For the first time in six years, Martin Skrtel will walk on the Anfield pitch sporting the famous Liverpool shirt.
Making his first appearance in a Liverpool Legends fixture, the 37-year-old will line up alongside the likes of Luis Garcia, Maxi Rodriguez and Xabi Alonso on Saturday afternoon as the Reds look to get the better of Manchester United for the second time this year.
A fan favourite throughout the course of his eight-and-a-half years on Merseyside, the Slovakian quickly earned the approval of supporters courtesy of his committed and no-nonsense performances in the heart of the Reds' defence.
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Arriving at the club in the summer of 2008 from Zenit St Petersburg to work under Rafa Benitez, the centre-back took little time to adjust to his surroundings and would go on to make a total of 320 appearances during his Anfield stay.
Reflecting on his early days at Liverpool, Skrtel told the ECHO: "I came here as a young player and for me to work with a manager like him [Benitez] was a big thing. I knew that, with him, I could only improve. I tried to learn every single day, not only from him but the other players too. To train and play with players like Carra, Sami Hyypia and Daniel Agger was a big thing for me."
It was June 2010 when the man who brought the towering defender to Liverpool left the club by mutual consent, paving the way for the arrival of Roy Hodgson. Benitez may well have moved on from the Reds but set his sights on reuniting with Skrtel in the summer of 2013 when in charge of Serie A side, Napoli. A £10million bid was rejected by the Reds, but how near did this deal come to being completed?
"It was never close enough because I stayed in Liverpool," said Skrtel. "I don't regret it because I played here for eight-and-a-half years and it was the best time of my career and in my life because my son was born here. Liverpool will always be in my heart. It's not easy to stay in a club like this for such a long time so I'm proud of that."
His departure would eventually arrive three years later, at the end of Jurgen Klopp's first season at the club, when a transfer to Turkish giants Fenerbahce materialised. Skrtel had only signed a new three-year deal the year prior to his exit in 2016, but the former Slovakia international was convinced the time had come to seek pastures new.
"I was happy in the club and the club were also happy because we extended the contract two or three times. I didn't really think about leaving the club apart from the last season because I had a feeling inside me that it was the time to change something and that it was the time for some new challenges. That's why I decided to leave and move to Turkey," he explained.
"Before that season [2015/16], I had a feeling in the summer that maybe it was time to change something. After I spoke with Brendan [Rodgers], he told me he wanted me to stay and continue working with him but he obviously left the club and that feeling that I had before was getting stronger and stronger."
Skrtel made a total of 27 appearances in all competitions during his final campaign with Liverpool as Klopp led the club to two separate finals. The German was denied the dream start to his managerial career on Merseyside as Manchester City lifted the Carabao Cup while Sevilla continued their Europa League love affair at the Reds' expense.
Klopp has since guided Liverpool to glory both domestically and in Europe, establishing himself as a legendary figure in the process. Skrtel has witnessed the success of his former employers from afar and remains hopeful securing silverware can remain a long-standing tradition at the club.
"It wasn't easy for him and the club because there were many things he changed but he is obviously one of the best managers in the world," he said of Klopp. "The stuff he has done for the club and the players, you can see that.
"It's good to see the club winning trophies. I just hope there will be more in the future. Liverpool is a club with the fans and players, who deserve the trophies. With the quality we have, we have to be competing for the trophies not only in England but the Champions League too."
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