Barcelona star who 'dreamed' of signing for Liverpool set for surprise Anfield return

Rivaldo is set to play at Anfield for the fourth time in his career after he was named as a late inclusion in the Barcelona Legends squad to face Liverpool on Saturday. A World Cup winner with Brazil in 2002 and Ballon d’Or winner in 1999, the 49-year-old will arguably be the Catalans’ star attraction against the Reds as a result.

The Brazilian has a mixed record from his previous meetings with Liverpool and on Merseyside. He started home and away in the UEFA Cup semi-finals in 2000/01 as Gary McAllister’s penalty sent the Reds to the final, before helping Barcelona get revenge of sorts in the Champions League group-stages the following season, claiming two assists in a 3-1 win as the La Liga giants gave Gerard Houllier ’s side a real schooling.

Meanwhile, he set up the winner when Olympiacos hosted Rafa Benitez ’s men in September 2004, before opening the scoring against Liverpool at Anfield the following December as the Greeks took a giant step towards the knockout stages at the Reds’ expense. Alas for Rivaldo, Steven Gerrard ’s spectacular late strike clinched the two-goal win his side needed to progress as they took their first steps to that season’s incredible Champions League final win in Istanbul.

A foe Kopites inevitably admired over the years during his playing days, he will get to lock horns with the likes of Gerrard, Jamie Carragher and Sami Hyypia once again in Anfield’s latest Legends match. However, had the Brazilian had his way then he could have once actually ended up playing alongside the trio and who knows, even been a part of their Champions League-winning squad in 2005.

Leaving Barcelona after winning the World Cup in 2002, the forward signed for AC Milan that summer and would the Champions League