It has been 27 years since a Liverpool participant final began each sport in a single marketing campaign, however does the wait ever stand an opportunity of ending within the fashionable period?
All through Liverpool’s 132-year historical past, near 90 gamers have ended a season as an everpresent, which means they began each single sport from begin to end.
4 gamers maintain the file for the longest run of begins, and it dates again to the 1983/84 season, when Alan Hansen, Alan Kennedy, Bruce Grobbelaar and Sammy Lee had been within the XI 67 occasions in a row.
Fairly the accomplishment and present of sturdiness, particularly when you think about it stays the longest marketing campaign within the membership’s historical past, one which noticed Joe Fagan‘s aspect raise the league title, European Cup and League Cup.
The final time the Reds had any everpresents, although, was in 1996/97, when David James and Stig Inge Bjornebye began all 52 matches.
It begs the query of whether or not we’ll ever see the feat once more, particularly within the age of sports activities science, overwhelming worldwide schedules and early spherical cup rotation.
The fashionable period just isn’t fairly equipped for it anymore, participant welfare has modified considerably.
In saying that, although, Virgil van Dijk did come shut in 2018/19. He began 50 of the Reds’ 53 video games, with suspension, sickness and a knock in charge for him not including his identify to the checklist.
The Dutchman, nonetheless, has been an everpresent for the Reds within the Premier League in each 2018/19 and 2019/20 – the latter of which he performed each minute of each sport.
He joins an unique group, of which Jamie Carragher is a part of, due to his efforts within the 2004/05 marketing campaign – one that’s extra memorable for achievement in one other competitors!
Liverpool’s former No. 23 was additionally a league everpresent in 2008/09, a feat completed by a complete of 14 Reds because the inception of the Premier League in 1992.
Robbie Fowler (1994/95), James (1994/95, 1995/96, 1996/97), Steve McManaman (1995/96), Bjornebye (1996/97), Sami Hyypia (1999/00, 2003/04), Sander Westerveld (2000/01), Markus Babbel (2000/01), Pepe Reina (2007/08, 2008/09, 2009/10, 2010/11), Martin Skrtel (2010/11), Simon Mignolet (2013/14), Alisson (2018/19) and Andy Robertson (2020/21) additionally make up the checklist.
So whereas 38 begins within the Premier League nonetheless seems a practical goal, will we see a Liverpool participant begin each sport in each competitors in a single season ever once more?
