Steve Hunter at Anfield 27 March 2005 - http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/drilldown/N148285050327-1920.htm

Entertainment was the name of the game as Reds heroes like Dalglish, Fowler, Rush and Molby turned back the years to raise a great deal of money for the Tsunami Soccer Aid appeal at Anfield.

A Liverpool legends side beat a Celebrities XI 6-2 and thoroughly entertained a massive crowd of 39,000 at Anfield. For Steve Fletcher, Jason McAteer, David Johnson and Dave Lockwood it was the realisation of their dream come true to stage this match and raise much needed funds for the Tsunami appeal, Save The Children UK and Merlin.

Liverpool Football Club and Chief Executive Rick Parry were only too happy to stage this match and the fans turned out in their thousands to witness what could possible be the last time that all these Reds legends turned out on the hallowed Anfield turf for a match.

The names just rolled off the tongue and it was truly a magical occasion. The celebrities were great value too and it made for a great game of competitive football. There were goals galore, laughs and jokes were exchanged and the crowd just loved it.

Welsh opera singer Catherine Jenkins led the crowd in an emotional 'You'll Never Walk Alone' before kick-off and Liz McClarnon from Atomic Kitten also enjoyed a sing-a-long with the Kop.

With Roy Evans away on international duty with Wales it was left to Kenny Dalglish to take on the mantle of player-manager once again with Ronnie Moran as his loyal and truly capable assistant.

One of the prime organisers Jason McAteer was given special permission by Tranmere Rovers manager Brian Little to play 15 minutes and captaining the Liverpool team he scored twice before leaving the field. The first was a terrific finish after a great one-two with Robbie Fowler.

Fowler thought he had scored the third goal but the final touch actually came off comic actor Patrick McGuinness, who plays bouncer Paddy in Phoenix Nights with Peter Kay.

The Celebrities, managed by Southampton boss Harry Redknapp, then got back into the game through Harvey from So Solid Crew. Now Harvey, a massive Liverpool fan, had an ambition to score a goal at the Kop end and he truly obliged when he set off like an olympic sprinter before beating Bruce Grobbelaar at his near post.

John Aldridge was denied a goal by a brilliant save from his former Tranmere Rovers team-mate Eric Nixon before Ian Rush made it 4-1 with a fantastic left footed strike.

Into the second half Radio City competition winner Alan Farley got his dream of playing at Anfield and captained the Reds side at left back.

Steve Fletcher, who had the original idea to stage this event, achieved an ambition by scoring at his beloved Anfield to make it 4-2. Brian McFadden set him clear and his chipped finish past Sander Westerveld was majestic.

Then a truly special moment happened. Last year David Johnson suffered a heart attack and had open heart surgery. Now he is fighting fit again and he had a dream of playing at Anfield again and scoring at the Kop. It arrived with a diving header from Jan Molby's pinpoint cross.

Then the biggest cheer of the day arrived and it nearly blew the Anfield roof off as 'King' Kenny decided to bring himself on. Straight away Dalglish showed us he still has the touch and class plus the eye for a pass. One such through ball put Ian Rush away who was denied by Reds keeper Paul Harrison, then from the rebound Fowler struck a superb curling shot against the post.

Now John Aldridge last scored at Anfield in front of a packed Kop on his farewell match in 1989 in the 9-0 rout against Crystal Palace. He relived that moment again from a superb Dalglish through ball and predator Aldo trademark finish for 6-2.

Try as he might Kop hero Robbie Fowler just couldn't score a goal and he had so many near misses, as did Aldridge.

In the end the scoreline didn't matter but the real reason why we love Liverpool FC so much was summed up in 90 minutes on an Easter Sunday in 2005. Football is all about entertainment and this was entertainment of the highest order. To get 39,000 fans packed into Anfield and a singing Kop to mark the day was just fantastic.

It was quite an emotional occasion too as there were LFC legends everywhere you looked around Anfield with some working behind the scenes in the lounges. One of Bill Shankly's greats Ian St John, commentating for Liverpoolfc.tv remembered Emlyn Hughes and said his memory will live on forever with Liverpool FC and how he would have loved to have been here today. The Saint also passed on the LFC legends thoughts to wish Anfield legend Ray Clemence a speedy recovery from his illness.

The displays from Molby, Fowler, Dalglish, Rush, Aldridge, Barnes and Alan Kennedy to name but seven was class. A Robbie Fowler goal would have been the icing on the cake but it just wasn't to be on the day no matter how many times he tried. The reception Fowler, Dalglish and the legends got from the Kop told it's own story.

The Celebrities showed they have some good players too. Ralf Little from the Royle Family had an excellent game as did England cricket captain Michael Vaughan. DJ Spoony and Harvey also showed they are more than capable footballers.

The real winner was the Tsunami Soccer Aid appeal and for all that were present at Anfield it was truly special.

Liverpool legends: Bruce Grobbelaar, Phil Neal, Alan Kennedy, Jason McAteer, Phil Thompson, Alan Hansen, Kenny Dalglish, John Aldridge, Ian Rush, Robbie Fowler, John Barnes, Ronnie Whelan, Jan Molby, Sander Westerveld, David Johnson, Gary Ablett, Gary Gillespie, Paul Walsh and competition winner Alan Farley Didn't play, David Fairclough, Steve McManaman.

Celebrities managed by Harry Redknapp: Eric Nixon, Paul Harrison (LFC), Patrick McGuinness (Paddy from Max and Paddy and Phoenix Nights), Ralf Little (The Royle Family and LFC fan), Michael Vaughan (England cricket captain), Nicky Byrne (Westlife), Brian McFadden (solo artist), John Regis (former Olympic sprinter), Amir Khan (Olympic boxer), Harvey (So Solid Crew and LFC fan), DJ Spoony (DJ and LFC fan), Tim Lovejoy (Soccer AM), NiallQuinn (Ex-footballer), Paul Salt (Radio City newsdesk and LFC fan), James Redmond (Casualty), Shane Ritchie (Alfiein East Enders), Marcus Patrick (Hollyoaks), Perry Fenwick (Billy from East Enders), Sergio Pizzorno (from rock band Kasabian), Steve Fletcher (Ex Brookside and LFC fan), Ian Broudie (Lightning Seeds front man and LFC fan), Danny Jones (from pop band McFly).