Liverpool icon Craig Johnston was moved to tears in an emotional interview as he made his long-awaited return to Anfield for the Reds’ 2-2 draw against Fulham. The Australian, who played 271 games and scored 40 goals in his seven years at the club, was visibly excited on his return.
Johnston, a five-time league winner with Liverpool, also scored in the Reds’ 3-1 FA Cup final victory over Everton in 1986, won the European Cup in 1984 and lifted two League Cups. However, his Anfield career came to an abrupt end in 1988 when he retired to care for his seriously ill sister Faye, who had suffered a brain injury following a gas accident.
He shortly returned to Liverpool in 1989 after the Hillsborough disaster, raised £40,000 for the victims’ families and travelled halfway around the world to attend the memorial service at Anfield. Although he has rarely been present since, Johnston is now back at Liverpool and at Anfield for the Reds’ 2-2 draw against Fulham.
The former player couldn’t contain his emotions during a heartfelt interview with LFC TV’s Peter McDowall before the match.
“Just hearing you talk gets things moving,” he admitted, his voice trembling with emotion. “I left a little bit and obviously, there are many things that I never talked about, never discussed and never came back from.
“So, unfortunately, it’s emotional. People might think I’m a little sweet, but I’m not. I just enjoy living in this city for so long, nine years, and everything that happened while I was here. It’s just magical.
“Sometimes I can’t find the words to describe it. But it’s touching. But once I get over the emotion, I’m fine. But just hearing your voice and being here, it makes it very real, you know? Johnston later met several former teammates team at Anfield, but humorously commented that their reunion would not stir his emotions, and joked that they still owed him cash for the time they spent together.
“I probably won’t be moved by them, I’m even going to knock some of them out!” he joked. “Some of them owe me money!” Then it’s something else, the city, the culture, that time when we were, by far, the most productive team in the world.
“That’s what attracts me, and the circle of family, you know? But seeing the kids, like I said, I’ll knock them out when I see them!”
Johnston has also lavished praise on Arne Slot’s side, predicting Liverpool could clinch the Premier League name under the Dutch manager this season.
“Dare I say it, dare I say it,” he enthused. “It was 30 years before we’d won anything in between and Jurgen Klopp has done such a brilliant job as well.
“And now with Arne on top of it, hallelujah! Let’s not forget we won nothing for 30 years. That’s interesting.”
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Reflecting on the managerial impacts, he noted: “I see how Alex Ferguson left Man United and how that decimated the club for years. We all had those suspicions, but it didn’t happen and hasn’t happened at all. “
“It’s the opposite. We’re leading the championship and it’s Christmas!So come in!”
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