Peter Crouch wound again the clock throughout Liverpool Legends vs Chelsea Legends, scoring a brace within the Reds’ 2-0 win and pulling out his iconic robotic celebration for the opener.
Saturday’s fixture commemorated Chelsea’s 2004-05 season, which noticed them declare their first-ever Premier League and first top-flight title in 50 years, in addition to the EFL Cup having crushed Liverpool within the remaining.
The 2 groups additionally confronted off within the Champions League semi-final that season, with the Reds claiming victory over two legs.
Some notable names on both aspect included Gianfranco Zola, Claude Makelele, William Gallas, Steven Gerrard, Dirk Kuyt and Crouch. Sir Kenny Dalglish managed the Liverpool Legends squad, whereas the Chelsea Legends had been led by Roberto Di Matteo.
And, at 44 years previous, Crouch appeared like he had not misplaced a step. The 6ft 7in former striker received on the top of a cross from Sinama-Pongolle, and climbed excessive to go the ball into the again of the web and make it 1-0.
Crouch celebrated jubilantly in entrance of the Kop, even whipping out his iconic robotic celebration, which he additionally carried out when he scored his one centesimal Premier League aim whereas enjoying for Stoke in 2017.
Peter Crouch wound again the years throughout Liverpool Legends 2-0 win over Chelsea Legends
The 6ft 7in ex-striker scored each of the Reds’ objectives and pulled out his iconic robotic celebration
Crouch carried out the identical strikes when he scored his one centesimal Premier League aim in 2017
Shortly after, the Englishman made it a second-half brace when he doubled his aspect’s lead within the 66th minute.
Crouch received up above Robert Huth however did not make a clear contact with Mark Gonzalez’s deep cross from the left. Nevertheless, the ball fell properly for him and he was in a position to lob the keeper along with his proper foot.
After the sport, Liverpool’s gamers went on a lap of honour round Anfield, which was nonetheless virtually full.
Talking at full-time, Crouch revealed the emotion behind returning to Anfield, sporting a shirt during which he made 85 appearances and scored 22 objectives between 2005 and 2008.
Regardless of being a boyhood Chelsea fan, Crouch’s 21-year-long profession as a journeyman, which noticed him play for 12 completely different golf equipment, by no means led him to Stamford Bridge.
Crouch stated: ‘It is fairly emotional often because I by no means thought I might come again right here [Anfield] in any capability as a participant.
‘So to play within the sport was wonderful, at the beginning for the Basis, however to attain a few objectives in entrance of my household and buddies it was wonderful.’
The charity match was introduced by Liverpool’s official coaching companion AXA, with any funds raised by the Reds going to the LFC Basis’s bodily and psychological well being programmes for individuals of all ages within the Liverpool metropolis area.
Crouch scored 22 objectives in 85 appearances for Liverpool in his spell between 2005 and 2008
In final 12 months’s charity sport, the Basis supported over 127,000 individuals by its programmes, delivering 18,000 periods and occasions throughout 300 neighborhood venues, together with 199 faculties.
In the meantime, the guests raised funds for Chelsea Basis, notably the Chelsea Gamers’ Belief.
Steven Gerrard hailed Crouch’s efficiency after the whistle, stating that his ex-team-mate breathed life into the affair, which was 0-0 when he got here off the bench at half-time.
The previous membership captain stated: ‘He [Crouch] modified the sport. I believe we performed properly all through the sport however we simply wanted a little bit of magic, a little bit of inspiration from the aspect, and the massive man supplied it.’
