Liverpool can add another piece of silverware to their bulging trophy cabinet after being crowned Masters Cup champions for 2022 in Glasgow on Friday evening.
But before they could get their hands on the trophy, the team of Anfield stars of yesteryear had to graft their way past a solid Manchester United side with tempers occasionally fraying between the two old enemies.
The Reds put out a team that included Jamie Carragher, Robbie Fowler, Steve McManaman, Stewart Downing, Jermaine Pennant, Sander Westerveld, Luis Garcia and David Thompson.
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Liverpool got off to a flying start, beating Rangers 6-2 in the opening group game, with Spaniard Garcia helping himself to four goals in the process. Celtic were then dispatched 2-1 before United offered a greater challenge, inflicting the Merseyside club's only defeat with a 4-2 score line.
However, when the two sides faced each other again in the grand final, it was a different story, as the Reds ran-out 5-3 winners to be crowned champions, much to the delight of Garcia. "The tournament was so intense, but we enjoyed it," he said.
"The crowd were fantastic, it was a great show for the spectators. It was so good to catch up with team mates and with rivals you haven’t seen for so long.”
Rafa Benitez signing, Garcia, who won the Champions League with Liverpool back in 2005, cheekily revealed how they plotted beating United in the final, by losing to them in the final game of the group stages when United needed a draw to get through.
He explained: “We lost to United but there was nothing in that game for us, so we decided to save ourselves for the final and it worked. Hopefully I will be back next year and this tournament is on again next year, I am sure it will be.
"But it means that you have to continue to look after yourself a little bit and stay in shape as best you can and that is a good incentive.”
No Liverpool v United game is complete without a bit of needle and that was partly provided by David Thompson, whose strong challenge on Darren Gibson was not warmly greeted, as the two players squared up and carried on their spat as the game continued.
In a quick-fire start to the final, Fowler put the Reds ahead before Louis Saha quickly levelled the score. But Thompson and Pennant soon found the net to give Liverpool a 3-1 lead.
To their credit, United responded and pegged their opponents back to 3-3 thanks to goals from Gibson and Danny Webber, but it was the Merseysiders who had the final say with Downing putting them back in front before Garcia wrapped up the cup triumph late on to complete a 5-3 victory.
Captain Carragher lifted the trophy for Liverpool and after the tournament, he Tweeted a photo of himself with Thompson that said: "From Bootle v Wirral boys U11’s to @mastersfootball Champions. What a journey @77thomo "
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