The spring international break has now become the customary chance for the LFC Foundation to host a match between Liverpool legends and legends of another club. The event always raises a good amount of money for the club’s charity, and brings back popular faces for another run out at Anfield. This time the Liverpool Legends included Thiago Alcantara (!!!) and Pepe Reina making their legends debuts under first time manager Jürgen Klopp to face the Borussia Dortmund legends. The new kids joined familiar names like Steven Gerrard, Peter Crouch, and Sami Hyppia against Mats Hummels (!!!), Lukasz Piszczek, Kevin Grosskreutz, and Karl-Heinz Riedle – the latter also making a return to Anfield after spending two years with the Reds in the 90s.
The club website caught up with some of the legends for their reflections on the match, a four goal draw including goals from Thiago and Jay Spearing (!!!!), and returning to the Anfield crowds.
Steven Gerrard: “We’re obviously here for a great cause. It felt like a family day today for us all. 60,000 again is amazing, for great causes, and it’s an absolute pleasure to be here.
“The brain still works the same speed, it’s just the body is two or three seconds behind! So, there were a few frustrating moments. But it was nice to link up with a bit of quality today. Deserved Man of the Match [Thiago]. Unfortunately, we couldn’t win the game for supporters but it was still a fantastic experience.
“It’s a fantastic buzz. The last time I played football and saw these guys was one year ago. It’s too long but everyone is busy doing their own thing. When the invite comes to come and be part of this, you can’t wait to get together. We’re one big family. The club are amazing [with] what they do for ex-players.
“The support we’ve had today, 60,000 – come on, no other club in the world does this, 60,000 for exhibition games. The big thing for me is where the money goes, it goes to fantastic causes, helping a lot of people in need. And that’s the reason why we’re all here today.”
Thiago Alcantara: “It’s amazing. Two things got together – that is a full Anfield and playing with this legend [Gerrard]. It was an unbelievable moment and I will keep it with me for sure.
“When I scored, Stevie came and I told him it was the first sprinting I did since I arrived in Liverpool! Why not?! In that moment we just react, we are comfortable in the box. It’s nice to score.”
Jürgen Klopp: “Enjoyed every second. My role was definitely not to have a lot of words. I was here for the Foundation and to be part of a really special experience. For me, a very special experience after a while – being around, being that close, seeing all the Liverpool lads and then seeing the Dortmund lads as well because that was like 80 per cent of my players. And you don’t meet very often and have them all together in one room. It’s really cool.
“It was really, really, really nice. And the people suck it in. It’s just so nice to see all the boys playing – but I think Thiago alone was worth the ticket!”
John Aldridge: “No other club can do it, very proud to say that. We fill it out every time we play and it goes far abroad and shows people what the Liverpool fans are made of to back us up. This has been going on not just for the last few years, it has been going on a long time now, and the amount of good that comes out of it, they should know: it’s absolutely amazing. Over £1 million raised for local charities and for the ex-players obviously, in case something happens in years to come to any one of our greats. It’s a win-win situation. The players come back and experience what they used to do, a 60,000 crowd.”
Pepe Reina: “Any time they invite us, we are blessed and honoured to be here in front of this crowd. Obviously this stadium feels [like] home and hopefully looking forward to many more.”
Ryan Babel: “It’s always special to touch the grass of Anfield. So many memories, so many good memories. I’m very grateful to be invited every time.
“The mind still is very brave and wants to challenge but then your body will sometimes be like, ‘Er…’ We are passionate. The passion never leaves us. Even when you are on the bench you are really living it, so it’s good.”
