How good was Jari Litmanen?

[jonesie]

I'm writing a short bio of him for a sports photography website, and it's got me thinking about how good he was.

The first thing everyone seems to say whenever they are asked about him is 'he should have played more but Houllier was too defensive' but I used to think that was a bit harsh on old GH.

Heskey and Owen were on fire at the time, and Jari did have his injury problems. He was great at times though, I remember being at the game when he scored a stunning goal against Spurs at the Kop end.

A bit of a legend at Ajax and Barca, so does he fall into that category of great players who never played in a World Cup? (Best, Giggs etc)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K7MKygXO7XE&feature=related

[Rich]

His LFC career was definitely hampered by injuries; much in the same way as Aurelio is today. Obviously a class player, who really could find a pass.

[Tee]

He should have played more games for us, thats for sure and would have been ideal in Stevies role in the current team.

One of the best attacking players of his generation. Similar to Bergkamp IMO.

[shanks69]

he reminded me king kenny in the way he could read the game.

[Dutte]

He was ****ing ace, that's how good he was. One of the most intelligent and gifted players of the nineties.

How good he was for Liverpool, or vice versa, is another story.

[Jaymo]

his pen against Roma at anfield in the first minute!

:O

[jonesie]

That move to Fulham was a strange one though wasn't it? Hasn't played yet has he?

[homer1]

A fantastically gifted player, made for the 2nd striker position

Technically superb with excellent vision and very disappointing that he didn't feature more for us - had lots of niggling injuries and when he played it was often on the right side where he was wasted

[el matador]

put it this way - our current team is crying out for him when he was at his best.

he was a genius. he had total control over the ball which very few players have ever had. not the quickest but he was always thinking 5 or 10 passes ahead of everyone else on the pitch. would have been the perfect partner for torres and link up player with gerrard. he was that good.

If he had come to us instead of going to barca when he left ajax then we would have seen the best of jari. Instead he went to barca and didnt really play for a couple of seasons and then joined us when he was nearing 30.

but a true class act.

[tomasjj]

Loved watching him play.
A sublime footballer.
Creative and intelligent player.

[Norbs]

He was boss on Amiga Sensible Soccer, not as good as Bergkamp though

[Whelan5]

Amazing footballer, saw him play for Finland against Ireland in Lansdowne a few months b4 he joined us and he ran the game completely despite his lack of pace.

Somehow Ireland won 3 nil and Mark Kinsella was mom but Jari was streets ahead of every other player on the pitch.

[Roboklopp]

Aye, a Jari in top form is exactly what we need. I still remember that game (against Citeh in the FA Cup I think) where he orchestrated the game single-handedly- including that 70 yard reverse pass to set up Heskey's goal. Amazing.

He scored against Leverkusen too in the CL quarters (when CL quarters were a big deal for us) when GH ****ed everything up by taking Dids off when we just needed not to concede.

[Ryan_Derrick]

One of the best attacking players of his generation. Similar to Bergkamp IMO.

The biggest compliment you can pay Jari is that because of him Ajax didn't miss Bergkamp.

[Ryan_Derrick]

You wouldn't get change from £20mil for the Litmanen of 10 years ago.