Image Credits: Imago Images
With the domestic league on a break, Liverpool FC Legends took centre stage at Anfield, drawing 2-2 with Borussia Dortmund in the annual LFC Foundation charity match.
First-half goals from Thiago Alcantara and Jay Spearing put the Reds in control in Saturday’s 2026 edition, played in front of 60,000 fans.
Thiago opened the scoring early with a composed finish after linking up with Ryan Babel, before Spearing fired in a superb half-volley from the edge of the box.
Liverpool dominated much of the first half, with Steven Gerrard going close on several occasions, but Dortmund responded after the break.
Mohamed Zidan pulled one back just after the hour mark, and Jan Koller headed in an equaliser on 81 minutes to level the contest. Koller nearly completed the turnaround late on but missed a clear chance, ensuring the match ended all square.
Albert Riera, now manager of Eintracht Frankfurt, featured for Liverpool FC Legends in the charity match. Ahead of the game, the players were put through their paces in training, with Liverpool releasing footage of Riera and others rolling back the years with some sublime finishes. He came on as a second-half substitute against Dortmund.
Riera joined Liverpool from Espanyol in September 2008 under Rafael Benitez and made an immediate impact, impressing on his debut in a 2-1 win over Manchester United before scoring his first goal weeks later against Wigan Athletic.
He made 28 league appearances and scored three goals in the 2008-09 season as the Reds finished second. However, limited opportunities in the following campaign led to a fallout with Benitez, and he departed for Olympiacos in July 2010 under Roy Hodgson.
As a player, the 43-year-old represented 11 clubs, including La Liga side Espanyol, and had a brief loan spell at Manchester City. He also earned 16 caps for Spain.
After retiring, he began his coaching career as an assistant at Galatasaray before taking charge of Olimpija Ljubljana, where he won both the league and cup.
Riera later moved to Bordeaux but was dismissed after nine months following a failed promotion push. He returned to Slovenia with Celje, guiding them to the Slovenian Cup.
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