Anfield takes a trip down memory lane this weekend as Liverpool Legends take on Chelsea in a special charity match.
The Premier League rivals do battle once again on Merseyside, only this time with some familiar faces returning to grace the hallowed turf once again. The Legends game, an annual tradition now at Anfield, will be played in order to raise funds for the LFC Foundation.
Some big names will be on show, with Sir Kenny Dalglish and Roberto Di Matteo taking charge of the respective teams. The likes of Steven Gerrard, Sami Hyypia and Peter Crouch are all expected to be in action for the Reds, with Gianfranco Zola and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink among the Chelsea stars on show.
Ahead of Saturday’s game, Liverpool’s former stars were at the AXA Training Centre as they got some last-minute preparations in ahead of pulling on their boots again. Here’s what we spotted from the special training session on Friday.
No sign of Stevie
There’s no doubt about who the biggest name in the Liverpool squad is for Saturday’s game, with Steven Gerrard making his return to Anfield. The former captain is a regular fixture in these games, and he starred in last year’s win over Ajax.
There was no sign of him at the AXA Training Centre on Friday though as his teammates prepared. It’s not clear why Gerrard wasn’t present for the training session, but hopefully he will be ready to play against Chelsea.
Injury problems
It might be a one-off game, but Liverpool has already been hit by an injury problem ahead of meeting the Blues. Although he’s been named in the squad, Martin Skrtel won’t be playing any part in the game.
The former defender watched on from the sidelines as some of his former teammates trained, with the club confirming he’ll miss out on the game after picking up an injury. That will come as a disappointment for the Slovakian, and no doubt supporters, but it’s good to see he still made the return to Merseyside to support his fellow Reds.
Going retro
Seeing some of the club’s biggest names from down the years back at Liverpool is sure to bring back some fond memories, not only for fans but the players themselves.
There were a number of the Istanbul heroes from the Champions League final win over AC Milan in 2005, with Sami Hyypia, Djibril Cisse, Florent Sinama Pongolle and Jerzy Dudek all involved in training on Friday, while Igor Biscan and of course Gerrard are expected to join them on Saturday.
(Image: Getty Images)
There was even a souvenir from that unforgettable night in Turkey, with Cisse posing with a replica shirt marking the miracle of Istanbul, and it wasn’t the only retro shirt on display.
Former goalkeeper Sander Westerveld also posed with a replica of the 2001 FA Cup final shirt, when a Michael Owen double saw the Reds beat Arsenal in Cardiff. We’d love to get our hands on either of those!
History maker
As well as raising money for such a good cause, there will be some history made at Anfield on Saturday.
Natasha Dowie will become the first woman to represent Liverpool Legends, while Chelsea will also have Katie Chapman in their ranks, marking another special moment for the growth of women’s football.
Dowie is the perfect choice to take that honor for the Reds. The former striker is Liverpool’s record goalscorer with 47 goals to her name, having helped the club to two Women’s Super League titles during her playing days.
She is now an ambassador for the club, and has made numerous appearances at events, including during pre-season in the United States last summer. And judging by the footage from Friday’s training, she hasn’t lost her golden touch.
He’s big, he’s red…
You never lose it, do you Crouchy? The former striker, who was a firm fans’ favorite during his time at Anfield, was in red hot form during training as he demonstrated his skills once again.
Crouch linked up superbly with Dowie and his former teammate Dirk Kuyt for a beautifully crafted goal during the session, and got involved in some more shooting practice alongside the likes of Cisse and Yossi Benayoun, with the Frenchman in particular looking in great touch.
For Crouch though, Saturday’s game is sure to be a special occasion, and no doubt we’ll get another airing of the classic chant: “He’s big, he’s red, his feet stick out the bed.”
“My boys support Liverpool,” Crouch said in Friday’s pre-match press conference at the AXA Training Centre. “I’ll take them to games and they were kind of pushed into it a little bit, but they absolutely love it and I’m very pleased that they do because for me, I can now be a part of it.”
