Steven Gerrard scores on Anfield return but Liverpool Legends lose 2-1 to Barcelona as Rivaldo stuns Reds veterans
STEVEN GERRARD rolled back the years with a goal for Liverpool in a charity match between Liverpool and Barcelona.
Returning to the hallowed Anfield turf, Gerrard found the back of the net in a game between Liverpool and Barcelona legends put on to raise money for the LFC Foundation.
And it didn’t take long for Gerrard to get back into the groove.
Early in the first half a trademark lung-busting foray into the box saw Gerrard gather a through ball from former team-mate Dirk Kuyt.
He shifted it onto his right foot, and was brought down by Edmilson as he prepared to pull the trigger.
The Aston Villa dusted himself off to take the spot-kick, and well the end result was never really in doubt.
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Hometown hero Gerrard sent Barca keeper Jesus Angoy the wrong way to coolly tuck his penalty into the bottom right hand corner and put the Reds’ legends ahead.
But Barca hit back just before half time through another Brazilian, with Giovanni levelling things up at the Kop end.
And after Gerrard was the only man not to be subbed at half time, the visitors scored the winning goal just under 10 minutes into the second half.
Yet another Brazilian was involved this time, with 1999 Ballon d’Or winner Rivaldo joining Gerrard in scoring from the spot.
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With the 2005 Champions League final shootout hero Jerzey Dudek in goal, Rivaldo stepped up from 12 yards.
But despite Dudek’s best efforts, he could do nothing to keep Rivaldo’s effort out.
The result inflicted a second Anfield defeat on Gerrard in the space of four months – once as a player, and once as a boss.
A solitary Mo Salah penalty saw Jurgen Klopp’s side beat Gerrard’s Villa 1-0 in the Premier League back in December.
The likes of Jamie Carragher, Steve McManaman, Sami Hypia and Luis Garcia all pulled on the Liverpool shirt again alongside Gerrard at a sold out Anfield.
Meanwhile Barcelona Legends boasted Juliano Belletti and Edgar Davids in a star-studded squad.