Next month marks 17 years since Peter Crouch last pulled on a Liverpool shirt and took to the Anfield turf. 6,192 days to be precise, but who’s counting?
The former England international was a popular figure during his time with the Reds, winning the FA Cup in 2006 and scoring 42 goals from 134 appearances. But, in truth, his Anfield career ended with a bit of a whimper.
He fell out of favour under Rafa Benitez following the club-record signing of Fernando Torres in the summer of 2007, to the extent that the last Anfield appearance of his Liverpool career came in early-April 2008 when the Reds famously beat Arsenal 4-2 in the Champions League.
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Limited to predominantly substitute duty across his final campaign, he was sold to Portsmouth in a deal worth up to £11m in July 2008. Crouch was a popular player with team-mates and supporters, but few tears were shed at the sale of Torres’ deputy for a healthy profit.
Returning to Anfield 13 times as an opposing player, the striker was always afforded a warm return. But that was nothing compared to the reception he received when pulling on a Liverpool shirt for the first time in 17 years on Saturday.
Alongside Steven Gerrard, Crouch was presented as a star attraction when signed up to play for Liverpool Legends for the first time in the latest LFC Foundation match against Chelsea.
And he was certainly treated as such by supporters. Named on the bench, his name was already earned the second-loudest cheers - behind Gerrard - when the teams were read out and he took part in shooting practice before kick-off. Never mind when the action actually got underway with such cheers only getting louder when he was warming up, then introduced, never mind when he made a match-winning impact.
Having seen Liverpool tormented by a direct Newcastle United and the towering presence of Dan Burn in last weekend's League Cup final, you'd be forgiven for wondering if the legends had been taking notes. Introduced as a half-time substitute with the scores goalless, the Reds were quick to make use of Crouch's 6 ft 7 frame with the striker a clear focal point for their increased number of crosses into the box.
And it took no time for such an approach to pay dividends. Only 10 minutes after taking to the field, Crouch opened the scoring as he leapt highest to head home Florent Sinama-Pongolle’s cross. A further 10 minutes later, he scored again, producing a delicate chip to beat Rob Green after bringing down Mark Gonzalez’s cross to the far post.
Crouch’s visible delight at rolling back the years was infectious, and he played to the crowd by dusting off his famous ‘robot’ celebration at Anfield for the first time to celebrate his first goal.
The 44-year-old revealed he hadn’t intended to bring out his ‘boring’ celebration again, but was persuaded by young supporters. But with his own five-year-old son in the crowd, watching him play for the first time, it was not lost on Crouch that the majority of his adoring crowd would not have remembered his actual Liverpool career.
His time with the Reds was respectable but let's be honest, not of the same heights of so many others before and after. As popular as he is, that does not rewrite history. At another club, without the trophy-laden expectation of Liverpool, he is an all-time favourite. Or perhaps if his Anfield career spanned over a period that actually lived up to such demands.
The striker found it quite surreal to be lauded second only to Gerrard - arguably the club’s greatest ever player - as he humbly pointed out the Reds have far greater legends than him.
But his popularity has only grown over the past two decades, through interviews, podcasts, books, punditry and commentary. Brand Crouch is soaring and it is very much well-deserved, to the extent that young supporters adore him so.
Joking that he was used to being on the Anfield bench under Rafa Benitez when speaking in his post-match press conference was just the latest media-friendly example that makes the forward so endearing.
While it made Crouch’s day to be back at Anfield, scoring in front of his family, it would have made a youthful crowd’s day too to witness the 6ft 7 forward score in front of the Kop and celebrate by doing the robot.
As far as Legends debuts go, it doesn’t get much better - despite Crouch’s failed attempt to complete a perfect hat-trick with a left-footed bicycle kick. He enjoyed his day, no doubt, and has already vowed to return to Anfield for next year’s Foundation game if available.
Yes, for those of us who remember Crouch’s Liverpool career, it was perhaps surreal to see him afforded such a hero’s return - though no-one begrudges him it.
Yet his reception was not purely due to his time with the Reds, rather what he has become since. As a rare Legends debutant, alongside Martin Kelly, the veterans are still waiting for their youthful next-guard that won everything under Jurgen Klopp - with Ragnar Klavan remaining the German’s only legend on display.
In time, the likes of James Milner, Jordan Henderson and Adam Lallana will surely show up for such occasions. If we’re lucky, maybe Liverpool will welcome back your Roberto Firminos or Gini Wijnaldums too. Crouch will be the first to admit these are players who are greater legends for the club than him, purely on what they achieved for the club.
It is a shame that neither Joel Matip or Thiago Alcantara were present on this occasion, having been forced into premature retirement after leaving the Reds last summer. Injury denied them on-field farewells, but hopefully Legends football might open that door again in one day in the future.
It is always a wonderful occasion to welcome the Liverpool Legends back to Anfield and watch them roll back the years. Many of those made an impact during the Reds’ time struggling to reclaim their perch.
But before long, the generation that were crowned champions of England, Europe and the world will be signed up for veterans duty. If Crouch’s reception was loud, just wait until Liverpool and Anfield, now starting a new chapter under Arne Slot, is given the opportunity to pay additional thanks to Klopp’s all-conquering legends once and for all.
