Peter Crouch Talks United Rivalry

Peter Crouch is one of the most lovable former Liverpool players. He’s funny, was good at scoring goals, and he’s really tall. Recently he sat down with the Daily Mail to talk about the Liverpool vs Manchester United derby.

”I knew Gary Neville was the Manchester United player Liverpool fans loved to hate and in that sickening moment - in the 94th minute of a game at Old Trafford on Sunday, January 22, 2006 - I understood why.

”Never before had an opposing player pissed me off so much with a celebration. I had been substituted and was sitting in the dugout, and from that angle it felt like he was coming to rejoice in front of me.

“Here was my proper introduction to the biggest rivalry in English football, in what was my first season as a Liverpool player.”

“Once United got to the top of the table, they used to be impossible to catch but now I feel the roles are reversed,” he added.

”Liverpool are setting the pace going into Sunday’s game and I genuinely believe this will be the year my old club become champions.

”A lot of my friends who support them won’t listen to me. They have been burnt too many times down the years with the title but, looking at it from a distance, I just don’t see Jurgen Klopp’s side dropping that many points. They are absolutely relentless.

“I can’t see anything other than Liverpool winning on Sunday. It won’t be easy - it doesn’t matter where United are in the standings, they will make this the biggest possible examination - but Liverpool have so much class that I fully expect them to deliver again.

”My phone has been ringing all week with people wanting to come around to our house and watch it, which gives you an idea that this is no ordinary game. It isn’t. It’s the type that makes me wish I was still playing.”