The Reds played out an entertaining 2-2 draw at Anfield, where Steven Gerrard and Jurgen Klopp drew the biggest cheers from the home supporters.
16:48, 28 Mar 2026Updated 17:01, 28 Mar 2026
Steven Gerrard celebrates with Thiago after his goal
Thiago and Steven Gerrard rolled back the years as Liverpool legends played Dortmund on Saturday
Liverpool legends drew 2-2 against Dortmund in Saturday's friendly game at Anfield, the proceeds of which will raise vital funds for the LFC Foundation.
Thiago and Jay Spearing had handed Liverpool a first-half lead with two excellent goals, but the visitors drew level in the second period to spoil the afternoon for the majority inside the ground.
Mo Zidan and Jan Koller grabbed both for Dortmund in the ninth instalment of the Liverpool legends' game. Here are five things fans may have missed at Anfield.
READ MORE: Liverpool fans send Thiago Alcantara plea after starring in Legends gameREAD MORE: Liverpool fans waste no time singing Jurgen Klopp chant he created for Arne Slot
Importance in the city
You could be forgiven for thinking a match featuring retired veterans - including a few grandfathers - would be a relatively minor event on Merseyside, especially on a day which included a WSL derby and an FA Trophy semi-final involving nearby Southport.
However, for many avid Reds, this was a rare opportunity to sample Anfield, see some old favorites, and sing the Reds' famous chants. With artist Jamie Webster leading those renditions pre-match, it set the tone for an entertaining afternoon at Anfield, with a record 60,582 tickets sold.
There was even a small allocation of Dortmund fans clad in yellow situated in one corner of the Anfield Road Stand, such was the significance of the charity game.
And of, course, none of the on-field action should distract from the true purpose of the legends’ game, which is to raise funds for some very worthy causes locally and abroad. The LFC Foundation supported over 145,000 people last season, and the funds generated from this year’s game will primarily be used to develop employability programmes in Liverpool and internationally.
Who impressed?
The involvement of Thiago had piqued the interest of fans pre-match, and he more than justified that excitement with a sublime performance from midfield. The slower pace of proceedings certainly suited the Spaniard, who managed to dictate the pace, threading repeated passes into a more advanced Steven Gerrard. He also thundered into tackles and grabbed the game’s opening goal when he chipped the ball over Roman Weidenfeller at the near post. Even more impressive, the retired Liverpool star managed to play 90 minutes.
Elsewhere, Ryan Babel, who supplied the pass for Thiago’s opener, looked spritely, while Martin Skrtel also put in several well-timed tackles. A much-changed team in the second half lacked the same fluidity, but Albert Riera was the best performer from those substitutes.
Anfield legend returns
At times, Saturday’s game felt like Steven Gerrard’s personal quest to score at Anfield once again. The legendary ex-skipper earned the biggest cheer when the team’s were read out, while every near-miss drew shrieks from the crowd. And there were more than a few.
Gerrard squandered a one-on-one chance midway through the first half, and saw another chalked off before he could shoot by an unwanted offside flag. The no.8 also had a shot blocked, he fluffed an early chance, and after the break skied an effort from 30 yards. The 45-year-old was replaced in the second period and received another thunderous reception, while after the game he was mobbed by a small gaggle of kids on the pitch.
Steven Gerrard sees his shot saved
Gerrard's hopes of scoring a goal ended forlornly
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Jota tribute
There was a poignant moment in the 20th minute, when the ball was kicked out of play to allow both teams to applaud the late Diogo Jota. This was the first legends’ game since his tragic passing in July, with the club’s charity keen to pay their respects. Thiago, his ex-teammate, was reduced to tears, while Jurgen Klopp, the man who brought Jota to Anfield, looked particularly emotional on the Liverpool bench.
Fans' favorites
Legends' game are a great opportunity for fans to reconnect with their heroes from a by-gone era, and fans were keen to cheer on the likes of Gerrard and Klopp, both of whom had their names chanted within 90 seconds of the game commencing. For Klopp, in particular, that continued after the game and after the full-time whistle.
But one of the loudest cheers of the afternoon was reserved for the introduction of Peter Crouch. Perhaps not a cult hero during his time at Liverpool, but given his profile, which has been raised further with his post-playing media career, he was greeted by a huge cheer when he came off the bench in the second half.