I have been changing my mind all week about this position in the team. I had three players in the reckoning, from my era John Arne Riise, from a long time ago the great Gerry Byrne and also from the past Alan Kennedy. John Arne Riise is the best left back I have seen at Liverpool since I was old enough to watch them regularly. I have read about Gerry Byrne and know he was a favourite of Shankly so he must have been a good player. When I think of Gerry Byrne, I think of the famous cup final where he played on after breaking a collarbone. Not many players nowadays who would put their body on the line in that nature. Then finally there is Alan Kennedy who scored the winning goal in the 1981 European Cup final against Real Madrid and also the winning penalty kick in the European Cup in Rome 1984.
I have gone for Alan Kennedy as not many left backs can claim to have scored the winner in two European Cup finals.
Alan Kennedy signed for Liverpool Football Club in 1978. Bob Paisley paid Newcastle United £330,000.00 for Kennedy to cure the left-back problem Liverpool had at the time.
He made his debut in a home match against QPR. He played woefully in the 1st half and headed to the changing rooms at half-time wondering how he could play so badly. Little did he know he was to be the victim of a Bob Paisley famous one liner. Kennedy entered the changing rooms and Paisley informed him “They shot the wrong bloody Kennedy.”
This did not dampen this determined young man. He went on to cement his place in the Liverpool team where he would stay from 1978 to 1985. Kennedy was an attack minded left-back who could also defend well.
His most memorable moment came in the 1981 final where he scored the winner to take the European Cup back home to the Anfield trophy cabinet. He went on a surging run down the left side of midfield and finished it with a hard shot in at the front post. He ran away to the fans with a look of shock and jubulation on his face. He would taste many victories in a Liverpool shirt and would finish his career with a medal collection many footballers would love to possess.
Alan Kennedy will bring some attacking intent from the defence of my team. I felt I needed this as I have picked a more defensive right back in Tommy Smith. The balance of the defence is good with Hansen and Kennedy on the left. Carra and Smith patrolling the right side.
Alan Kennedy also known as Barney made 359 for LFC and scored 20 goals. He collected 4 league titles, 2 European Cups and four League Cup titles.
Alan Kennedy, I hand you my number 3 shirt.
Who would you play at left back?
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I think the way Enrique has started he will be right up there! Love him already.