Match reportLFC Legends draw 2-2 with Borussia Dortmund in Anfield charity match

First-half goals from Thiago Alcantara and Jay Spearing put the Reds clear in the 2026 edition of the fundraising event on Saturday afternoon.

But Mohamed Zidan replied for the away side just past the hour mark and Jan Koller later equalised to deny the hosts victory.

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Supported by club partner AXA and in association with Forever Reds, the game was played in front of a 60,000-strong crowd.

And they did not have to wait long for a celebration.

Six minutes in, Liverpool turned over possession in the Dortmund half and Thiago carried the ball before laying it off to Ryan Babel, who had dropped deep.

Thiago continued his run into the opposition box to meet a return pass and produced a dinked finish across the goalkeeper while sliding.

The Reds were in control, popping the ball around nicely in triangles of Steven Gerrard, Spearing and Thiago.

Jorg Heinrich denied the home fans the Gerrard goal they craved, though.

Thiago angled a pass in behind to release Babel and he unselfishly squared it back to the Liverpool icon. But Heinrich got his body in the way of the effort.

Next, Gerrard and Thiago combined like they were still professionals, the former looping a pass into the area for the latter, who could not guide the ball past Dortmund ’keeper Roman Weidenfeller.

Martin Skrtel threw himself in the way of a Zidan strike from 20 yards as the visitors tried to muster a response.

Uncharacteristically, Gerrard sent a presentable chance into the Anfield Road Stand when teed up by Ragnar Klavan, before being foiled by Weidenfeller from a Thiago assist and then hooking the rebound off target.

There was no stopping Spearing’s thump seven minutes before the break, though.

The midfielder met a loose ball at the edge of Dortmund’s box and whistled a half-volley into the top right corner.

Weidenfeller got a strong glove on a driven Klavan strike as the interval arrived with the Reds’ lead comfortable at 2-0.

Several changes for the second half included a Legends team debut for Louise Schillgard, while Pepe Reina took the gloves in goal, and Peter Crouch soon followed from the bench.

Zidan whipped a decent opportunity too high as the tempo dropped during the initial phases of the second period.

Dortmund dealt with a dangerous low cross from Albert Riera at the Kop and the away side’s threats included a clever flick by Nelson Valdez that lacked the power to trouble Reina.

The German club added jeopardy to proceedings on 63 minutes, though, as Zidan broke the offside trap and kept his cool to tuck home a finish.

This was the best spell of the contest for BVB and Reina next had to field a low attempt by Valdez after he crept into the area.

Crouch could only get a slight glance on an almost-plum cross from Mark Gonzalez before his fellow lofty forward Koller forced the match to end level.

Meeting a delivery into the middle from the left flank, the Czech stooped to angle a header beyond the grasp of Reina on 81 minutes.

Koller could have completed a turnaround, too, but he planted a clear chance the wrong side of the left post a minute from full-time.

Liverpool first half: Dudek (Westerveld, 23), Wright (Kelly, 15), Skrtel, Hyypia (Vignal, 31), Klavan, Aurelio, Spearing, Biscan, Thiago, Gerrard, Babel (Dowie, 31).

Liverpool second half: Reina, Kelly, Klavan, Skrtel (Pennant, 53), Vignal (Benayoun, 61), Thiago, Riera, Gonzalez (Sinama-Pongolle, 74), Kuyt, Schillgard (Crouch, 59), Gerrard (Smicer, 82).

Attendance: 60,482