Bayern Munich star player Xabi Alonso has saluted the 2008/2009 Liverpool squad.

He said the team is the best he has played in. The Spain international joined Anfield in 2004. He spent five seasons, winning the UEFA Champions League and an FA Cup before exiting. He moved to Real Madrid for £30 million in 2009 before his transfer to the German side in 2014.

The ex-Liverpool defender revealed recently in an interview that his time with the Reds was the best he has played in. Alonso, 34, was part of the Rafael Benitez side that finished four points behind Manchester United. The team lost two games all season in the Premier League.

“To win the league, you need to have everything. These were my happiest times at Liverpool: Pepe [Reina] to [Daniel] Agger, Agger to me, me to Stevie and Stevie to [Fernando] Torres. Sometimes it would take less than 10 seconds. The spine in that team was the best I’ve played in,” Alonso said. He said that Carra and Javier Mascherano completed the side. He added that though the team did not win anything together, but they felt they could win everything. He blamed the draws at home for costing them the title, but that everything other team required in a team was there.

Alonso was part of the 2005-Champions League winning team. He said the team that lifted the title was “a not-so-good team. He said the 2007 squad was stronger but lost the Champions League final. In 2009 the team played the best of football, lost the amount of games but did not still win the league. Most players in that set-up have exited the club at various times. Lucas Leiva still remains, but most of the players that moved on from Anfield.