The current Liverpool squad is the best assembled by the club in the Premier League era.Jurgen Klopp's side are probably the very best in the world right now and there isn't a position on the pitch where they don't possess at least one elite-level operator.Alisson Becker, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Virgil van Dijk, Andy Robertson, Fabinho, Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane are all worthy of being labelled the finest player in their position on the planet.When you take that into account, it's perhaps no surprise whatsoever that Liverpool are still chasing a quadruple in early May.The Reds have already won the League Cup, are into the finals of the FA Cup and Champions League and trail table-toppers Manchester City by just a single point in the Premier League.This Liverpool side are special, very special.So when Queens Park Rangers striker Charlie Austin was asked to pick what he believes is the Merseyside club's all-time Premier League XI, it was no surprise that a significant number of contemporary players were selected.
LONDON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 07: Mohamed Salah, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Thiago Alcantara of Liverpool weigh up their options at a free-kick during the Premier League match between West Ham United and Liverpool at London Stadium on November 07, 2021 in London, England. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)One of them that got the nod was Thiago Alcantara, which is a rather bold call by Austin - who is a Reds supporter.Take a look at his XI in full...
Austin's all-time Liverpool Premier League XI
The XI (4-3-3): Alisson Becker, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Virgil van Dijk, Jamie Carragher, Andy Robertson, Xabi Alonso, Steven Gerrard, Thiago Alcantara, Mohamed Salah, Luis Suarez, Sadio Mane.
It's an incredible XI, of that there's no doubt.
However, Thiago's inclusion seems a tad premature, given that he's only been at the top of his game in a Liverpool shirt since the turn of the year.
One of Fabinho, Jordan Henderson, Philippe Coutinho or Roberto Firmino (with a slight change to the formation) would perhaps have been a fairer selection at this point in time.
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Apart from that, Austin's XI looks bang on the money. Alisson, Van Dijk, Alexander-Arnold, Robertson, Alonso, Gerrard, Salah and Mane are all must-haves, while Carragher probably just has the edge over Sami Hyypia.
Suarez's inclusion over Michael Owen and Robbie Fowler may ruffle a few feathers, but never forget how outrageously good the Uruguayan was at Anfield.
The former Barcelona striker might just be the most talented player to wear a Liverpool shirt in the Premier League era, which is saying something.