Liverpool FC Foundation charity match is set to bring some of the world’s biggest soccer stars together at Anfield on Saturday.
Both sides are two of the most successful in European history – with 16 European Cups and 50 League titles between them.
Both sides have met in different competitions in the past but this occasion is for charity and it is a repeat of the Corazon Classic of 2015. Reports say Steven Gerrard will appear for the first time since his retirement. He would play alongside legends like Robbie Fowler, Steve McManaman, Luis Figo, Roverto Carlos, Jamie Carragher and others.
With the domestic football fixtures suspended for the international break, this offers some of the best excitement over the weekend. Both sides have met a few times in history, on the pitch and during contract talks.
The Reds won the European Cups of 1977 and 1978 but met Madrid in 1981in Paris. Liverpool emerged victors after the sole goal of Alan Kennedy.
Whilst Robbie Fowler was one of the biggest Liverpool stars in the 90s, the 1999 incident surely made his infamous compared to the exploits of McManaman. The highly-talented midfielder left the club controversially though to Madrid after the club allowed his contract run down in its last season.
Real stole one of Liverpool’s best in Michael Owen as well but the club were not as pained as he failed to make his mark there and Liverpool lifted the Champions League. Antonio Nunez and Fernando Morientes did not quite live up to expectations after they arrived from Madrid.
In 2008/09 Refa Benitez built a spectacular team. Though they ended up without any title, their exploits cannot be wiped off. The team saw off Real Madrid when they met in the second round of the Champions League that year. Gerrard grabbed a brace while Fernando Torres and Andrea Dossena scored as well to complete the 4-0 rout.
Xabi Alonso and Alvaro Arbeloa left the club as they moved to Spain, leaving Liverpool the loser in contract issues. When they met in 2014/15 in the Champions League, Madrid was the winner by a huge margin as coach Brendan Rodgers failed to live up to his first season success. Saturday’s game will surely be fun to watch.