KUCHING: Anfield witnessed a stirring reunion of footballing greats as Liverpool Legends secured a 2-0 victory over Chelsea Legends in a LFC Foundation charity match aimed at supporting community initiatives on Saturday.
Peter Crouch, a cult hero among Liverpool fans, gave new and old fans alike a nostalgia cake with a brace that sealed the win for the Reds.
Speaking to Liverpool FC post-match, the 44-year old striker reflected on his experience after the final whistle.
“I can say it was quite emotional really because I never thought I’d come back here in any capacity as a player,” Crouch admitted.
Flabbergasted by the opportunity to represent the club of his heyday once more, the six-foot seven-inch wonder of the football world was honoured to be back ‘home’ for a good cause.
“But to score a couple of goals in front of my family and friends was amazing,” he said gleefully.
The former England striker opened the scoring with a trademark header from a Florent Sinama-Pongolle cross before sealing the win with a deft lob over Chelsea goalkeeper Rob Green.
His celebration – a return of his famous robot dance – drew the loudest cheers of the day.
His second came in style, lofting the ball over Green following a well-placed pass from Mark Gonzalez.
The match was not without its feisty moments.
A clash between Chelsea’s Dennis Wise and Liverpool’s Jay Spearing saw tempers flare in the first half, with Wise wagging his finger in Spearing’s face before being separated by teammates.
Among those taking part were Anfield icons Steven Gerrard, Dirk Kuyt and Jerzy Dudek, while Chelsea fielded former stalwarts such as Claude Makelele, Florent Malouda and Ramires.
The fixture, organised by the LFC Foundation, aimed to raise funds for charitable causes, including the Chelsea FC Foundation and the Forever Reds initiative for former players.
For fans, it was a trip down memory lane – reminiscent of the heated yet respectful battles that defined early 2000s Premier League football – when Liverpool and Chelsea shared one of English football’s fiercest yet most respected rivalries.
