Gary Neville feared only one Liverpool winger in his entire career and the Reds let him leave for free

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Liverpool have had some incredible wingers throughout their history.

From John Barnes to Mohamed Salah, the Reds have often had some of the best wide players in the English top flight and are likely to continue doing so in the future.

Salah is expected to remain at Liverpool next season but should the Egyptian superstar depart Anfield, the Premier League leaders are likely to replace the 32-year-old with a top talent.

Borussia Dortmund’s Jamie Gittens is one star Liverpool like and attracting players like this was not always a possibility for the Reds, especially through the 90s and 00s.

Gary Neville would have faced the majority of the wingers that played on Merseyside during that time and the former Man United star admitted he only feared one.

• READ MORE: Liverpool had a player Gary Neville said ‘any manager in the world’ would want but Jurgen Klopp let him go for free

Gary Neville feared only one Liverpool winger

Neville’s playing career at Man United spanned from 1992 to 2011 and throughout his time at Old Trafford, the right-back came up against some tough wingers, however, only one of those would come from Liverpool.

Speaking about Liverpool during Kenny Dalglish’s second spell in charge of the Merseyside club, Neville stated on Sky Sports that the Reds lacked quality wide players over the last 25 years, with the Man United legend admitting that Steve McManaman was the only player he feared when facing the Reds.

“I think they lack wide players. I don’t think for fifteen years when I played against Liverpool, apart from Steve McManaman in those early years, I never felt feared,” Neville stated.

“They signed a lot of Babels, your Pongolle’s, your Kewells, Riera, Diouf, and you’re thinking to yourself, none of them quite got to where they should be.”

McManaman had an incredible career in which the winger featured 364 times for Liverpool, scoring 66 goals and assisting a further 85.

Despite his importance, the former wide man left the Merseyside club for free in 1999 with McManaman opting to move to Real Madrid for nothing, with Trent Alexander-Arnold’s Liverpool future to play out the same way this summer.

Things have changed now at Liverpool as the Reds’ problems out wide have not been a problem for some time.

• READ MORE: Jamie Carragher suggests Liverpool have ‘always lacked’ a key player he asked the Reds to sign in January

How Liverpool solved their problems out wide

When it comes to wingers, Jurgen Klopp was the main factor in how Liverpool changed their approach to the position as the two wide men in the German’s teams became a very important duo in the Reds’ success over the last decade.

Salah and Sadio Mane would arrive during the early days of Klopp’s reign at Anfield and the two wingers, along with Roberto Firmino, would form one of the deadliest front threes in the history of English football.

Later on, the likes of Luis Diaz and Cody Gakpo would arrive on Merseyside, with the Colombian providing the Anfield faithful with plenty of entertainment over the last three years. The Dutch star has stepped up this season under Arne Slot, with the 25-year-old showing signs of a bright future.

Klopp demanded wide players with speed and an eye for goal, which is exactly what he got. Without the German, Liverpool may still be suffering with the issues they had under Dalglish, which was a big factor in their 30-year wait for a Premier League title.