Joe Cole and Peter Crouch pick Luis Suarez and Didier Drogba up front in a combined Liverpool vs Chelsea XI from their playing days… while Xabi Alonso gets a role despite failing to  make the starting line-up

There were a few surprise inclusions as Joe Cole and Peter Crouch named their combined Liverpool vs Chelsea XI.

The TNT Sports pundits named their team ahead of tonight’s Premier League clash at Anfield – only selecting players who they played alongside during their respective careers.

Crouch played for Liverpool from 2005 to 2008 while Cole was at Chelsea from 2003 to 2010, before joining the Reds until 2013.

This meant that the likes of Mohamed Salah and Eden Hazard were not able for inclusion – despite Cole playing alongside the latter at Lille.

It was in defence where perhaps the most surprising names were included – despite there being little debate over John Terry and Ashley Cole’s inclusion in the team. 

The pair could only select players they played alongside, with the XI including the likes of Frank Lampard (left) and Steven Gerrard (right) 

Fernando Torres was omitted from the line-up despite playing for both sides in his career 

Xabi Alonso was included as assistant manager to Jose Mourinho, with ex-Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez missing the cut 

At right-back, they selected unsung Liverpool hero Steve Finnan – who made 145 appearances for the Reds and was a regular in their Champions League winning side of 2005.

The former Republic of Ireland international was selected over Branislav Ivanovic – who made 261 appearances at Stamford Bridge.

Jamie Carragher also made the starting line-up over Ricardo Carvalho, who played a big part in Chelsea’s success under Jose Mourinho.

Petr Cech was selected in goal, while there was no surprise to see Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard and Claude Makelele in midfield.

Xabi Alonso would have been a strong contender for a midfield role, though Cole and Crouch instead decided to place the Spaniard in an assistant manager role – despite only getting his first managerial role just over a year ago.

This meant that Alonso was selected over Rafael Benitez, who played a big part in the rivalry with Chelsea in the 2000s. 

Jose Mourinho was selected as the manager of the team, with Luis Suarez, Didier Drogba and Arjen Robben starting up front.

One notable name omitted in the forward positions is Fernando Torres – who played for both Liverpool and Chelsea. 

Steve Finnan was perhaps the most surprising name to be included in the starting line-up

Didier Drogba leads the line while Jamie Carragher (on the floor) was selected over Ricardo Carvalho

Luis Suarez (pictured) and Arjen Robben were also selected in a 4-3-3 formation

Other notable names left out from that era included the likes of Michael Essien, Javier Mascherano, Sami Hyypia and John Arne Riise.

Liverpool and Chelsea were massive rivals at the time that Crouch and Cole played for the sides.

Familiarity certainly bred some contempt with 24 meetings between the two clubs between 2004 and 2009.

Right now the rivalry is not what it once was in those peak days with Liverpool top of the table going into tonight’s clash, and Chelsea down in 10th.