The striker scored twice as Liverpool Legends beat Chelsea 2-0 on Saturday
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Peter Crouch of Liverpool Legends celebrates scoring his team's second goal during the Legends Charity Match between Liverpool Legends and Chelsea Legends at Anfield on March 22, 2025 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by LFC Foundation/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
Peter Crouch is already eyeing up a second appearance for Liverpool Legends after marking his debut for the Reds’ veterans with a brace off the bench. The striker was introduced as a half-time substitute against Chelsea and scored both goals in a 2-0 victory.
It marked Crouch’s first appearance in a charity match following his retirement from playing in 2019. And despite having not played for Liverpool since 2008, he was afforded the warmest of receptions back at Anfield in front of his watching family - second only to talismanic club captain Steven Gerrard.
“Honestly, I can’t keep the smile off my face,” he said after a day to remember. “I was just hoping to get through the game to be honest. It’s so nice to get a couple of goals.
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“Honestly, I’m genuinely really pleased because you just never think you’ll even get the opportunity to play at Anfield again. To score two at the Kop end, I’m so happy.
“First and foremost, it’s about the foundation and raising money. The amount of people who were here today is a credit to the club really and the fanbase.
“But I’ve also got my family here. My little boy had never seen me play, he’s only five so I’ve been saying to him, ‘I did play, I swear, I promise!’ For him to see it first hand, at Liverpool as well, it’s a good moment for my family.
“Having played for Liverpool, there is something special about this club. Once you play for a club like Liverpool and you speak to all the players, it just touches you.
“It’s so special. To get invited back, and even before today, you walk down the street and everyone is really kind about my time here. They’re so knowledgeable about the game as well. I always enjoy coming back but I probably enjoyed today more than most."
The striker even dusted off his famous ‘robot’ goal celebration to mark his first strike in front of the Kop. Performing it for the first ever time at Anfield, he admitted he initially hadn’t intended to but was persuaded to by some of the club’s younger supporters as he revealed how touched he was by the reception he received.
“First ever time! You know what, people must be bored of it,” he said. “I didn’t want to do it but so many kids on the way in, they weren’t even born the last time I was doing the robot.
“They kept asking me, ‘if you score, you’ve got to do it!’ You know what, you’ve got to do it for them.
“The reception was really special, I just don’t think like that. I do the games, I do the commentary and punditry so I’m around the live games but you never think you’re going to get that chance again in front of a packed Kop.
“There’s more people in here than when I played! So it’s so special to get a couple of goals and to get the win, I’m really pleased with it all.
“Oh yeah, 100% (I’m coming back next year)! You won’t keep me away now. I’ll ruin it next year!
“The thing is with Liverpool, there is always someone who is a bigger legend than you. I’m pretty sure there are bigger legends than me at Liverpool. But at least I feel like I’ve had some impact.”