In an exclusive interview with Goal, the former Anfield favourite compares the side of today with the great team of the late-1980s
“I get asked this a lot,” says John Aldridge, taking a sip of coffee. “The fact that it’s even a question tells you just what this team has achieved, I guess.”
“Some side, eh?” he smiles. “It was like Charlie and the Chocolate Factory for me as a striker in that team. Too good to be true.”
“They’re some side as well!” he laughs, before offering his comparison with the class of 1987-88.
“Different teams, but similar,” he says. “We played what you would probably say was a 4-2-3-1, while this team is a more traditional 4-3-3.
“But in terms of the football both teams play; attacking, flamboyant, with game-changers everywhere, yeah, you can see the similarities.”
“Barnesy was the best player I ever played with,” he says. “He was the absolute business.
“I had good movement, but most of my goals were six-yard tap-ins or headers. All I had to do is give it simple, take the centre-half away and get to the far post. Then Barnesy would pick me out!”
“Good question!” he grins. “I was more of a goalscorer than someone like [Roberto] Firmino, But I couldn’t do the things outside the box that Bobby does.
“It’s his awareness, the way he brings people into play. Beardsley, for example, was a great player, with great feet and tricks, but he would play more with his head down. Firmino has more awareness.
“Bobby has 360 degree vision. He knows where people are, and he has the touches and the flicks to open the game up. He’s more creative, more of an all-rounder.”
He’s also a European Cup winner and will, along with Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane, be key if Liverpool are to finally end that wait for a league title this season.
Do that, and they’ll be guaranteed legendary status at Anfield, right?
“They’re getting there, for sure,” says Aldridge, before issuing a word of warning.
“We’re not fickle as Liverpool fans,” he says. “And to become a proper Liverpool icon you have to do certain things. I think you have to love the club, and you have to stay at the club for a long time. I hope that these players understand that.”
They ought to, surely. After all, there can’t be many better places to be right now than at Klopp’s Liverpool?
“Unless they like good weather, there’s not a lot of reason to leave, is there?” laughs Aldridge, glancing upwards at the slate-grey Merseyside sky.
“Barcelona and Real Madrid? Fantastic clubs, but we are up with them at the moment. If you want to win big trophies, you’ve got as much chance here as you have over there, if not more.
“Those clubs are in transition. We are not.”
He’s got that right. Liverpool’s form over the past two seasons has been remarkable. They are European champions, and have put themselves in a wonderful position to add the Premier League this time around. It may only be October, but the Reds are well and truly in the box seat.
“Jurgen has done brilliantly,” Aldridge says. “He’s dealt with all those problems in pre-season, he’s lost his first-choice goalkeeper for two months, and we are top of the league by a good distance. It’s ridiculous, just outstanding management.
“Europe-wise, he’s the best in the business, for me. He’s had what, three European finals on the bounce? Pep Guardiola has not even had a semi-final in that period, let alone a final!
“Guardiola is a great coach, but he was very fortunate in the fact that he walked into a Monopoly game where he could spend what he wants and bring the players in willy-nilly. Klopp has had to do it the harder way. He’s spent money, but far less than City and on far fewer players too.”