Ex-Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish jokingly dubbed Luis Garcia a "traitor" as the Spanish international turned out for both Liverpool and Barcelona in a legends game.
Garcia, who ended his playing career in 2016, started out at Camp Nou before winning the Champions League with the Reds. He spent three seasons at Anfield, scoring the goal which took the team to Istanbul in 2005 and also featuring in the run to the final in 2007.
Dalglish took charge of a Liverpool legends team at Anfield, with a Barca side packed with big names emerging as 2-1 victors. And the Scot couldn't help but aim a dig at the former forward.
"The starting XI will be: Sander, Glen, Carra, Sami, Daniel, Fabio, Bjorn, Salif, Stevie, Dirk and Luis is turning traitor after 45 minutes. He’s jumping to the other side," Dalglish said before kick-off, per The ECHO. “So, we will just see how it goes and everybody else who is not involved in that and some who are involved will have to play in the second part of the game as well.”
Steven Gerrard scored Liverpool's goal, with Giovanni and Rivaldo on target for their opponents. After the game, Garcia joked that “From the beginning I knew I was going to have a chance of winning today" after turning out for both teams. “I have to be honest, I heard a few complaints I played two halves!" he told LiverpoolFC.com.
"A few rumours about that! First half, I struggled a little bit with the chances I had, I didn’t score. But trust me, I wanted to finish them, no luck today. When you come here, you are desperate to perform well, to give everything. You try – your head goes but your body doesn’t follow the orders.”
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Garcia was one of a number of Champions League winners to feature in the legends game at Anfield. Gerrard and Jamie Carragher took to the field for the Reds, while Barcelona's team also included 1995 European champion Edgar Davids and 2006 winner Edmilson.
Dalglish was supported in the Liverpool legends dugout by former England international John Barnes. And the pair were able to call on a number of other big names from years past, including Steve McManaman, Dirk Kuyt and Maxi Rodriguez to name but three.
“This is a special ground, everybody knows that," Garcia said. When there was a chance for Barça to come here and play, everybody says yes straight away.
"And all the families were looking forward to this game, you can see the children before the game, all the players came out to look around and enjoy the atmosphere. It has been fantastic, we had a great time today.”
