The Liverpool legends match against Barcelona brought some recognisable faces back to Anfield over the weekend – but a few were not so easy to place.
Liverpool legends took on their Barcelona counterparts on Saturday to raise money for the LFC Foundation. The visitors won the game 2-1 thanks to goals from Giovanni and Rivaldo after Steven Gerrard had opened the scoring for the Reds with an early penalty.
The home side was packed full of Liverpool favourites from yesteryear, with Gerrard accompanied by Jamie Carragher, Jerzy Dudek, Dirk Kuyt, Steve McManaman and Luis Garcia, among many others. Fans who attended the match, which was in aid of the LFC Foundation’s Covid-19 recovery support work, would have instantly recognised the majority of those on display.
But nearly 20 years on from their time playing for Liverpool, Patrik Berger and Milan Baros look very different. The Czech duo both had long hair during their time with the club, yet now have a completely different look, with short hair and beards.
In a picture shared by Berger on Instagram, the midfielder is seen alongside Baros and fellow former Liverpool player from the Czech Republic, Vladimir Smicer, in the Anfield dressing room. In the caption, Berger writes: “Czech mates”.
While most of the replies, including from former team-mates Gerrard and Garcia, are celebrating the reunion, a few express the wider thoughts about their appearances. “Baros looks so different,” replied one fan.
HAVE YOUR SAY! Did you recognise Milan Baros and Patrik Berger at first glance? Comment below.
Berger spent seven years with Liverpool from 1996 to 2003, helping to win the FA Cup, League Cup and UEFA Cup after joining from Borussia Dortmund. He moved on to play for Portsmouth and Aston Villa, but remains closely connected with Liverpool.
Baros scored 27 goals in 108 games for Liverpool as a striker between 2002 and 2005 and was a part of the squad which won the Champions League under Rafa Benitez in Istanbul. The 40-year-old nearly got on the score sheet at Anfield on Saturday, but was denied by a brilliant last-ditch block from Barca defender Dani Tortolero.
Liverpool’s team was managed by true club legends Sir Kenny Dalglish and Ian Rush, with assistance from fellow former players John Barners and John Aldridge. Dudek alternated in goal with Sander Westerweld, with a defence made up of Carragher, Fabio Aurelio, Daniel Agger, Sami Hyypiä, Jose Enrique, Bjorn Tore Kvarme, Glen Johnson and Phill Babb.
Gerrard, McManaman, Kuyt, Berger, Smicer, Jason McAteer, Salif Diao and Stewart Downing were in midfield, with Garcia, Baros and Maxi Rodriguez as the forwards.
