Match reportLFC Legends come back to beat Ajax Legends 4-2 at Anfield

The visitors were two goals to the good at the break having bookended the first half with goals in minutes two and 43 respectively, Derk Boerrigter and Kiki Musampa each netting well from close range.

Gregory Vignal’s clinical finish in front of the Kop halved the Reds’ deficit early in the second period and Djibril Cisse levelled for the home team with a header a quarter of an hour from the end.

And there was still time for Liverpool to give a sold-out crowd the finale they craved, with Nabil El Zhar putting them in front before Fernando Torres wrapped up the scoring.

The eighth annual legends fixture drew a record-breaking attendance of 59,655, with funds raised set to support the work of LFC Foundation and official former players association Forever Reds.

• You can support the work of LFC Foundation with a donation at liverpoolfc.com/donate

It also saw Sven-Goran Eriksson fulfil his wish of managing a Reds team – the Swede was part of a dugout also including John Aldridge, John Barnes and Ian Rush – and receive a poignant reception from the crowd.

The game – presented by club partner AXA – had a first goal within two minutes of kick-off and it was the visitors on the scoresheet.

Demy de Zeeuw won the ball in the Liverpool half and moved forward in the right channel. He spotted a chance to thread a pass to the six-yard box for Boerrigter, who nudged a finish past Jerzy Dudek.

Liverpool’s response saw Maxi Rodriguez drag a 20-yarder wide, Torres send a near-post header off target and Steven Gerrard’s speculative penalty appeal rejected.

The Reds worked the opposition goalkeeper properly for the first time on 22 minutes, Maxi’s sweeping effort in search of the left corner palmed away.

Soon after, they somehow failed to score when a corner led to three chances. Martin Skrtel, Torres and Maxi were thwarted by blocks and saves in quick succession.

Musampa glanced a header into the Kop stand from a decent Ajax move, before Dudek was called into action by dangerous Boerrigter and Michael Krohn-Dehli strikes.

And the Dutch outfit doubled their lead with a classy goal two minutes before the break. Boerrigter stood up a cross into the area from the left and Musampa was able to bring it down and prod past Dudek.

A much-changed Liverpool XI returned from the interval, with Cisse and Dirk Kuyt among those sent on for the second half.

And the hosts hauled themselves back into it with a fine goal on 54 minutes. Gerrard, Torres and Mark Gonzalez exchanged swift passes and the latter served the ball to the edge of the box – from where Vignal fired into the bottom corner.

Ryan Babel, now on the field in Ajax colours, might have put the game to bed past the hour when played through one-on-one. But his dink over Sander Westerveld lacked power and Daniel Agger stopped it rolling over the line.

Babel then guided a shot against the base of the right post having again broken in behind, but back came the Reds and they equalised on 74 minutes.

A set-piece was only partially cleared and Kuyt hooked an inviting cross into the centre that Cisse met with a downward header that squirmed through the goalkeeper and in.

Momentum was now very much with Liverpool and they completed the turnaround with 80 on the clock. Cisse battled well to keep an attack alive and send El Zhar through – and he blasted home from close range.

Torres’ desire for a goal was apparent all afternoon, and it came late on. Gonzalez delivered across the area for the Spaniard, who tapped the ball over the line on the stretch to sign off another special charity event at Anfield.

• You can support the work of LFC Foundation with a donation at liverpoolfc.com/donate

LFC Legends first-half team: Dudek, Kvarme, Skrtel, Agger, Aurelio (Vignal, 45+1), Maxi, Sissoko, Spearing, Babel, Gerrard, Torres.

LFC Legends second-half team: Westerveld (Kirkland, 79), Hyypia, Skrtel (El Zhar, 68), Agger, Gonzalez, Biscan, Gerrard, Vignal, Kuyt, Cisse, Torres (Litmanen, 86).