Liverpool Legends 4-2 Ajax Legends: Sven-Goran Eriksson realises lifelong dream of managing at Anfield in charity match

Sven-Goran Eriksson made his biggest ambition come true by being the manager for Liverpool at Anfield. He took control of the team for a charity legends game against Ajax on a heartfelt day in Merseyside.

Earlier this year, the ex-coach of England and a lifelong supporter of Liverpool disclosed that he has got an incurable form of cancer. He shared that he has a maximum of one year left to live.

Liverpool requested Eriksson's services to lead their legends team in this match. He was accompanied by a coaching team of Ian Rush, John Aldridge, and John Barnes. Upon his emergence from the tunnel, the Anfield audience applauded him with a standing ovation.

The 76-year-old man was filled with intense emotions as the tune of 'You'll Never Walk Alone' was played before the start of the game. He was standing beside the former Liverpool captain, Steven Gerrard, who was once under Eriksson's leadership during his stint as the manager of the England team.

The purpose of the Liverpool Legends versus Ajax Legends game was to collect funds for the LFC Foundation and Forever Reds charitable organizations.

Fernando Torres played as a forward with Gerrard for Liverpool and ended the day on a high note by scoring the fourth goal in an impressive 4-2 victory for the Liverpool Legends.

Derk Boerrigter and Kiki Musampa helped the Ajax Legends build a significant lead in the first half. However, Liverpool came back strong in front of their home fans and managed to score three goals. Gregory Vignal, Djibril Cisse, Nabil El Zhar, and Torres were the ones who found the net for Liverpool.

"It's a memory that'll last a lifetime," Eriksson exclaimed to LFC TV post-game. "Everyone came out on top today. The experience was exquisite, totally mind-blowing. From You'll Never Walk Alone to the remainder of the game, everything was fantastic."

In my opinion, we were the superior team even during the initial half. Although losing was a concern, the first half was commendable and the second was exceptional. Overall, we all emerged as the victorious ones.

At the same time, Gerrard, who was leading Liverpool as captain, praised Eriksson and even said that the former England manager still possesses his exceptional abilities to inspire comebacks, which he displayed during the second half of the game.

During the halftime break, he altered all the tactics. He was aware that the first half lacked breadth and we were merely attempting to pass through the center," stated Gerrard. "He made significant adjustments during halftime, expanding our width to a greater extent."

He hasn't lost his touch, he still possesses the ability to perform extraordinary feats. He was the key factor in achieving success.

When it was half-time, he acted like Rafa by rearranging our positions, adjusting the approach, and providing us more space to work with. Eventually, we succeeded. It was nearly like being subjected to the hairdryer treatment!

It was a remarkable experience having Sven here today. Once I found out he was going to be the coach for the day, I was eager to come and enjoy playing with him one more time.

Anfield Pays Tribute To Eriksson Through Photos

Match Outcome: What Occurred

Liverpool started the game with a disadvantage as Boerrigter scored in the first two minutes. The winger then assisted in setting up the second goal before half-time by passing the ball to Musampa in the penalty box, who successfully shot the ball past Jerzy Dudek.

Liverpool's first half was disappointing due to Torres' numerous missed opportunities, with one of his shots even being thwarted before it could make it to the net. However, the team showed their resilience and staged an impressive resurgence during the second half.

Vignal scored by hitting the ball from the inside of the box and reduced the scoreline. The French player ran to Eriksson and embraced him to express his joy after scoring. Then, Cisse netted the ball by heading Kuyt's pass, and the score became level.

El Zhar scored a goal on his own and that put Liverpool ahead. However, the fans at Anfield were eagerly waiting for a goal from Torres, who was playing for Liverpool again after leaving the club back in 2011.

Right before the end of the match, Torres scored on his second attempt to secure the victory.

Eriksson was the star of the day as he received an ovation from both teams while walking around Anfield. The whole stadium, which can seat up to 60,000 people, stood up to show their appreciation for the ex-England coach.