrard turned down another move to Chelsea that summer, even though he was offered £100,000 a week.

In 2006 Gerrard became the first Liverpool player since John Barnes to win the PFA Player Of The Year and scored twice in the FA Cup final against West Ham Utd. He made his 300th Premier League appearance for the club in 2008 and scored the opening goal against Blackburn Rovers. in 2009, Gerrrard was named as The Football Writers Association Player Of The Year.

He continues to play for Liverpool and is currently captain of England. Steven Gerrard is a true Liverpool FC legend.

Liverpool FC's Greatest Players - Steven Gerrard

Premiership Greatest XI

This is a very difficult thing to do and it is all about opinions after all. Some of the choices will be universally approved while some would be mocked or even condemned.

Candidates for Goal keepers

1 Peter Schmeichel (Manchester United)

2 David Seaman (Arsenal)

3 Jens Lehmann (Arsenal)

4 Brad Friedel (Blackburn)

5 Nigel Martyn (Leeds United and Everton)

6 David James (Aston Villa, West Ham, Manchester City and Portsmouth)

7 Brad Friedel (Blackburn Rovers)

8 Shay Given (Blackburn Rovers and Newcastle United)

9 Casey Keller (Tottenham Hotspurs)

10 Edwin Van Der Saar (Fulham and Manchester United)

11 Tim Flowers (Southampton and Blackburn Rovers)

My choice would be Peter Schmeichel over David Seaman.

I have gone for a 3-man defense for my first team because I could not leave out some players in the more advanced positions and had also because I do not think that there has been an outstanding right back who really stands out from the rest to warrant being in my first team.

Candidates for Defenders

1. Gary Pallister ( Manchester United)

2. Steve Bruce (Manchester United)

3. Rio Ferdinand (Manchester United)

4. Jaap Stam (Manchester United)

5. Jamie Carragher (Liverpool)

6. Sami Hyppia (Liverpool)

7. John Terry (Chelsea)

8. Marcel Desailly (Chelsea)

9. Ricardo Carvalho (Chelsea)

10. William Gallas (Chelsea)

11. Martin Keown ( Arsenal)

12. Tony Adams (Arsenal)

13. Steve Bould (Arsenal)

14. Sol Campbell (Arsenal)

15. Kolo Toure (Arsenal)

16. Jonathan Woodgate ( Leeds United)

17. Dave Watson (Everton)

18. Philip Albert (Newcastle)

19. Colin Hendry (Blackburn)

The 3 defenders I have chosen for my first team are Tony Adams who has been Arsenal's best defender and captain in the last 30 years.

He did not have the natural ability, athleticism or speed of many of the defenders on the list but he had leadership and organizational abilities which are just as crucial for a defense.

Marcel Desailly of Chelsea who had everything you want in a defender; strength, speed and leadership.

The final defender I have picked is Jaap Stam of Manchester United who like the other 2, had all the qualities you want in a defender.

Midfielders

I am not going to make a list here because I have cheated and put some players that are essentially forwards but I chosen to class them as defenders as there was no way I was going to leave any of them out for the other.

I have picked 2 genuine central midfielders who would have to be the ball winners because the other 3 are not likely to defend at all.

They are perhaps the best 2 in their respective positions and would be in most people's list as the very best player to have played in the premiership and they are Roy Keane of Manchester United and Patrick Vieira of Arsenal.

They were not just very competitive and combative but they were also very good players on the ball as well. They were totally inspirational to their teams and led their teams to many victories.

The 3 other "midfielders" are the best players to have played for their respective clubs, in terms of technical ability and they are Eric Cantona of Manchester United who was the inspiration for their winning the premiership for the first time in 25 years when they won it in 1992/93 season.

He has arguably being the main catalyst for their triumphs thereafter. Dennis Bergkamp was just technically perfect, and as far as I am concerned the best player to have won an Arsenal shirt. Gianfranco Zola was another genius with the football and was rightly voted Chelsea's best ever player.

Strikers

This is always going to be the most position to pick just 2 outstanding candidates out of 50 excellent choices but I have gone managed to pick 2 of the very best.

They are as different as chalk and cheese, but they had scoring goals as their common attribute. The first player I have picked is arguably the most exciting player to have played in the premiership and most would agree that it has been a privileged for the premiership to have had Thierry Henry grace it with absolute brilliance.

He is not just a goal scorer but he created lots and lots of chances for his teammates and scored so many contenders for best goal ever in the premiership. His partner is quite simply the best striker in premiership history as his goals will attest to.

Alan Shearer was just a goal scoring phenomenon who also had more to his game than scoring goals. He is still the leading scorer in the premiership history and it will take a great effort for his record to be broken. He is the only player to have scored a century of goals for 2 different clubs in the Premiership.

Chelsea's Greatest Player - Gianfranco Zola

Zola began his footballing career with Sardinian side Nuorese in the early eighties, he also spent three seasons at Torres before signing for Serie A team Napoli in 1989. Alongside Zola at Napoli were football stars such as Diego Maradona and Brazilian striker Careca. Zola spent many hours training with Maradona and admitted to learning everything from the Argentine.

Ruud Hullit signed Zola for Chelsea in 1996 for £4.5 million. Zola fitted in straight away, unlike many Italian players who find it hard to adapt to the pace of English football, he was instrumental in helping the side reach the FA Cup final which they went on to win, beating Middlesbrough 2-1. At the end of the season he was voted FWA Player Of The Year, the first Chelsea player ever to do so.

His skill, agility and goal scoring instincts helped Chelsea reach another FA Cup final in 2000 when they beat Aston Villa 1-0. Zola forged a great striking partnership with Jimmy Floyd Hasslebank and also went on the score one of the best ever goals for Chelsea. In an FA cup tie against Norwich, he back heeled a corner inside the near post as the ball was in mid air.

During the 2001/2002 season, new manager Claudio Ranieri was keen to introduce younger blood to the squad and Zola was often sidelined. He returned to Italy in 2003 to play for Cagliari in his native Sardinia.

In 2003 Zola was voted Chelsea's best ever player and a year later he recieved an OBE, an honorary member of the British Empire in a ceremony in Rome.

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Who Are the All Time Greatest Chelsea Players?

A great number of football legends wore the Chelsea blue and plied their trade at the famous Stamford Bridge football ground. Chelsea are now one of the most successful teams in the English Premier League. The club was bought by Russian millionaire Roman Abramovich in 2003 which has led to an influx of great international stars. But who are the fans all time favourites? Here are a few suggestions.

Peter Osgood. 380 First team appearances - 150 goals
Peter Osgood had two spells for the club - 1964 - 74 and 1978 - 79. He played a total of 635 times for Chelsea and is cosidered a legend at the club. He scored a header goal in the 1970 FA cup final replay.

Ron Harris. 795 appearances - 14 goals
Known as 'Chopper' Harris, the hard man defender was an integral part of the team during the sixties and seventies. Feared by strikers throughout the land.

Frank Lampard - Still playing for Chelsea
Frank Lampard forged his reputation as the best midfielder in England through consistently strong displays in a Chelsea shirt. Also a prolific goal scorer, Lampard usually nets about 20 per season.

Gianfranco Zola - 312 total appearances - 80 goals
A firm favourite with the fans. the small but perfectly formed Zola was instrumental in winning big games at the Bridge. An odds on favourite to manage the Blues one day.

Didier Drogba - Still playing for Chelsea
Perhaps not a true blue legend and not always a favourite with the fans. Drogba's goal tally put him up there with the best.

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