Liverpool legends held by Dortmund as Thiago and Steven Gerrard roll back years - 5 things missed

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.

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.

Importance in the city

You could be forgiven for thinking a legends’ game, 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 a sold-out 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.

Elsewhere, Ryan Babel, who supplied the pass for Thiago’s opener, looked spritely, while Martin Skrtel also put in several well-timed tackles.

Anfield favorote returns

At times, Saturday’s game felt like Steven Gerrard’s personal quest to score. 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 saw missed 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, while he fluffed an early chance, before jokingly telling the referee’s assistant to raise their flag. In the second period, Gerrard's search lessened somewhat, although he did sky a shot from 30 yards.

Gerrard's hopes of scoring a goal ended forlornly

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.

But one of the loudest cheers of the afternoon was reserved for the arrival 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.