Gary Neville brilliantly bought Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher a permanent reminder of his Everton roots for Christmas.
The former Manchester United captain has struck up a hilarious relationship with his former Anfield rival with their roles as pundits and commentators on Sky Sports. The two have stitched each other up in the past but Neville has got one over Carragher with a Secret Santa gift.
Carragher, who played 737 times in a one-club career with Liverpool, actually grew up an Everton fan before playing in the Reds youth ranks. The Champions League winner has constantly been reminded that he crossed the city divide and Neville’s gift was the latest reminder.
On the latest episode of Stick to Football, brought to you by Sky Bet, Neville and Carragher joined Roy Keane, Ian Wright and Jill Scott in Secret Santa, making for a brilliant present from Neville to the Liverpool legend. As Carragher unwrapped his gift to produce a certificate, his face lit up, causing the rest of the pundits to become curious.
Carragher laughed before turning the certificate to reveal his name underneath the Everton badge with a message and photograph underneath. Neville then took the gift and explained what he had bought his colleague, explaining: “Carra will have a brick in the new Everton stadium, saying: ‘Jamie Carragher forever a blue.’”
Neville then revealed he had a second gift, showing Carragher another document that had a picture of Carragher from an infamous clip during the Stick to Football TV show where he was petrified abseiling down the outside of Anfield will also be included as part of the fan wall on Bramley Moore Dock.
Carragher shows present
Carragher revealed his Everton-themed present
It was then time for the roles to reverse as Neville opened his present next, with Carragher revealing that he had Neville, leaving the former United defender looking worried. Neville unwrapped two books, with the first one titled: “How to make it in America,” in reference to Neville extending his platform to U.S. focused podcasts and appearances on U.S. broadcasts.
Neville opened the second present to reveal a picture frame of The Beatles and a selfie of Carragher smiling beside his colleague during a Liverpool victory over United, as the former Red gleefully quipped: “People who have made it in America.” Neville also took the present in good spirit as he put the picture frame on the display in the back of the shot.
Carragher previously told FourFourTwo magazine about the moment he realized he no longer was an Everton fan. “It was in 1999, when I was a Liverpool player and we’d been beaten by Manchester United in an FA Cup tie. It was a lunchtime kick-off, and later that afternoon I met some of my friends for a few drinks down the pub – the same one I’d watched Arsenal beat Liverpool in 10 years earlier.
“It was full of Evertonians who were absolutely delighted Liverpool had lost, and it really annoyed me. Before then I’d become indifferent to Everton’s results, but from that day on I wanted them to get beat!