Liverpool’s Legends team takes on Manchester United this evening in a keenly anticipated meeting in Stockholm.
Some famous old faces from both clubs will be on show and goalkeeper Jerzy Dudek has already promised that the match will be anything but ‘friendly’, as both teams look to secure the bragging rights over their former foes.
Here are the five Reds that we are most excited to see back in the famous shirt…
SEE MORE:
Proof that Liverpool in the loan market is a myth and a total waste of time and money
Deciding Liverpool’s ‘strength in depth chart’ – Attacking midfield strong, right-wing weak
Report ranks every Premier League club in order of transfer success
5) Abel Xavier
Considering the fact that the erratic defender played just 14 times for Liverpool in the Premier League, it feels more than a little generous to be including him in a team of ‘legends’. However, his flamboyant hairstyle and style of play make him one to watch here. The former Portugal international, who earned 20 caps for his country and played at the World Cup in 2002, also played for Everton and Middlesbrough during a club career which spanned almost two decades.
4) Vladimir Smicer
Smicer’s last outing for Liverpool saw him score the second of three goals in our Champions League comeback win over AC Milan in Istanbul – hardly a bad way to go out! But still, he’s risking that legacy and pulling on the shirt once again here – although, to be fair, he’d have to go some to stop us loving him! The classy midfielder is still only 42 and should be able to dictate the play in the centre of the park. The Czech international retired from playing in 2009, two years on from rejoining former club Slavia Prague.
3) Patrik Berger
Talking of classy midfielders – what a partnership Smicer and Berger should make. Berger, who retired after a spell with Slavia’s neighbours Sparta in 2010, has not been in Liverpool colours since 2003 – at which point he was a rampaging winger down the left-hand side of the Reds’ attack. While the 41-year-old might well have lost a fair share of his pace, it’s worth remembering that he’ll be up against similarly aged defenders, and thus should still be able to make a more than decent impact.
2) Luis Garcia
Still only 37, Garcia was playing in the Indian Super League only last year and should be one of the most physically fit players on the pitch. The popular Spaniard, who won the Champions League and the FA Cup during his time with us, was always the man for the big occasion – scoring THAT volley against Juventus and the ghost goal that beat Chelsea on route to Istanbul. Let’s hope that tonight he’ll be able to chalk a goal against the Manchester United Legends side off his to do list.
1) Robbie Fowler
Liverpool’s captain and inspiration – he’ll be desperate to get himself on the scoresheet tonight. When Liverpool played Real Madrid in a Legends game earlier this year, the 40-year-old ran his heart out for the team only to be left disappointed. We know that he can still finish – you don’t lost that ability – so let’s hope that he can get himself in the right place at the right time and break that drought with a goal tonight. His manager and our club’s all-time top goalscorer, Ian Rush, will be expecting nothing less.
