Liverpool CEO Billy Hogan says everyone at the club is "immensely proud" after £1m was raised for charity from March's legends game.
A whole host of former greats, including Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher, turned out at Anfield during the March international break as a legends' side managed by Sir Kenny Dalglish were beaten 2-1 by their Barcelona counterparts.
It was the first time LFC Foundation have been able to put on the annual fixture since 2019 due to the coronavirus restrictions and the game against the Spanish giants on March 26 was sold out as a result.
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All of the total proceeds will help fund a variety of projects for the Foundation including its employability and training programmes as well as wellbeing initiatives, with a focus on mental health.
The funds raised will also go towards helping several causes including the Owen McVeigh Foundation, the Barca Foundation and the Forever Reds organisation and Liverpool chief Hogan said everyone is hugely pleased to see the funds going towards helping communities across the city and beyond.
Mr Hogan told the ECHO: "It's an incredible figure and it makes us all incredibly proud. Number one is we haven't had the chance to host a legends event now for three years, so this was the chance to bring a full crowd to Anfield in support of I would say an incredible cause but incredible causes, because as you know the funding goes to multiple different projects.
"So first off, it's incredibly important and we're all immensely proud. I think the Foundation deserves incredible credit for the work they do but also when you put on an event like that, the entire team at the club have to work hard on that, so one of the things I am most proud of is the coming together of both the Foundation and the club in a really meaningful way."
The Reds' CEO, who joined pupils from All Saints Catholic Primary School at Anfield Sports and Community centre to celebrate the news on Monday, added: "It's the single biggest event from a fundraising perspective and there are unrestricted funds, so we can use those for lots of different projects that we need to and want here in the local community, so it is really important.
"The one thing for all of us over the last couple of years dealing with COVID and the impact, you know, every organisation, you name it, whether it's entertainment, sports team, restaurants, and in particular a lot of the charity organisations have really suffered.
"Not just in terms of the opportunity to raise money but also to support the people in need. So from our perspective to also get back to raising the money but also putting it into projects and causes that need it, it's incredibly important from our perspective."
Iconic former captain Gerrard scored on the day, but the home side were unable to force an equaliser after Barca had responded through Giovanni before a penalty from 2002 World Cup winner Rivaldo won it for the visitors,
The match was contested in front of a packed-out Anfield and LFC Foundation director Matt Parish, who was also speaking at the Anfield Community Centre on Monday, was delighted with what was achieved.
"Most of the staff here are Liverpool fans, it's not in the contract that they have to be, but they'll know about the Owen McVeigh Foundation and Forever Reds and they are proud," said Mr Parish. "That's important.
"It's brilliant, the club are flying on the field and it's been an unbelievable season so far with more to come but I am proud to say that we're working hard to create a Foundation that is brilliant off the pitch.
"There's still plenty of work to do but I think the aim is to build a foundation at a football club like Liverpool where supporters want to come to the legends game. We've got such unbelievable legends that play and it helps when you're playing against your Barcelonas and your Man Uniteds.
"We're taking the legends to Old Trafford on Saturday which is a game for the United foundation and then we're hopeful of bringing them back to Anfield in the autumn and then we'll go again in the March international break."
Former Liverpool captain and assistant boss Phil Thompson added: "I just think it is an amazing amount of money and going from the early days of the former players' association when were sort of raising £5 or £10k to help some of the guys who couldn't afford operations and things like that, now you're talking £1m.
"So yes, we're helping ex players but now it is going to the community and I think that is important, particularly the Anfield community which you feel as the football club being the biggest employer of the area is important. Particularly for the school kids to give something back to them because some kids can have it very difficult."
