Sven-Goran Eriksson fulfilled his lifelong dream and led a Liverpool legends XI today in front of a group of former Ajax greats in front of a sold-out crowd at Anfield.
The two groups will compete in front of 54,000 fans to raise funds for the LFC Foundation. Fernando Torres, Jerzy Dudek and Dirk Kuyt were among the Reds interested in an 18-man squad. Eriksson, who revealed in January that he was suffering from terminal cancer, will lead the Reds along with Ian Rush, John Aldridge and John Barnes.
As for Ajax, the Dutch team had several well-known names. Former Arsenal striker Nwankwo Kanu, former Finnish foreigner Jari Litmanen and Tottenham cult hero Rafael van der Vaart were all part of his squad.
The Reds finished with a 4-2 win with Djibril Cisse, Fernando Torres, Nabil El-Zhar and Gregory Vignal all scoring for Liverpool.
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That’s all we have for you this afternoon.
Thank you for joining us for the brilliant match at Anfield.
Liverpool can celebrate a 4-2 win at Anfield against Ajax, while Sven-Goran Eriksson received a warm welcome.
Djibril Cisse praised the “special” feeling after locating the team at Anfield.
He said: “It’s not every weekend that you play in front of 60,000 people, so you have to enjoy it. It’s a special club, special enthusiasts and special guys. “
“In the first half, when you retire for ten years, for some of us it’s difficult to get into the game. It takes a few minutes to get started. We won against a very smart team, Ajax. “
On his goal, he said: “When I’ve been scored for my whole life, that’s the only thing I know how to do well. It’s still the same feeling and even more so today. “
Sven-Goran Eriksson spoke after his team’s 4-2 win over Liverpool.
Speaking to the Reds’ YouTube channel, the Swede said: “I think everyone won today. And it was beautiful, surely amazing. Everything from You’ll Never Walk Alone to the fit and we won!We’ve been the most productive team. “
After the final whistle, the two teams surround the area and take part in a lap of honour.
Liverpool icon Steven Gerrard leads the way, while Sven-Goran Eriksson receives a warm welcome from the players and the public.
Well, it’s a lot of fun.
Liverpool 4-2 after trailing 2-0 at half-time. Djibril Cissé, Fernando Torres, Nabil El-Zhar and Gregory Vignal are among the Reds’ goals.
Stay tuned to Mirror Football for reactions. . .
And after Kop scored, Torres was substituted.
He replaces Jari Litmanen, who played for Ajax in the first half.
Torres, despite everything, gets his final goal for Kop and celebrates with some intensity.
The Spaniard got on the end of a low cross from Gonzalez. He stretched and was able to push his shot off the post.
It moves in combination before attacking itself just to make sure.
What an effect it had on this boy!
The Reds take the lead before ten minutes!
It was a Cissé painting that sent a forward pass to El Zhar while he was on the ground. He jogs into the box and goes into goal!
What a comeback of the red legends!
They gave us a stoppage goal between the sticks for Liverpool.
Westerveld replaces Chris Kirkland.
And in spite of everything, we are up to date!
It was former striker Djibril Cissé who handed it to him. From a free-kick, Kuyt returned the ball and Cissé nodded.
Clap from every corner of Anfield in celebration.
You know it’s a charity game when 43-year-old Dirk Kuyt tries to kick a bike.
Ajax failed to take advantage of a corner and the Dutchman unleashed his impressive effort but ended up in the Kop.
Martin Skrtel leaves the box and encounters Nabil El Zhar.
With just over 20 minutes to go and Liverpool are still pushing for an equaliser.
And it was this man, Fernando Torres, who saw some other effort stopped.
The Spaniard discovered dominance in the penalty area and tried to weave his way past some defenders, but unleashed a weak shot towards the goalkeeper. Gerrard then saw his own shot stopped.
And here we go, folks, we might have a game on our hands while Liverpool take one.
Vignal, the guy who found the net after taking advantage of a cross from Rodriguez and went into the back corner.
The Reds deserve the point, as Torres breaks free but misses his attempt in front of Kop.
Ajax extended their lead over Musampa to three.
He took aim from distance but his shot went over the crossbar. Today it looks good.
And here we go back to Anfield, a series of adjustments for the team.
Dirk Kuyt is one of Liverpool’s names.
It turns out that Steven Gerrard has resorted to force in an attempt to get Liverpool back on the subject.
Speaking about the former England manager, he gave an emotional speech at Anfield this afternoon.
Eriksson clapped loudly among the house enthusiasts as he emerged from the tunnel. A poignant chorus of “You’ll Never Walk Alone” was heard among the enthusiasts, some of whom held back tears.
And that’s it for the first forty-five minutes at Anfield and so far it’s been entertaining.
Goals from Boerrigter and Musampa gave Ajax a 2-0 lead. We know what Sven-Goran Eriksson has in store for us at half-time.
And that’s scoring for the Reds.
Fabio Aurelio turns out to have had a rib problem and is replaced by Gregory Vignal.
And a few minutes before the break, Ajax increased their lead.
Liverpool failed to be transparent when Musampa sent the ball and shot past Dudek’s desperate attempt.
Adjustments needed for hosts. . .
Fernando Torres has grown in stature since his time at Liverpool.
Derk Boerrigter just came close and forced Jerzy Dudek to stop.
Michael Krohn-Dehli was also furious at half-time.
Here are some initial tweaks for Ajax.
Rafael van de Vaart and Jari Litmanen are the retired players and Edgar Davds is introduced.
How has Liverpool caught up?
From another corner, Rodriguez unleashed a depraved half-volley that he saved. The rebound then shot towards goal, with De Zeeuw making a heroic block.
And Liverpool have a chance.
Maxi Rodriguez combined with Torres on the edge of the box and aimed for the back corner and his shot was blocked by the Ajax goalkeeper.
The Reds are at the top of the group lately but are 1-0 down.
Fernando Torres is SO for Liverpool’s equaliser!
The Spanish striker cleared a corner but may simply nod his head towards the post.
Well, that’s not how Liverpool were looking to start this game, as they are 1-0 down.
Ajax kept the ball for the first few games and the ball came home through Derk Boerrigter on a cross from De Zeeuw.
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