Lucas Leiva picks his Perfect XI

Liverpool’s beloved midfielder picks the best Reds he played alongside over a decade at Anfield – with a generous sprinkle of samba stardust to finish off his formidable line- up

JULIO CESAR

“Julio hit his peak at Inter, and was the world’s best goalkeeper for many years. As well as being an outstanding player, he’s a brilliant guy who was always kind to me in the national team. It’s a shame that he didn’t get to lift the World Cup.”

MAICON

“Maicon was like a train from right- back! He had power and acceleration, and was able to attack and defend with the same intensity. He showed he was a complete player for both Inter and Brazil.”

DANIEL AGGER

“I feel sorry for Daniel with all the injuries he had, because his left- footed passing wasn’t normal among centre- backs. His build- up play was just as impressive as his aerial ability, and he was the perfect combination of technique and strength.”

THIAGO SILVA

“Another example of a centre- back who has great style and even better strength. His reading of the game is phenomenal, his play out from the back is magnificent and he’s the complete central defender. All of these attributes make Thiago the ideal partner for Agger.”

MARCELO

“By far the best left- back I’ve ever played with. I’d pick Marcelo mainly because of his offensive power, which allows him to create chances in a variety of ways. But although he’s usually praised for that prowess going forward, I’d like to highlight his defensive improvements, too.”

XABI ALONSO

“The guy was absolutely incredible, blending amazing technique with unbelievable accuracy. Xabi is the greatest passer of a ball I’ve played alongside, and had the ability to dictate the pace of our Liverpool team. I learned a huge amount in the two years we were together in England.”

GILBERTO SILVA

“My international team- mate could read the game exceptionally well, but he was also a versatile central midfielder. If the team needed him upfield, he’d be there setting up chances; if they needed more protection, he’d be there doing his thing in front of the defence.”

STEVEN GERRARD

“A truly extraordinary footballer – Stevie could attack, defend and score so many goals from his position. He’s a role model for several generations to come, and he would definitely captain this team, too.”

RONALDINHO

“What can I say about this lad? He’s the player everyone wants to be; a magical guy who could do anything with the ball. I think I’d give Ronaldinho the freedom to roam and set up lots of chances – he would really enjoy that.”

LUIS SUAREZ

“Luis [ below] has to be my No. 9 upfront, not only because he’s a prolific forward, but because he has a fantastic ability to score goals out of nothing. At Liverpool, he often set up opportunities for himself and was the guy who made a difference

time and again.”

PHILIPPE COUTINHO

“Having spent three and a half years alongside him at Anfield, I know exactly what Philippe is capable of. I witnessed first hand the massive improvements he made, and momentum he managed to build up at Liverpool. With his skills, he’d be one of the best players in this team.”