Mersey XIs: Ian St John 1960s

As part of our build-up to Saturday's FA Cup semi-final against Everton, we spoke to five former Liverpool players and asked them to select a Mersey XI. Each former Red was given a decade from which they chose their strongest all-Merseyside line-up and today, Ian St John kicks us off with his selection from the 1960s. Ray Clemence St John opted for Clemence despite the fact that the 'keeper joined Anfield with just two years remaining in the decade. During his 11 years in the first team, Clemence missed just six league matches, won every major honour in the game apart from the European Cup Winners' Cup and displayed a level of consistency that no Reds stopper has since been able to match. Ray Wilson Wilson was part of the famous England side that won the World Cup in 1966. He was 29 when Harry Catterick brought him to Everton, in 1964. That same season he tasted FA Cup glory with the Blues as they overturned a two-goal deficit against Sheffield Wednesday to clinch the trophy. Ron Yeats Bill Shankly said of Yeats, 'He was a tower, a fantastic man, 6ft 2½ in, quickest thing on two feet and strong as an ox'. Along with St John, he was the final piece in the puzzle as Shankly built his first great side that would gain promotion to the first division. Yeats was the captain when the Reds ended a 73-year wait to win the FA Cup in 1965. It was the Saint's memorable diving header that clinched victory on the day. Tommy Smith Yeats was the first Red to lift the FA Cup, Smith was the first to lift a European trophy when he got his hands on the UEFA Cup in 1973 and the Saint has paired them at the heart of his defence. Dubbed the Anfield Iron by the Liverpool faithful, Smith was an uncompromising defender. His bullet header in the Stadio Olimpico, towards the very end of his career, in the European Cup final of 1977, remains one of the most iconic images in Liverpool's history. Chris Lawler Lawler completes St Johns' defence. He netted 61 goals in 549 games for the Reds, which, for a defender who was never a regular penalty or free-kick taker, is an astonishing return. A local lad, nicknamed the 'The Silent Knight' by the Kop, Lawler was a part of the Liverpool side that won the FA Cup for the first time. Peter Thompson Liverpool were the envy of many clubs throughout the 60s, due to the fact they possessed such power and ability down both flanks. Little wonder, then, that St John has opted for his two former teammates Peter Thompson and Ian Callaghan to fill the wide slots in his Mersey XI. Thompson was a right-footed left-winger and was a great player with skill in abundance. Alan Ball The Saint has gone for an Evertonian combination in the centre of his midfield. The first is Alan Ball, who signed for the Blues after the World Cup final of 1966 during which he gave a fine display. He scored on his Everton debut against Fulham and was soon a firm fan favourite. A brilliant passer, Ball had great stamina and would never shirk a tackle. Howard Kendall The second is Howard Kendall, who would go on to manage the Blues on three separate occasions. Many believe Kendall is one of the finest players never to win an England cap. He joined Everton in 1967 and was part of 'The Holy Trinity' alongside Alan Ball and Colin Harvey. In 1981 he became player-manager at Goodison and went on to be the most successful Everton manager of all time. Ian Callaghan Cally won almost every honour possible and in a record 857 appearances for the club, he was booked just once. He was one of the first names on Bill Shankly's teamsheets as League and FA Cup glory came Liverpool's way during the mid to late Sixties and he was one of the first names on the Saint's list. A tireless worker with bags of energy, he played his part when the Reds beat Borussia Monchengladbach in Rome in 1977. He had been involved in Liverpool's first ever European game, some 13 years earlier. Alex Young Alex Young was so revered by the Everton faithful that when manager Harry Catterick left him on the sidelines to give game time to a promising centre-forward named Joe Royle in 1966, he was jostled in the Blackpool FC car park by his own supporters. Even St John has broken up his own formidable partnership with Sir Roger Hunt to find a place for the Everton giant in his Mersey XI. Sir Roger Hunt It's little wonder that the Saint opted for his old strike partner Roger Hunt to lead his Mersey XI forward line. Together they were the prolific attacking force of Shankly's first great team. Hunt was the scorer, St John played in a deeper role as the pair combined to lift the Reds out of the old second division. The Saint was aggressive and burly while Hunt was like a ghost who would drift into positions and score from anywhere, at any time.