Former Liverpool midfielder Jonjo Shelvey has finally revealed what was said by ex-Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson during and after their touchline argument back in 2012.
The game itself, which ended 2-1 to Manchester United at Anfield after Rafael and Robin van Persie cancelled out Steven Gerrard’s opener, was overshadowed by the bust-up between Shelvey – who was sent-off for a foul on United defender Jonny Evans – and Ferguson, who was clearly angered by the midfielder’s reckless challenge.
And now, three years on, Shelvey has finally come clean on what was said after the match. He admits that accusing Ferguson of ‘grassing him up’ to the referee at the time, but now realises that he was wrong.
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In quotes taken by the Liverpool Echo, he explained: “I was a bit immature then and a bit silly. I pulled him aside afterwards and apologised to him and he was spot on with me.
“He said, ‘no I like it. It shows you’ve got a bit of balls about you’. I got a few high fives around town for the next few months, but it was silly from me on the professional stage. You don’t do something like that.
“I was young and I was starting for Liverpool against Manchester United, games don’t come much bigger. I was immature, the occasion got the better of me. It was part of growing up and you learn from those sort of things.”
Shelvey, 23, left Liverpool for Swansea in 2013. He’s since become an integral player for the Swans and has played an important role in their fine start to the season – which culminated in their victory over United last weekend.
His form has even earned him an England recall for this month’s international fixtures – his first call-up since 2012. The question is – should Shelvey, who played 69 times for us during three years at Anfield, still be a Liverpool player?
He’d suit the deep-lying playmaker role, a la 2013/14 Steven Gerrard, better than any of our current batch.