Liverpool legend John Barnes has built his perfect player and has included Peter Beardsley because of one thing he did better than anyone else.
Peter Beardsley was one of the great creators of his era. He played either as an attacking midfielder or a second striker and lined up alongside some of the best forwards to have graced the game.
Beardsley was a strikers’ dream because everything he did was for his team. His former England teammate Gary Lineker once described him as ‘unselfish and creative’.
At Liverpool, Beardsley played with the likes of Ian Rush and John Aldridge and these partnerships were impressive to behold. John Barnes certainly thinks so, as he has highlighted one aspect of Beardley’s game which he admires the most.
While building his ultimate Premier League player, Barnes told Mail Sport that no one had a better footballing IQ than Beardsley. The playmaker was like a key with the ability to unlock defences. His vision and passing made him such a great teammate to have on the pitch.
Vision was just one of Beardsley’s skills. He was also good at carrying the ball forwards and getting out of tight positions. Even if there was a defender nearby, dispossessing Beardsley was no simple task.
The attacker was just as good off the ball as he was on it. He would often be seen pressing the opposition line of defence to prevent attacking moves from progressing. Beardsley’s movement in attack was highly effective too, as he made smart runs to get himself in good positions to receive the ball.
Beardsley was not the biggest goal threat, considering his position. He scored 218 goals in 643 competitive appearances, but his game was about so much more than just goal contributions.
Despite leaving Liverpool for Everton in the early ‘90s, Beardsley was named in Liverpool’s 100 Players Who Shook The Kop after a fan vote. Even after all these years, he is still recognised by the supporters and his former teammates alike for his brilliant footballing mind and sharp execution.
