Summary
Robbie Fowler snubbed the likes of Rio Ferdinand and John Terry when naming the best defenders he ever faced.
Carragher's dedication and leadership shone during Liverpool's 2005 Champions League win, earning him a mention.
Henchoz, known for his work ethic, complemented Hyypia as Liverpool's defensive duo before Carragher's arrival.
Robbie Fowler is one of Liverpool's greatest-ever players. With 255 career goals, he was the Reds' top Premier League scorer before Mohamed Salah recently stole that crown, and as such, Fowler was a figure of dread for defenders during his peak.
Nicknamed 'God' by the Anfield faithful - a divine nod that still reigns today - the Toxteth native often made shimmying past defenders and placing the ball in the back of the net look so easy. But that’s not to say he didn’t have his share of struggles. He played in an era when "defence wins you titles" was gospel, and centre-backs could leave a bit on their man without fear of disciplinary intervention. Being a striker back in the day was like a war of attrition.
Among those to have been plugging the gaps at the back during Fowler's days in the sunshine include Jaap Stam, John Terry, and Rio Ferdinand - all of whom rank among the greatest centre-backs in Premier League history. But, surprisingly, none of them were named when he was asked to list the three best defenders he ever faced during his career.
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Jamie Carragher
England
Jamie Carragher
All three of Fowler's choices showed his true colours, as the 50-year-old answered each of his Q&A questions on X with a Liverpool bias. Instead of picking opposition defenders, he named a trio of defenders he faced every day in training, proving he's still just a Liverpool fan deep down.
Jamie Carragher is better known these days as the intelligent pundit for Sky Sports - or, thanks to his Manchester United counterparts, for his Premier League own goal tally of seven. But back in the day, he poured his heart and soul into defending Liverpool's goal in an era when attacks were frequent due to the Reds' failings and lack of dominance compared to their former selves.
His never-say-die attitude was best showcased during the miraculous 2005 Champions League victory, where he played through pain to help Liverpool secure their fifth European Cup. At the end of that triumphant campaign, Carragher was voted the club's Player of the Season. With 737 appearances for Liverpool, the proud Scouser's legacy at Anfield is firmly entrenched.
Sami Hyypia
Finland
Sami Hyypiä celebrating for Liverpool
Sami Hyypia was a virtual nobody in English football circles when he arrived at Liverpool in 1999, having only had a trial at Kevin Keegan's Newcastle as a youngster and making his name in Finland and Holland. But he soon became the bedrock of Gerard Houllier's 2001 UEFA Cup, League Cup, and FA Cup treble-winning side, before then quickly establishing himself as a club legend in a time when success was few and far between.
Another who loved the club and stayed at Anfield for as long as he possibly could, the third-highest all-time appearance maker for Finland played 464 games for the Reds between 1999 and 2009, scoring 35 times. He also captained the side to the 2003 League Cup and partnered Carragher in the aforementioned historic 2005 Champions League final. In his post in response to a question about the best three defenders he faced, Fowler wrote (see the post below):
"Carra, Hyypia and Henchoz every day in training."
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Stephane Henchoz
Switzerland
Stephane Henchoz
Stephane Henchoz's huffing and puffing as he navigated the pitch like a bloodhound seemed to complement Hyypia's cultured defensive style effectively during the duo's time together, before Carragher fully arrived on the scene. He ended up playing 205 games for the club, and Fowler likely named him the third in a trilogy of Liverpool teammates he hated coming up against in training due to his tireless work ethic.
Houllier raised many eyebrows when he ordered the club to trigger a relegation release clause following Blackburn Rovers' demise in 1999, but the Swiss international proved to be a solid man-marker, a fierce competitor, and a smart reader of the game, even if his more physical side landed him and his previous teammates on the list of the nine dirtiest teams in Premier League history. Sadly, however, he had been phased out of first-team contention by the time 2005 came around and was left to watch the Champions League final from his hotel room.
All statistics courtesy of Transfermarkt (correct as of 08/06/2025)