LFC Legends v Bayern Munich – Ian Rush to re-run his European football debut

An LFC legends side will take on a Bayern Munich Legends XI at Anfield next month in the club's second annual charity match.

The clubs first event was held last year, when Owen, Aldridge, Fowler and Gerrard scored the goals to give Liverpool a 4-3 win over Real Madrid.

The LFC Foundation, the official charity of Liverpool Football Club, will be the beneficiary of income from the game.

The charity recently made an almost quarter of a million pound donation to Alder Hey Children's Hospital in the city and runs a number of other initiatives in the local area.

Tickets are priced at £5 for kids and £20 for adults but there is limited remaining availability for the event.

Very few of the Liverpool legends side will have played against Bayern Munich before, but Ian Rush is one man that has, and it was his first European appearance for Liverpool (a European Cup semi final back at the start of his fledgling career).  The reds went on to win the European Cup in that 1980/81 season although Rush was by no means a reds regular at the time.

We asked Ian about that occasion, which happened a whopping 37 years ago:

"From my point of view (this game) it was great.  My first European game, it was all new to me, I'd only played 3 games for Liverpool and to get thrown in against Bayern Munich at Anfield was an experience in itself.  It was my first experience of being man-marked in football, you weren't man marked in the English game.

"Bob Paisley said to me to sometimes just come out wide to take your man out the way.  That was the first I knew about man-marking and then we drew 1-1 in Munich, and Kenny scored to put us through to the final on away goals."

"The most difficult thing is that there are so many former Liverpool players and so many want to play (in this game), the hardest thing is not picking the squad but who you leave out of the squad because so many want to be involved.

"For me that just goes to show how great it is - how so many want to be part of the club.  Dirk Kuyt, he's just retired - he wants to be involved. And you've also got the likes of Alonso."

The reds are expected to have Jerzy Dudek in goal for the fixture so there will be one eye on the potential for the game to end up in a penalty shoot out.

Xabi Alonso, who had lengthy spells with both clubs is expected to play a half for each side at the event.

Speaking earlier this month, the Spaniard said:

“It’s going to be special for many reasons.

“Firstly, to be back at Anfield. Secondly, I’m putting my boots back on – I haven’t done it since my last game in May.

“It’s going to be a great atmosphere. We know how special the fans are and how much they support these games. I’m really looking forward to it.”

LFC Legends v Bayern Munich Legends takes place on Saturday 24th March at Anfield.

Five other reds in the LFC legends side have faced Bayern Munich before - all in the UEFA Super Cup Final in 2001 - Gerrard, Carragher, McAllister, Fowler and Michael Owen.

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