Rio Ferdinand has responded to comments made by former Jamie Carragher, in which the former Liverpool defender called him a "clown".
The Liverpudlian was left infuriated by claims that Inter Milan should've been awarded a penalty in their Champions League semi-final against rivals AC Milan. Lautaro Martinez went down under the challenge which was originally awarded as a penalty but following the intervention of VAR was ruled out.
Carragher, in the studio for CBS Sports, was adamant that the correct decision was made. However, his counterparts in the BT Sports studio, including Steven Gerrard, felt that the Argentine should've had a penalty.
LIVE: Leicester City vs Liverpool LIVE - team news, kick-off time, TV channel, score and stream
READ MORE: Liverpool line-ups for Leicester City as Luis Diaz and Darwin Nunez decisions made
The former Manchester United defender was among those who felt it was the wrong outcome which sparked Carragher's reaction, he said: "I think anyone out there who's watching the replay and seen what VAR do and still believe that is a penalty, they must be a clown."
"[Gerrard's] an attacking player, isn't he?" He added as Steven Gerrard, on BT Sports coverage, felt Inter should've had a penalty: "He was liable a little bit now and again to go down himself under a little bit of contact, always contact. I can understand where he's coming from. But players in my position, who are defenders, other defenders, English defenders who were commentating on the game.
"I can understand attackers thinking it's a penalty but Stevie was an attacking player wasn't he and maybe felt there was a little bit of contact. But as a defender, we've got to try and stick together haven't we. I just felt some people were getting a little bit carried away thinking it was a certain penalty."
Former Manchester City defender Micah Richards pushed Carragher to call out the pundits he was talking about. The former Manchester City star demanded: "Name names!" The ex-Liverpool defender responded: "Rio Ferdinand. I'm happy to call him a clown."
Almost a week has passed and the former Manchester United defender has now responded. "Friend of the show... friend of the show you know," the 44-year-old started with reference to the former Reds appearances on the Vibe with Five podcast.
"You know what the mad thing is? Like I said he's a friend of the show, every time I see him it's all love and I'm a loving guy and we hug, we shake hands and have a laugh.
"That's cool [saying things for clicks] but I don't understand why he came with the hostility. It's a hostile energy, I don't understand it, he's been on our show, we see each other it's all cool, he used to carry my boots when I was at England.
"The thing that might've been because it was the Hall of Fame week, that's the only thing I can think [of]. Me and him are cool, sometimes text here and there, I just don't get it man. I've only got good energy for him.
"I take it as banter but how a man delivers it is his own thing. What I'm saying is I'm cool but when you see me, I need to check that energy again."
READ NEXT
- Liverpool could be about to give Tottenham Hotspur a £50m headache
- Liverpool involved in major VAR review as Howard Webb set to unveil private discussions on MNF
- Alexis Mac Allister makes 'Champions League decision' amid Liverpool transfer links
- Jurgen Klopp hailed buy-back deal for £15m Liverpool wonderkid who is now without a club at just 27
- Liverpool lose another member of backroom staff after Julian Ward and Ian Graham
