Man United defender Jonny Evans shares which former Liverpool strikers he hated playing against

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Manchester United defender Jonny Evans has named two former Liverpool stars as his toughest ever opponents.

Evans is back at United this season after an eight-year absence. Now 35, the Northern Irishman has played against some of the top strikers of the past 20 years.

And speaking to manutd.com today, Evans was asked to name the three most difficult players he’s faced during his career so far.

“The three most difficult? I would probably say I’ve played against some good strikers over the years and Luis Suarez would have been up there when he was at Liverpool,” admitted the veteran centre-back.

“In the Brendan Rodgers team, when they had him and [Daniel] Sturridge up front as well, they were very dangerous.

“[Didier] Drogba. And I’d probably have to put [Sergio] Aguero up there too.”

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Since Suarez and Sturridge were in their pomp at Liverpool, the Reds have had many top, successful players pass through.

Given the brilliant, trophy-laden time of Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino, other forwards with less silverware have perhaps been overlooked.

But the truth is that the one-and-a-half seasons of Suarez and Sturridge playing together were every bit as good as anything Jurgen Klopp’s tremendous trio served up.

During their time together, Suarez scored 45 goals in 54 games, with Sturridge grabbing 35 in 49. Stunning numbers.

That they weren’t able to fire Liverpool to the Premier League title in 2013/14 is a source of great regret. Had they done it, their legacies would have been enhanced enormously.

Nevertheless, Suarez in particular has gone on to show just how good he really is. Still going at 36, the Uruguayan scored a hat-trick as recently as last weekend for Gremio in Brazil. For his exploits during and after his time at Liverpool, he’s regularly named as one of the best strikers of his generation, or even all-time.

Better defenders than Evans have struggled tremendously against him over the years.

As for Sturridge, injuries obscured what could, should, have been a brilliant career. Thankfully, the Englishman did manage to win some silverware with the Reds though, picking up a Champions League winners medal in 2019.