It might be the international break but that doesn’t mean there isn’t any football at Anfield this weekend, with Liverpool Legends back in action as they host Celtic in their latest charity match.
As a result, a plethora of Reds stars from yesteryear were at the AXA Training Centre on Friday evening for media duties and a final training session as they dusted off the cobwebs ahead of rolling back the years on Saturday.
The ECHO were in attendance for the Legends’ final preparations and here’s what we spotted…
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Skrtel sneaks past
Prior to training at the AXA Training Centre, the Legends took part in some customary media duties. And one ECHO interview was very nearly interrupted by an oblivious Martin Skrtel!
Entering the room, the Slovakian was completely unaware of our video camera as he went to walk across the shot. Belatedly spotting it, he offered sheepish apologies as the interviewee in question tried to hold back the laughter.
While Skrtel would stop himself walking across the shot, the same cannot be said of one member of the Liverpool media team. Our video editing team will have fun with this one!
‘Where’s the pitch?’
John Barnes is a Liverpool legend. In 10 years at the club, he made 407 appearances, scored 108 goals, won two league titles, two FA Cups, and a League Cup, and also captained the Reds.
Sadly, the 59-year-old no longer dusts off his boots for playing duties in Legends matches, but he is still part of the backroom staff these days, having taken on an assistant manager role.
But with the entirety of his Liverpool playing career taking place when the Reds still trained at Melwood, alas, he was a little lost when it came to the AXA Training Centre.
“Ah, you have a camera, you’ll know!” he shouted to one member of the media. “How do you get to the pitch? I'm only the assistant manager but I have no clue!”
Fortunately Barnes would find his way in time for the start of training!
Dudek delayed
A popular man in the media room, former Reds goalkeeper Jerzy Dudek opened up on his time at the club to a number of individuals on Friday evening.
The ECHO were among those to speak to the ex-Poland international, a two-part interview that will soon be available to read online and on our app, which ensured the 50-year-old was late back to the dressing room as the players were soon after put through their paces.
As a result, Dudek was last to make his way out onto the training pitch and the rest of the Liverpool Legends were already underway with their exercise routines being led by a staff member.
Four players missing
Liverpool have named a 20-man squad for Saturday’s Legends game, but not all their players were available to train on Friday evening.
Having been on media duties for the England game on Thursday night, Reds legend Steven Gerrard was absent, while Charlie Adam and Djibril Cisse were also unable to make the training session. Meanwhile, Luis Garcia was forced to miss out after being delayed.
All four are still expected to feature on Saturday at least, but it’s a different story for a couple of other Liverpool heroes. Jamie Carragher and Daniel Agger were both originally confirmed to be taking part against Celtic, only for their names to be missing from the final confirmed squad.
Another legend spotted
As the Liverpool players began to wrap up their training session, a special figure made his way out to observe the activities of those who will grace Anfield on Saturday afternoon.
Manager of the Reds for today's fixture, Sir Kenny Dalglish, was already part of the pre-match preparations and was then joined by fellow former Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez.
The Spaniard's appearance was a welcome surprise, having emerged from inside the building of the AXA Training Centre with a spring in his step and smile on his face. Welcome back, Rafa!
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