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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Dan Marsh

Martin Skrtel forced off after nasty clash of heads in Liverpool vs Man Utd Legends game

Former Liverpool defender Martin Skrtel was forced off during the Reds' Legends clash with Manchester United following a sickening clash of heads with Fraizer Campbell.

The Slovakian ace was just one of a host of ex-Liverpool stars who returned to Anfield to lock horns one more time with their old rivals, with the likes of Xabi Alonso, Roy Keane and Jaap Stam all featuring in the star-studded match.

But Skrtel's afternoon ended prematurely when he was forced off following a nasty collision with Campbell.

The 37-year-old attempted to play on following the clash of heads with the former Manchester United academy graduate, however, he was eventually replaced by ex-Reds midfielder Momo Sissoko. Skrtel did, at least, leave the pitch of his own accord, rather than on a stretcher.

Skrtel's exit was the only sour point on an afternoon that saw vital funds raised for the LFC Foundation's community programmes, as well as Forever Reds, Cash for Kids and IntoUniversity.

Liverpool fought back to win the match 2-1 courtesy of goals from Mark Gonzalez and Florent Sinama-Pongolle after Dimitar Berbatov had rolled back the years to fire United, who were managed by Andy Ritchie in the absence of Bryan Robson, into an early lead.

Join the debate! What did you make of the Liverpool v Man Utd Legends clash? Let us know here.

Despite the defeat, one of the games biggest talking points was Keane's late cameo for Manchester United - his first appearance in a legends' game since he called time on his legendary career back in 2005. The former United captain was introduced in the second half of the match 17 years after he last turned out for the club.

But even the presence of Keane was not enough to propel United to victory in the second leg of the 'Legends of the North' clash. Liverpool beat United 3-1 at Old Trafford back in May in a match that raised over £1.3million for Manchester United Foundation.

Spanish forward Luis Garcia opened the scoring for the Reds back in May before Berbatov again scored for the United legends. But a second-half brace from Gonzalez was enough to seal victory for Liverpool, who made the most of their two-goal cushion heading into Saturday's return leg at Anfield.

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