Ryan Babel contributed to a draw for Liverpool Legends on Saturday afternoon with an assist. The 39-year-old Dutchman played a one-two with Thiago Alcantara, who returned to Anfield two years after his retirement. During the charity match against Borussia Dortmund Legends, there was also an extensive tribute to the passing of Diogo Jota.
Anfield was the stage for an emotional and memorable afternoon as Liverpool Legends took on Borussia Dortmund Legends in a charity match that blended nostalgia, quality football and a deeply moving tribute to Diogo Jota.
While the result itself mattered far less than the occasion, the match still delivered several standout moments, with Ryan Babel providing an assist, Thiago Alcantara marking his return with a classy finish, and Jay Spearing sending the crowd into celebration with a stunning strike before half time. Yet above all, the day belonged to the memory of Jota, whose passing in a traffic accident last summer continues to be felt profoundly across the Liverpool community.
Before the game even began, the focus was not only on the famous names returning to the pitch, but also on remembrance. Players, staff and supporters came together to honour the Portuguese forward, with a minute of applause held before kick off. In a stadium that has witnessed so many great Liverpool Fc moments, the tribute created a powerful atmosphere. The applause was not just a formal gesture. It was a collective expression of grief, respect and affection for a player who had left a major mark on the club and its supporters.
That sense of tribute continued during the match itself. In the 20th minute, Anfield once again paid homage to Jota, a symbolic reference to the shirt number he wore during his time with Liverpool. The timing made the moment even more poignant, coming shortly after Liverpool Legends had taken the lead. It was one of those occasions where football briefly paused, even in the middle of live action, to allow emotion to take centre stage. Matches like these are often about entertainment and charity, but this was also clearly about memory, connection and community.
On the pitch, Thiago Alcantara reminded everyone of his elegance and technical class. The Spaniard, now 34, may have retired after his Liverpool spell from 2020 to 2024, but he showed very quickly that ability does not simply disappear. His goal was full of composure and finesse. After combining cleverly with Ryan Babel in a neat one two, Thiago found himself in a difficult angle and still managed to lift the ball delicately over Roman Weidenfeller. It was the kind of finish that immediately brought smiles around the ground and also a wave of appreciation for a midfielder whose style always stood out.
The move itself underlined how much quality still exists in these so called legends matches. Babel, now 39, made a meaningful contribution with the assist, reading the play well and linking up smoothly with Thiago. Even in a game played in a more relaxed spirit than a top level competitive fixture, moments like that showed flashes of the intelligence, touch and instinct that defined these players during their professional careers. Babel did not stay on the pitch for long, with his afternoon ending after 31 minutes, but he still left his mark on the contest.
Liverpool Legends had plenty of experience to call upon from the bench as well. The team was managed by Sir Kenny Dalglish, one of the most iconic figures in the history of the club, with Jürgen Klopp alongside him in support. That pairing alone added a special feel to the event, linking different eras of Liverpool history in one dugout. Supporters inside Anfield were not only watching former players relive old connections on the pitch, but also seeing major figures from the clubs past and more recent history united again for a meaningful cause.
Among the substitutes were Sander Westerveld and Dirk Kuyt, both familiar names to Liverpool followers and also well known in Dutch football. Westerveld entered the match after 22 minutes, replacing Jerzy Dudek, another goalkeeper with a strong connection to Liverpool supporters. Kuyt, meanwhile, remained an unused substitute, but his presence still contributed to the sense that this was a genuine gathering of former favourites rather than a token exhibition.
As the match moved towards half time, Liverpool Legends produced another highlight. Jay Spearing doubled the lead in spectacular fashion with a strike that instantly lifted the stadium. From roughly 20 metres out, the midfielder unleashed a fierce effort that flew in with power and precision, sparking a huge reaction from the crowd. It was the sort of goal that legends games are made for, a reminder that while the pace may be different and the stakes lower, moments of genuine quality can still electrify the stands.
The reaction to Spearing goal was made even more striking by the size of the crowd. More than 60,000 spectators attended the charity fixture, a record number for the occasion and a strong sign of the emotional weight and popularity of the event. That level of turnout said a great deal about the enduring bond between Liverpool and its supporters, as well as the pull of seeing former stars return to Anfield. It also reflected the deeper significance of the day, with people coming not just for entertainment, but to contribute to a worthwhile cause and to be part of a collective tribute.
In the end, the result finished level, but the scoreline was never likely to be the lasting memory. What remained was the image of Anfield united in remembrance, the applause for Jota, the symbolic pause in the 20th minute, and the sense that football can still serve as a space for grief, solidarity and celebration all at once. Thiago return, Babel contribution, Spearing wonder strike and the presence of club icons on the touchline all added sporting value, but the emotional core of the afternoon was unmistakable.
It was a charity match, a reunion and a tribute rolled into one. For Liverpool supporters, it was another moment in a season of remembrance for Diogo Jota. For everyone inside Anfield, it was a reminder that some football afternoons are about much more than the game itself.
Updated: 06:38, 28 Mar 2026
