Who are you most looking forward to seeing return to Liverpool today?
Former Liverpool duo Dirk Kuyt and Pepe Reina have spoken with excitement in the build-up to today’s Anfield charity match, with both expecting the mass reunion to be an emotional experience.
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Kuyt, who will watch the game from the sidelines due to injury, told the Liverpool website that the event will be ‘symbolic of Steven Gerrard’s stature at the club’.
With the Liverpool captain due to leave us at the end of the season, today’s match has become known in some parts as his second testimonial game – a chance for fans to celebrate everything he’s achieved on Merseyside.
Kuyt revealed: “One or two months ago I got the call asking to help create a great match for Stevie and I was so excited to hear about it. Also, the kind of game he wants to play – with players who are still all involved in football – I was so excited and it was great to be involved in it.
“It feels so good to be back. We flew to Manchester, and we had to drive through [Liverpool] and you see all the places you were used to for all those years. It’s very special and it’s a bit emotional.”
Reina, who will play against Gerrard as part of the Jamie Carragher XI, told reporters at LFC.tv that he is itching to hear ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ ring around the stadium one last time.
The Spanish goalkeeper only left the Reds on a permanent basis last summer, having spent last season on loan at Napoli. He’s now playing for German giants Bayern Munich, where he’s teammates with another former Anfield favourite – Xabi Alonso.
Speaking in the build-up to the game, he added: “It’s emotional. It’s a way for me to say ‘goodbye’ to everybody and say a ‘thank-you’ for all those happy moments during my eight years here.”