Rio Ferdinand: Man Utd legend names 3 ex-Liverpool players he 'hated' on the pitch

Rio Ferdinand was a fierce competitor during his time as a professional footballer.

The Englishman was an aggressive defender who loved a battle on the football pitch.

Ferdinand hung up his boots in 2015 and has since ventured into the punditry world.

The 43-year-old has a YouTube channel, named Rio Ferdinand Presents FIVE, where he gives his thoughts on the footballing world and shares stories about his time as a professional footballer.

On the latest ‘Vibe With Five’, Ferdinand was recapping the first game week of the new Premier League season.

In the video, Ferdinand said he wanted to see more ‘hate’ and more ‘aggression’ in the Premier League.

Ferdinand was then asked to name five players he did not like on the football pitch. The Man United legend gave five players he ‘hated’.

View the segment below… (from 41:28)

Savage was the ultimate wind-up merchant on the pitch. He did absolutely everything in his power to try and end up on the winning side during a match. Savage and Ferdinand have since become friends during their time as pundits.

Ferdinand said: “I hated Robbie Savage. I’m mates with him now, he’s a lovely guy!”

Davies was an extremely physical striker who loved a battle.

He played a total of 15 years in the Premier League, turning out for Southampton, Blackburn and Bolton Wanderers.

Balotelli, who turned out in the Premier League for Man City and Liverpool, managed to get in Ferdinand’s bad books.

“I hated Balotelli, hated him,” Ferdinand said. “He did a couple of things I didn’t like with the fans and I thought he was rude. But I chat with him now, lovely geezer. It’s mad because I’d see him after and it would only be respectful. In the games, in the end I respected it, he was an animal on the pitch.

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