Liverpool Legends vs Borussia Dortmund Legends LIVE
A side of Liverpool legends from years gone by were held to a 2-2 draw by a team of Borussia Dortmund greats from history on an entertaining afternoon at Anfield. In a match held for the Liverpool FC foundation and one that featured both Sir Kenny Dalglish and Jurgen Klopp in the home dugout, emotions were high as Diogo Jota was remembered after his tragic passing in the summer.
On the pitch, Steven Gerrard starred alongside Thiago Alcantara in midfield, and the Reds took the lead when the Spaniard lofted a delicate chip over Roman Weidenfeller. It was two when Jay Spearing scored a stunner from outside the area.
Dortmund responded well after the break and halved the deficit when Mohamed Zidan slotted past Pepe Reina, and they were level late on when Jan Koller stole a march on his two markers to nod home a powerful equaliser and stun the Anfield faithful.
Liverpool Legends vs Borussia Dortmund Legends latest news
- GOAL! Koller equalises
- GOAL! Spearing doubles lead
- CLOSE! Weidenfeller thwarts Thiago
- GOAL! Thiago opens scoring
A reminder of tonight's cause
16:50 , Arthur FerridgeOf course, this evening’s match is a fundraiser for the Liverpool FC Foundation, which supports a number of schools, families and young people in the Merseyside area.
FT: Liverpool Legends 2-2 Dortmund Legends
16:48 , Oli GentThere we have it. The spoils are shared, and it was a fun spectacle to watch. No Gerrard goal as all those at Anfield would have liked to see, but Jay Spearing’s strike was the pick of a great bunch.
Liverpool Legends 2-2 Dortmund Legends
16:44 , Oli Gent87 mins: Pennant goes into the book for a late challenge on Lee.
Liverpool Legends 2-2 Dortmund Legends
16:40 , Oli Gent85 mins: Gerrard is off, with Vladimir Smicer replacing him.
Goal! Liverpool Legends 2-2 Dortmund Legends
16:39 , Oli Gent81 mins: Dortmund are level, and it’s Jan Koller. He steals in at the near post, powering a header past Reina.
Liverpool Legends 2-1 Dortmund Legends
16:36 , Oli Gent80 mins: Crouch makes a good run through the middle but Lee just nips in to concede the corner.
Liverpool Legends 2-1 Dortmund Legends
16:31 , Oli Gent77 mins: Florent Sinama-Pongolle replaces Mark Gonzalez.
Liverpool Legends 2-1 Dortmund Legends
16:31 , Oli Gent75 mins: Close! Crouch isn’t far away as he peels away at the far post to try and meet Rieria’s cross, but he can’t make contact.
Liverpool Legends 2-1 Dortmund Legends
16:28 , Oli Gent73 mins: Antonio Da Silva is replaced by Dede for Dortmund.
Liverpool Legends 2-1 Dortmund Legends
16:27 , Oli Gent70 mins: Close! Gerrard denied a goal after a great ball from Benayoun is right into his path, but the Dortmund keeper is swift off his line to deny him.
Liverpool Legends 2-1 Dortmund Legends
16:26 , Oli Gent68 mins: More pressure from the visitors as Piszczek breaks into the box and strikes tamely, and Reina gathers.
Goal! Liverpool Legends 2-1 Dortmund Legends
16:21 , Oli Gent63 mins: Dortmund have one back as Zidan halves the deficit. He latches onto the clipped ball over the top and finishes emphatically past Reina.
Liverpool Legends 2-0 Dortmund Legends
16:16 , Oli Gent59 mins: Kelly is now at centre-back with Pennant at right-back. Crouch is stripped and ready to enter the fray, with Louise Schillgard making way.
Liverpool Legends 2-0 Dortmund Legends
16:10 , Oli Gent55 mins: Martin Skrtel is off, and Jermaine Pennant is on in his place.
Liverpool Legends 2-0 Dortmund Legends
16:08 , Oli Gent51 mins: Close! Grosskreutz works space down the left and cuts it back for Zidan, who fires over the top.
Liverpool Legends 2-0 Dortmund Legends
16:07 , Oli Gent50 mins: A slower start to this second period as Dortmund take control of the early possession.
Kick off!
16:03 , Oli Gent46 mins: Mark Gonzalez, Pepe Reina and Albert Riera are all on for the Reds as we’re back underway.
A reminder of tonight's cause
15:50 , Arthur FerridgeOf course, this evening’s match is a fundraiser for the Liverpool FC Foundation, which supports a number of schools, families and young people in the Merseyside area.
HT: Liverpool Legends 2-0 Dortmund Legends
15:48 , Oli GentThere's the interval. Liverpool are ahead, deservedly so, with Thiago running the show. What will the second half have in store?
Liverpool Legends 2-0 Dortmund Legends
15:47 , Oli Gent45 mins: One added minute.
Liverpool Legends 2-0 Dortmund Legends
15:43 , Oli Gent42 mins: It’s been all about the hosts, with Dortmund looking increasingly disjointed.
Goal! Liverpool Legends 2-0 Dortmund Legends
15:40 , Oli Gent38 mins: What a goal that is! Jay Spearing with a super strike, as he hammers home from range to double the Liverpool lead. It rolls out to him on the edge of the area, and he makes perfect contact to smash home.
Liverpool Legends 1-0 Dortmund Legends
15:36 , Oli Gent35 mins: Close! Substitute Natasha Dowie feeds Steven Gerrard who races in on goal, but he is kept out by the onrushing Weidenfeller.
Liverpool Legends 1-0 Dortmund Legends
15:33 , Oli Gent32 mins: Natasha Dowie and Gregory Vignal are on for Babel and Hyypia.
Liverpool Legends 1-0 Dortmund Legends
15:32 , Oli Gent30 mins: Klavan has been given licence to maraud forward from centre-back, but he is in an offside position. The flag doesn’t come as he feeds Gererard, who leans back and strikes over the top.
Liverpool Legends 1-0 Dortmund Legends
15:26 , Oli Gent26 mins: A good intervention from Skrtel as he blocks from Jan Koller. Leitner spurns the Dortmund corner.
Liverpool Legends 1-0 Dortmund Legends
15:23 , Oli Gent25 mins: Paul Lambert is replaced by Moritz Leitner. Jerzy Dudek is replaced by Sander Westerveld in net for the hosts.
Liverpool Legends 1-0 Dortmund Legends
15:22 , Oli Gent21 mins: Another moment’s applause for Diogo Jota as we reach the 20th minute.
Liverpool Legends 1-0 Dortmund Legends
15:20 , Oli Gent18 mins: What a chance! That was superb link-up from Thiago and Gerrard as the space opens up through the middle. The Spaniard gets it back from the Liverpool skipper with a neat pirouette, but he’s foiled by Weidenfeller.
Liverpool Legends 1-0 Dortmund Legends
15:16 , Oli Gent16 mins: Stephen Wright is replaced by Martin Kelly.
Liverpool Legends 1-0 Dortmund Legends
15:15 , Oli Gent14 mins: The Anfield faithful purrs every time Gerrard touches the ball. He and Thiago are already running the show.
Liverpool Legends 1-0 Dortmund Legends
15:11 , Oli Gent11 mins: A bitter pill for Dortmund to swallow with the former Bayern Munich midfielder Thiago notching that first goal there.
Liverpool Legends 1-0 Dortmund Legends
15:10 , Oli Gent9 mins: A sumptuous turn and clip over the top from Thiago into Gerrard, who fluffs his lines as he shapes up to strike.
Goal! Liverpool Legends 1-0 Dortmund Legends
15:08 , Oli Gent6 mins: Liverpool are ahead, and it’s Thiago who opens the scoring with the deftest of finishes. The Spaniard shows an exquisite touch as he ghosts into the box and lofts it over Weidenfeller after the give and go with Babel.
Liverpool Legends 0-0 Dortmund Legends
15:05 , Oli Gent4 mins: Piszczek makes a mess of things as he loses the ball deep in his own territory, under pressure from Gerrard. He recovers well to wrestle it away from Babel who looks to bear down on goal.
Liverpool Legends 0-0 Dortmund Legends
15:04 , Oli Gent3 mins: It’s early Liverpool pressure as Gerrard and Thiago get on the ball early. It’s worked left out to Aurelio, who checks back, but Biscan can’t find Gerrard in the box.
Kick off!
15:01 , Oli Gent1 min: We’re underway.
A moment's applause
15:01 , Oli GentFor Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva.
The players take to the pitch...
14:55 , Arthur FerridgeThe squads process out, meaning we will be underway shortly!
Team news reminder
14:50 , Arthur FerridgeWith ten minutes to go until kick-off, here’s a reminder of this afternoon’s starting XIs.
Liverpool XI: Dudek; Wright, Skrtel, Hyypia, Klavan, Aurelio, Spearing, Biscan, Thiago, Gerrard, Babel
Borussia Dortmund XI: Weidenfeller; Koller, Zidan, Lambert, Blaszczykowski, Dede, Heinrich, Groskreutz, Owomoyela, Piszczek, Schemlzer
Team photos
14:45 , Arthur Ferridge
A reminder
14:40 , Arthur FerridgeOf course, this evening’s match is a fundraiser for the Liverpool FC Foundation, which supports a number of schools, families and young people in the Merseyside area.
Kenny Dalglish on what the occasion means
14:39 , Arthur Ferridge“Its just the same. Everybody loves to see each other, they have stories to tell, played golf yesterday some of them, trained last night and play today. It is fantastic they give up their time to be here, and even more fantastic is the support they get from the crowd.
“It is important that you help people less fortunate than yourself.
On team selection: “They’re playing not for any reason other than they’re here. It is not as if one player is better than another. We’re grateful and we want to fit them all in.”
On Natasha Dowie: “She was lucky not to get sent off last year, the tackle she put in on Makelele! We got the suspension quashed so she’s available for today.”
What of Jurgen Klopp's future?
14:37 , Arthur FerridgeAfter being linked with takeovers at Real Madrid, Germany and Liverpool, here’s the latest from Jurgen Klopp on his future:
“Did Real call me or Pérez and ask: Jürgen, do you fancy it? Or is it enough if some AI writes any rubbish? It’s annoying.
“If Real had called me, you would have heard about it. But they haven’t called.
“And what next - am I also taking over Atlético at the same time? Sorry, Madrid. They have to call me first before I can say anything.”
On taking over Germany: “I’m not thinking about that at all at the moment.
“Who knows what the next few years will bring, but there are absolutely no plans in that regard.”
BORUSSIA DORTMUND CONFIRMED TEAM NEWS
14:31 , Arthur FerridgeBorussia Dortmund XI: Weidenfeller; Koller, Zidan, Lambert, Blaszczykowski, Dede, Heinrich, Groskreutz, Owomoyela, Piszczek, Schemlzer
Subs: Langerak, Lee, Leitner, Da Silva, Valdez, Kirch, Durm
Jurgen Klopp relishing the moment
14:24 , Arthur FerridgeFor those of you who happen to be watching the live stream of this event on YouTube, you will be taking in scenes of presenters struggling to get through their programme due to the raucous applause that is following Jurgen Klopp around the ground.
He is strolling around the pitch, soaking up every ounce of attention.
Back in familiar surroundings
14:19 , Arthur FerridgeJurgen Klopp looks thrilled to be back at Anfield!
Thiago Alcantara on a Liverpool reunion
14:09 , Arthur Ferridge“Amazing to be back here. The training ground is magic, so good.
“(My) first day [at Liverpool] was still at Melwood. Still COVID time, but my team-mates did an amazing job.
“I still talk to Adrian, Fabinho, Mo, all those guys that made the time here magic.”
Team news
13:59 , Arthur FerridgeDisappointingly, Mats Hummels does not make the squad.
Roman Weidenfeller goes between the sticks, with the Brazilian legend Dede up in front of him.
The Glaswegian Paul Lambert returns to the British Isles with the German side, too, whom he represented between 1996 and 1997.
LIVERPOOL CONFIRMED TEAM NEWS
13:47 , Arthur FerridgeLiverpool XI: Dudek; Wright, Skrtel, Hyypia, Klavan, Aurelio, Spearing, Biscan, Thiago, Gerrard, Babel
Subs: Reina, Westerveld, Vignal, Kelly, Benayoun, Schillgard, Smicer, Riera, Sinama-Pongolle, Pennant, Gonzalez, Crouch, Dowie, Kuyt
ICYMI: Liverpool latest
13:40 , Arthur FerridgeParis Saint-Germain have been handed a significant new boost ahead of their blockbuster Champions League quarter-final tie against Liverpool.
The holders meet the six-time winners next month in one of the standout last-eight match-ups in Europe’s elite club competition, with the first leg taking place at the Parc des Princes on April 8 before Anfield hosts the return fixture six days later.
They will be favourites to advance again amid Liverpool’s difficult campaign that has followed their Premier League title success, heaping pressure on manager Arne Slot.
The Reds’ chances of gaining revenge on PSG will not be helped by the latter’s Ligue 1 meeting with Lens next month being postponed.
Last time out...
13:31 , Arthur FerridgeDiego Costa and Martin Skrtel renewed their long-standing feud as they lined up opposite one another in a legends charity match at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea and Liverpool both sent star-studded squads of club legends to play a fundraiser for the Chelsea and LFC Foundations, but Costa and Skrtel’s approach to the match was not quite in the spirit of the occasion.
The pair came to blows on a few occasions, but made up at the post-match party.
Liverpool Legends vs Borussia Dortmund Legends match odds
13:22 , Arthur FerridgeLiverpool to win: 10/11
Draw in 90 mins: 5/2
Borussia Dortmund to win: 7/4
Odds via MyBettingSites (Subject to change).
Liverpool squad in full
13:13 , Arthur FerridgeConfirmed Liverpool Legends Squad: Pepe Reina, Jerzy Dudek, Sander Westerveld, Sami Hyypia, Martin Skrtel, Ragnar Klavan, Martin Kelly, Fabio Aurelio, Gregory Vignal, Steven Gerrard, Thiago, Yossi Benayoun, Vladimir Smicer, Igor Biscan, Mark Gonzalez, Jay Spearing, Louise Schillgard, Peter Crouch, Dirk Kuyt, Ryan Babel, Jermaine Pennant, Albert Riera, Florent Sinama Pongolle, Natasha Dowie
Coaching staff: Jurgen Klopp, Sir Kenny Dalglish
Standard Sport prediction
13:04 , Arthur FerridgeAs legends’ teams go, it is not often you can describe a side as having trophy-winning pedigree.
In the case of this Dortmund side, though, you can. They have had their name engraved into silverware as recently as January. The likes of Steven Gerrard and Peter Crouch cannot say the same.
Should today’s match come down to a question of match fitness and cup final experience, Dortmund certainly have the edge.
Borussia Dortmund to win, 3-1.
Borussia Dortmund early team news
12:55 , Arthur FerridgeDortmund have only confirmed a few of the names in their matchday squad: Mitch Langerak, Paul Lambert, Antonio da Silva, Jan Koller, Dede, Olivier Kirch and Karl-Heinz Riedle.
Their team which won the Legends Cup in January featured Mats Hummels, Roman Weidenfeller, and Sokratis Papastathopoulos, and they may well return on Merseyside.
Liverpool early team news
12:46 , Arthur FerridgeLiverpool will be led out by a highly accomplished managerial staff featuring Jurgen Klopp, Sir Kenny Dalglish, Ian Rush and John Aldridge.
They will have a star-studded team at their disposal, too, with Steven Gerrard, Peter Crouch and Pepe Reina among the talent.
Martin Skrtel, who made headlines in a recent legends’ match against Chelsea as he clashed with Diego Costa, has earned a recall. Ryan Babel scored the winner at Stamford Bridge in a similar event in October and also returns.
Midfieler Thiago Alcantara, 34, makes his Anfield homecoming barely two years after announcing his retirement.
How to watch
12:37 , Arthur FerridgeLive stream: Fans can follow the action at Anfield on a variety of channels.
The match will be streamed live on Liverpool’s official Facebook, YouTube and TikTok channels.
It will also be broadcast via the club’s official channels, All Red Video and LFCTV. All Red Video requires a subscription worth £4.99 per month, or £42.99 per season.
Good afternoon
12:28 , Arthur FerridgeHello, and welcome to Standard Sport’s LIVE coverage of Liverpool Legends vs Borussia Dortmund Legends!
Two star-studded squads of yesteryear’s top talents take to Anfield today, all for the benefit of the LFC Foundation. But who will come out on top on the pitch?
All will be revealed when we get underway, with kick-off pencilled in for 3pm. Stick with us!
