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15th Feb 2017

LISTEN: An absolutely brilliant story about Gary Neville, Liverpool fans and the 2007 Champions League Final

Conor Heneghan

It’s rare that Manchester United and Liverpool fans will agree on something, but they’ll both enjoy this.

Many Liverpool fans will admit to a grudging admiration of Gary Neville now that he’s established a reputation as a top class pundit, but there was a time when he was arguably the player they most loved to hate.

Back in 2007, he certainly wasn’t a popular figure amongst Liverpool supporters; after all, it was only a year after he was charged by the FA for a provocative celebration in front of the away support following a late Rio Ferdinand winner at Old Trafford.

On the Anfield Wrap podcast this week, Jay McKenna, the chairman of the Spirit of Shankly Liverpool supporters’ union, told a great story from that year, more specifically in relation to the 2007 Champions League Final in Athens, when AC Milan exacted revenge for their defeat to the Reds two years’ earlier.

McKenna tells it brilliantly, so rather than fill you in on all the details, we’ll just say that it involves a few phone calls back and forth between McKenna and Neville, some very salty language and an admission of grudging admiration for Neville come the end.

Have a listen below, it’s well worth it.

Neville saw the funny side as well.

Brilliant.