Liverpool will this year contest their first FA Cup final in ten years with Jurgen Klopp’s side facing Chelsea at Wembley Stadium for the historic domestic trophy.
With the League Cup already secured and a UEFA Champions League and Premier League title also on the line, Liverpool could realistically wrap up a historic quadruple if they can keep their nerve in the final weeks of the season.
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Yet despite their success in both the Premier League and in Europe in recent years, the FA Cup has been a competition that Liverpool have struggled in, with 2006 being the last time the Reds even won the competition.
However, today we will look at the 2012 side, who lost 2-1 to Chelsea in a dramatic final, and look at who from that squad would make a combined XI with the current Liverpool team, one that many regards as one of the Reds’ best.
GK – Alisson Becker
Whilst Pepe Reina remains a cult icon at Anfield and is incredibly still playing today, Alisson Becker takes the goalkeeping spot for our combined XI, with the Brazilian international one of the best shot-stoppers to ever play for Liverpool.
One of the most complete keepers in world football and a key part of Klopp’s backline, Liverpool would be some way off where they currently are had it not been for the signing of Alisson, which is what puts the former AS Roma star in the XI over Reina.
RB – Trent Alexander-Arnold
In a stunning turn of events that very few would see coming, Trent Alexander-Arnold makes the XI over Liverpool’s 2012 right-back Glen Johnson, with the Merseyside no. 66 arguably one of the best fullbacks in the world and one of the most unique in the Premier League.
Alexander-Arnold’s passing ability makes the England international a joy to watch, and whilst Johnson had his moments for Liverpool, there’s no denying that Liverpool struck gold with their current right-back coming from the academy.
CB – Virgil van Dijk
Virgil van Dijk is a player many fans strongly connect Liverpool’s rise under Klopp to, with the former Southampton defender changing the club’s backline for the better since arriving in 2018 and becoming a force for the Reds.
Strong, defensively aware and intelligent, Van Dijk is one of Liverpool’s best-ever Premier League centre-backs, and the Dutch international will be key if the Reds are to lift the FA Cup trophy against Chelsea in May.
CB – Martin Skrtel
Finally, we have a member of the 2012 FA Cup final squad, with Martin Skrtel winning a place over the likes of Joel Matip, Ibrahima Konate and Daniel Agger, with the Slovakian defender a key part of Liverpool’s modern history.
A centre-back who played over 300 games for Liverpool and was a titan from set-pieces, Skrtel alongside Van Dijk could have been an incredible defensive partnership, and the defender is still fondly remembered for his nine seasons at Anfield.
LB – Andy Robertson
Whilst Jose Enrique is another player from the 2012 FA Cup final squad that retains cult status at Liverpool, it’s hard to think of a left-back in recent years who has been as consistent as Andy Robertson.
The Scottish international’s fullback partnership with Alexander-Arnold is one of the best in Premier League history, and Robertson’s driving runs down the left and passing ability make the defender one of the most complete left-backs in the modern game.
CM – Jordan Henderson
The only player in this list to feature in both the 2012 and 2022, Jordan Henderson has come a very long way since the lost final against Chelsea ten years ago, with few Liverpool fans at the time even thinking that the midfielder would even still be at the club, let alone captain.
Liverpool’s skipper for their first-ever Premier League title win and an incredible personality on and off the pitch, Henderson could make history if he’s on the winning side for the Reds against Chelsea this season, and many will want to see the 31-year-old lift the FA Cup trophy.
CM – Fabinho
With Liverpool having so many incredible midfield options in the current squad, picking just one is quite the challenge, but it’s hard to look at all of them and not pick Fabinho, much to the disappointment of Thiago Alcantara, who doesn’t make the XI.
Another signing under Klopp that has changed Liverpool for the better, the defensive midfielder has been a revelation for the Reds since his arrival from AS Monaco, and Fabinho’s qualities have been key to the Merseyside club becoming defensively stable over the years.
CM – Steven Gerrard
Sorry Jay Spearing, but Steven Gerrard gets the nod in the final midfield spot, with the Liverpool icon still one of the club’s best-ever Premier League players and one of the finest England has produced in the past 25 years.
The perfect captain and big-game player, Gerrard’s status at Anfield has only grown stronger over the years, and the Liverpool legend more than deserves a spot in this combined XI over the likes of Thiago, Naby Keita and Jonjo Shelvey.
RW – Mohamed Salah
Probably the easiest player to pick in this combined XI, Mohamed Salah takes his spot at right-wing over the likes of Craig Bellamy, Maxi Rodriguez and Dirk Kuyt, who all featured for Liverpool in the 2012 FA Cup final run.
One of the greatest goalscorers in Liverpool history, Salah’s career at Liverpool has been quite outstanding, and the Egyptian winger will be looking to add an FA Cup winners medal to his growing trophy collection with the Reds.
ST – Luis Suarez
With this being a combined XI, tactics and style of play all go out the window, meaning Luis Suarez gets the obvious nod leading the attacker over the likes of Roberto Firmino, Andy Carroll, and Divock Origi.
Whilst Suarez left for FC Barcelona in a £75m deal in 2014, the Uruguayan attacker is arguably one of the best strikers to ever wear the famous red of Liverpool, and a player of the South American’s quality could take the Reds to a new level in this day and age.
LW – Sadio Mane
Like Salah, Sadio Mane was certain to feature in this XI, much to the dismay of Stuart Downing, who started at left-wing for Liverpool in the 2012 final against Chelsea under Kenny Dalglish.
A consistent threat for Liverpool and one of the club’s top goalscorers this season behind his Egyptian teammate, Mane will be eager to cause Chelsea some damage in the final at Wembley, with the winger also yet to add the FA Cup to his growing collection of accolades.
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