Xabi Alonso was a key member of Liverpool’s side under Rafa Benitez.
Xabi Alonso says the spine of the Liverpool side which competed during the 2008-09 season was the best he has played in during his successful football career, the Guardian report.
The Spain international midfielder spent five years at Liverpool before leaving the club for La Liga giants real Madrid in 2009 and later joining Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich.
Alonso has played in some wonderful sides during his career, winning three international titles with Spain, the Champions League with Real Madrid and a league and cup double with Bayern last season.
But for all his success since departing Liverpool, Alonso insists the Reds’ spine of the 2008-09 campaign was the best he has played in as he pays tribute to the likes of Daniel Agger, Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres.
“To win the league you need to have everything,” he told the Guardian. “These were my happiest times at Liverpool: Pepe [Reina] to Agger, Agger to me, me to Stevie and Stevie to Torres.”
“Sometimes it would take less than 10 seconds. The spine in that team was the best I’ve played in. You also have Carra and Mascherano in the side – top-class players.”
“There was skill, steel and speed; it was very competitive, very intense. Very, very determined and committed.”
Despite the quality available to then boss Rafa Benitez, Liverpool ultimately finished as runners-up to Manchester United as a number of dropped points at home made the difference.
The Reds couldn’t replicate their form the following season, and the exits of Javier Mascherano, Torres and Alonso ripped up the spine and left the side needing a major rebuild.
Alosno won three major trophies while at Anfield – the Champions League, the European Super Cup and finally the FA Cup following another epic final this time against West Ham United.
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