Match Pictures | Matches: 2022 – 2023
Trivia
- KO: 15:00pm, Saturday; Match was on live for free on Liverpool FC’s Youtube channel.
- Friendly being played during an international break.
- Game played at Anfield Stadium, Liverpool.
- Celtic take 4000+ fans to the game. Incredible attendance.
- Celtic officials & Celtic FC Foundation lay a wreath in front of the Hillsborough memorial as a tribute in remembrance. RIP to the 97.
- Kenny Dalglish and Paul Lambert in the dugouts.
- Liverpool FC TV commentary team were a joke! Some bizarre banal comments throughout.
- Teams are composed of a number of former players for both sides.
- Robbie Keane played for both sides! Representing Celtic first before switching colours in the second half
- Some very curious refereeing in this match, bizarre in a friendly! At Celtic after the game, chat centred around two goals ruled out for the Hoops and a clear penalty not awarded by the referee. Why the bias & dodgy refereeing for a friendly charity game? Spoilt the match in part!
- Ex-Sevco manager Stevie Gerrard is the pantomime villain for the Celtic fans, and duly scores a penalty for the Liverpool select side (and celebrates in front of the Celtic fans, goading them). Some idiots threw plastic bottles at him. Unnecessary from both! Generated some unwanted press too. Sevco fans happy to see that, but Celtic fans joked in return that at least finally Gerrard got something to celebrate in front of the Celtic fans!
- Former EPL player Trevor Sinclair (who never played for Celtic) makes a dream come true to play in a Celtic shirt. Ex-Celt Simon Ferry never played for Celtic’s first team (only in juniors/reserves) but played today, mainly on back his social media celebrity status.
- Scotland defeated Cyprus in their European Championships qualification group match. Kicked off at 2pm, whilst this legends match overlapped (kicked off at 3pm).
Summary
“This is a credit to @CelticFC fans. My 2 favourite Clubs in British football, both with the same values, and I couldn’t be prouder of my relationship with them both. I look forward to seeing both sets of fans on Saturday. YNWA”
Kenny Dalglish on 4k+ travelling fans to the game.
‘Are you trying to say Celtic isn’t as big an adventure as some of those clubs allegedly interested. Why would Ange Postecoglou go there to get relegated?’
Kenny Dalglish on Postecoglu to EPL rumours (Mar 2023)
“Fair play to the Celtic fans yesterday, they were boss”
Empire of the Kop @empireofthekop · Mar 26
https://twitter.com/empireofthekop/status/1639897741563133954
“Best fans in the world!!! Been a while since there’s been some atmosphere inside Anfield tbf…”
PabloK8LFC @k8_lfc · 4h Replying to @empireofthekop
FT: Liverpool 2-0 Celtic
16:50
GOAL! Liverpool Legends 2-0 Celtic Legends (Gonzalez)
16:04
GOAL! Liverpool Legends 1-0 Celtic Legends (Gerrard)
15:39
Celtic XI
14:15
Teams
Celtic:
Manager – Paul Lambert
Assistant Manager – Tom Boyd
Assistant Manager (Auction Winner) – Ellen Flanagan
- Captain – Stiliyan Petrov
- Artur Boruc
- Shay Given
- Darren O’Dea
- Glenn Loovens
- Ramon Vega
- Mikael Lustig
- Emilio Izaguirre
- Lee Naylor
- Joe Ledley
- Simon Ferry
- Marc Crosas
- Massimo Donati
- Ross Wallace
- Simon Donnelly
- Trevor Sinclair
- Niall McGinn
- Robbie Keane
- Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink
Liverpool
Liverpool’s starting eleven to face Celtic has been announced: Westerveld, Kvarme, Skrtel, Klavan, Hyypia, Vignal, Diao, Adam, Gerrard, McManaman, Kuyt.
Subs: Dudek, Riera, Gonzalez, Sissoko, Garcia, McAllister, Aurelio, Cisse, Keane.
LFC Legends: Westerveld (Dudek, 46), Kvarme (Aurelio, 15), Hyypia, Skrtel, Klavan, Vignal (Garcia, 46 (Gonzalez, 84)), Diao (Sissoko, 14 (Keane, 74)), Adam (Riera, 46), McManaman (Gonzalez, 25 (McAllister, 80)), Gerrard, Kuyt (Cisse, 46).
Goals:Steven Gerrard (penalty) and Mark Gonzalez
Assists:
Ref:
Att: 48000
Articles
- Match Report (see below)
Pictures
Match Links
Articles
Charity the winner in Legends match at Anfield
By Ryan Maher
Charity the winner in Legends match at Anfield (celticfc.com)
As party atmospheres go, Anfield on Saturday afternoon was up there amongst the livelier, with thousands of Celtic fans descending to the city of Liverpool to bring the noise and the colour.
More than 45,000 headed to the south side of Stanley Park for a meeting between the legends of Liverpool and Celtic, all in the name of charity, with proceeds going towards the LFC Foundation.
And where the Celtic shirts are playing, no matter the occasion, the Celtic fans follow.
Throughout the 90 minutes, the thousands of Celtic supporters packed into the away end and in surrounding stands at Anfield sang their hearts out, praising the former Celts such as Artur Boruc, Mikael Lustig, Joe Ledley and Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink and the likes who had donned the famous green and white shirts once again, managed by the former club captain Paul Lambert.
Old changing room team-mates were back together again, testing how much the fitness levels had remained from their glorious playing days, up against Liverpool’s own ex-pros in the likes of Sami Hyypia, Luis Garcia, Steve McManaman and Dirk Kuyt.
The reds had a legend of both clubs in their dugout in Sir Kenny Dalglish, who took charge of the Liverpool team that ran out 2-0 winners with goals in each half
While the legs weren’t as strong as they once were, the competitiveness certainly was in the Celtic camp, with the chat after the game and into the evening centred on two goals ruled out for the Hoops and a clear penalty not awarded by the referee.
It didn’t rankle quite as much as it would have done had it been a competitive fixture, because performance-wise, the Celts dominated the match and did so on a day where the common cause outshone any grievances.
From the wreath that was laid at the Hillsborough memorial before the match, to the stunning rendition of You’ll Never Walk Alone as the players awaited kick-off, to raising a vast amount of money for those most in need, this match had much more to it.
As the Celtic fans joined arms to spread the huddle around Anfield, the two clubs were linking together on the park to help those in the city of Liverpool and beyond that require support more than most.
FT: Liverpool 2-0 Celtic
16:50
GOAL! Liverpool Legends 2-0 Celtic Legends (Gonzalez)
16:04
GOAL! Liverpool Legends 1-0 Celtic Legends (Gerrard)
15:39
Celtic XI
14:15
Team news
Former Rangers boss Steven Gerrard goads Celtic fans after scoring for Liverpool in charity match
Former Rangers manager Steven Gerrard had some fun during a charity match for Liverpool against Celtic when he scored the opening goal from the penalty spot.
Mark Atkinson
By Mark Atkinson
Published 25th Mar 2023, 16:12 BST
Updated 25th Mar 2023, 16:17 BST
https://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/rangers/former-rangers-boss-steven-gerrard-goads-celtic-fans-after-scoring-for-liverpool-in-charity-match-4079561
Gerrard, who managed Celtic’s arch-rivals Rangers between 2018 and 2021 and guided them to the Premiership title, was playing for Liverpool, his boyhood club, in the legends match at Anfield. The Reds were awarded a penalty in the first half – in front of the goal housing a 4000-strong Celtic following – and Gerrard made no mistake, slotting the ball past Artur Boruc. The 42-year-old celebrated gleefully as the Celtic support watched on before taking the acclaim of the Liverpool fans to his right.
The visiting support did not take kindly to Gerrard’s actions, with some objects thrown in his direction, as the video in the embedded tweet shows. The ex-England midfielder had previously cupped his ears in the direction of the Celtic fans and also asked them to raise the noise prior to scoring his goal.
Steven Gerrard tells Celtic fans ‘they can have a bit back’ as ex-Rangers boss explains Liverpool celebration
Former Rangers manager Steven Gerrard says he had to give Celtic fans “a little bit back” after scoring for Liverpool legends in front of the travelling support during a legends match at Anfield.
Mark Atkinson
By Mark Atkinson
Published 25th Mar 2023, 17:41 BST
Updated 25th Mar 2023, 18:37 BST
https://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/rangers/steven-gerrard-tells-celtic-fans-they-can-have-a-bit-back-as-ex-rangers-boss-explains-liverpool-celebration-4079607
Gerrard netted the opening goal in the charity encounter between Liverpool and Celtic when converting a first-half penalty. The 42-year-old ex-Gers boss goaded the away fans with his celebration, with some objects thrown from the crowd at him, and explained why he decided to do so as Liverpool went on to win the match 2-0.
“It was definitely a penalty,” said Gerrard on Liverpool TV. “Martin Skrtel’s excellent bursting through like a marauding midfielder. Stonewall penalty. There was only one taker from there and that’s me, in front of the Celtic fans. A little bit of pressure, I waited for (Artur Boruc) to go, and you have to milk it. I’ve had so much stick off them so they can have a bit back. There you go.”
Gerrard managed Celtic’s bitter rivals Rangers between 2018 and 2021 and led the Ibrox men to the Premiership title during his tenure before leaving for Aston Villa.
Steven GerrardLiverpoolIbro
Liverpool Legends ran out 2-0 winners over Celtic at Anfield on Saturday as the Reds’ stars from yesteryear once again rolled back the years.
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/newsliverpool/steven-gerrard-retaliates-as-defender-fumes-and-unlikely-liverpool-hero-emerges/ar-AA194IgA
Steven Gerrard opened the scoring from the penalty spot after Martin Skrtel was brought down in the box, before Mark Gonzalez maintained his sensational scoring run in Legends football by doubling the lead with a well-taken finish moments after the restart.
Celtic would also have two goals disallowed in what proved to be a competitive encounter, with plenty of fiery tackles flying in. And as Liverpool celebrated another Legends victory, here are some of the moments you might have missed…
READ MORE: Liverpool Legends player ‘ratings’ vs Celtic as Ragnar Klavan incredible and Steven Gerrard lively
READ MORE: Steven Gerrard targeted with bottles after Liverpool Legends goal against Celtic
Gerrard has last laugh
As a former Rangers manager who denied Celtic a famous ‘10-in-a-row’, Steven Gerrard was always going to be a pantomime villain with the travelling support. He wasn’t alone, of course, with Charlie Adam, Gregory Vignal, and Gary McAllister also jeered for such allegiances, but it was the legendary Liverpool captain who bore the brunt of such treatment.
“If you hate Steven Gerrard, clap your hands,” was one early chant from the away fans as they took every opportunity to mock Gerrard, be it booing his touches or jeering his misplaced passes. Charity game or not, there was no love lost.
Gerrard would bite back at one point in the first half, cupping his hands to his ears ahead of taking a free-kick in front of the supporters as the boos rained down. Moments later, he would celebrate wildly in front of the same corner after opening the scoring.
Meanwhile, when taking part in the lap of honour after the game, Gerrard, accompanied by his children, would decline applauding the Celtic supporters. Who can blame him and, with a goal and victory under his belt, he had the last laugh.
Match reportGerrard and Gonzalez strike as LFC Legends beat Celtic at Anfield
Published 22 hours ago
By Chris Shaw at Anfield
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Steven Gerrard and Mark Gonzalez were the goalscorers as Liverpool FC Legends beat Celtic Legends 2-0 at Anfield on Saturday.
Free highlights: LFC Legends 2-0 Celtic Legends
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A host of former Reds returned for the LFC Foundation charity fixture, which was presented by AXA Health and brought to you in association with Forever Reds.
Gerrard dispatched a penalty in trademark style seven minutes before the end of a first half that Celtic had enjoyed the better of for long periods.
Gonzalez increased the advantage for Sir Kenny Dalglish’s side within a minute of the second period kicking off and that scoreline held true despite multiple chances at both ends as legs tired.
It was a perfect result on a day when that mattered least of all, with vital funds raised for the work and community programmes of LFC Foundation and its partner charities.
All proceeds raised from the event will support a range of LFC Foundation’s and partner charities’ programmes. Fans can make a donation via liverpoolfc.com/donate.
There was a cagey beginning to the contest, with Celtic perhaps getting into their passing rhythm more swiftly than the home side.
Clear chances were absent, however, as Ross Wallace thumped a long-range effort wide of goal and Sander Westerveld gloved away a more accurate drive from a similar distance by Stiliyan Petrov.
Liverpool were forced into a double change due to injuries in between those opposition attempts – Momo Sissoko and Fabio Aurelio replaced the unable-to-continue Salif Diao and Bjorn Tore Kvarme.
Gonzalez soon came off the bench, too, but the Reds were struggling to provide usable service to their front two of Gerrard and Dirk Kuyt – and Celtic then threatened twice in quick succession.
Wallace’s angled delivery into the area was headed off target by Robbie Keane – representing the visitors before switching colours in the second half – and then Westerveld had to rush from his line to thwart Emilio Izaguirre’s attempted dink finish after an incisive one-two.
At the other end, Artur Boruc was relatively comfortable in tipping over a rising hit from Gonzalez, but the Celtic stopper would soon be picking the ball out of his net.
Martin Skrtel stepped forward to win possession in midfield and carried it into the penalty area, where he was scythed down by Darren O’Dea’s challenge.
Naturally, Gerrard assumed responsibility from 12 yards and provided the home fans with exactly what they wished for, stroking in the kick to break the deadlock and secure a half-time lead.
That advantage was doubled in a matter of seconds when play resumed.
Djibril Cisse, one of four new faces deployed by Dalglish for the second half, slid a pass in behind the Celtic defence for Gonzalez on the left, who beat his final marker and rolled a low effort in off the near post.
In response, Niall McGinn concerned Jerzy Dudek with a 20-yarder that the Pole shovelled away, and O’Dea’s flicked header past Dudek from close range was ruled out by an offside flag.
Ragnar Klavan had crept into an increasingly offensive role along the left during the encounter and he could have scored after darting forward to meet Cisse’s diagonal into the area – but nodded wide.
The defender then knocked the ball into his own net from the next Celtic attack, though he and Liverpool received a reprieve by virtue of another offside call.
Keane, now wearing red, was denied a Kop-end strike by the goalkeeper following a neat exchange of passes with Luis Garcia to create space, though Dalglish’s LFC Legends had done enough to mark their Anfield return with victory.
LFC Legends: Westerveld (Dudek, 46), Kvarme (Aurelio, 15), Hyypia, Skrtel, Klavan, Vignal (Garcia, 46 (Gonzalez, 84)), Diao (Sissoko, 14 (Keane, 74)), Adam (Riera, 46), McManaman (Gonzalez, 25 (McAllister, 80)), Gerrard, Kuyt (Cisse, 46).
One hit wonder Steven Gerrard, Bottling up the truth at Anfield
By justanordinarybhoy 27 March, 2023 2 Comments
One hit wonder Steven Gerrard, Bottling up the truth at Anfield
Saturday’s legends charity match between Liverpool and Celtic was a fabulous occasion for both sets of supporters. Overall it was a great day out as stars from the past helped raise a lot of money for a host of great causes.
Of course not without a hint of controversy, if you’ve not seen or heard of the Steven Gerrard incident, you’ve not being paying much attention. Gerrard of course was the subject of a few objects thrown from the Celtic end after he celebrated putting the reds legends in front from the penalty spot.
Gerrard scores his sides first goal from the penalty box during the Legends match between Liverpool and Celtic at Anfield on March 25, 2023 . (Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images)
It’s not nice to see and it gives our enemies more ammunition to have a pop at our supporters. As you know, it doesn’t take much. Yes it shouldn’t have happened, and yes Gerrard along with Charlie Adam were not shy in gesturing to our support a few times before the goal. But as much as Gerrard shouldn’t have celebrated in front of our support, our support in return should have known better than to take the bait and retaliate by throwing objects at him. They were goading him and he was giving it back, as much it was annoying, sometimes you just have to take your own medicine.
Charlie Adam of Liverpool is tackled by Stiliyan Petrov of Celtic during the Legends match between Liverpool and Celtic at Anfield on March 25, 2023. (Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images)
To be fair it was only a few supporters. Not to make excuses but with alcohol easily available in the stadium something like that happening was highly likely and not surprising. It wasn’t right but it was only a tiny minority involved. The overwhelming majority just laughed it off as they see Stevie G for what he is, and that is a joke figure. In the mind of Celtic supporters, that’s what he truly is.
Gerrard failed regularly against us, and his only honour was a league title which was won when we were in free fall and all in front of empty stadia, the covid champions. We know it and he knows it. The first sign of a challenge to his title and he was off when the first offer arrived from down south in the shape of Aston Villa. In his four years in Scotland, the darling of the Scottish media won less honours than St Johnstone’s Callum Davidson, despite having a considerably higher budget. That’s the god’s honest truth.
Stevie was tipped to go all the way to the top of the management game. Once upon a time he was hotly tipped to be the new Liverpool manager, now it’s looking extremely doubtful. He’s failed spectacularly and now his only chance of a return to his spiritual home is a day like on Saturday. Poor Stevie.
Robbie Keane of Celtic battles with Dirk Kuyt of Liverpool during the Legends match between Liverpool and Celtic at Anfield on March 25, 2023. (Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images)
The reaction of the media and the Rangers supporters came of no surprise. It was lapped up, our supporters were tarnished and the Rangers supporter lapped up Gerrard’s celebrations like some sort of victory. It’s the only thing they’ve had to smile about so far this season and maybe the only thing they will, so it’s kind of understandable. Levels and that. Short memories too.
What is more annoying about this is the high and mighty reaction from the Rangers supporters. Glass houses and all that. Comments like our supporters are a disgrace, and imagine doing that at a charity match, really? At least we haven’t robbed any charity money. Short memories eh?
Not to mention events that have occurred these past few seasons, regarding the danger our players have had at the hands of the Ibrox supporters. Remember Joe Hart and the broken bottle at Ibrox? Our physio being scarred for life in the same game? Or a few years earlier when Scott Brown was confronted on the pitch by an angry bear? All conveniently but predictably brushed under the carpet. There’s many more examples to be had, but I’d be here all day writing about it.
Can you imagine the scenario if say Neil Lennon scored for a Leicester legends side against a Rangers select and did the same in front of a stand of disgruntled bears? they’d all be calm and composed right? I think we all know the answer to that one.
The behaviour by a minority of our supporters is one thing, but having to listen to the preaching of those who are much worse is another. They must bury their heads in the sand when it comes to the brutal truths about their own behaviour. Or more likely pretend it didn’t happen like they do with everything else.
JustAnOrdinaryBhoy – follow on Twitter @ordinarybhoy