Liverpool’s charity match with Chelsea at Anfield on Saturday turned ugly as a Blues hero squared up to Jay Spearing.
Former players of the two Premier League sides did battle in a match for various foundations, with the Reds coming out 2-0 winners thanks to a brace from former striker-turned pundit Peter Crouch.
But the fixture was overshadowed by an incident that occurred in the 27th minute.
Former Chelsea hardman Dennis Wise and Spearing came to blows when trying to win a loose ball, with Wise squaring up to his opponent following the period of play.
Wise, who captained his team, is 58 and won two FA Cups in his 440 appearances for Chelsea. He is 22 years Spearing’s senior but was not backing down from a potential tussle.
As players from both sides, including Jimmy-Floyd Hasselbaink and Ragnar Klavan intervened, piled in, Wise wagged his finger in the direction of the Reds Under-18s coach.
Chelsea hero Dennis Wise (left) squared up to Jay Spearing in a charity game on Saturday
The 58-year-old left the scene by wagging his finger at the star 22 years his junior
Wise confronted Spearing following an altercation as they battled for the ball at Anfield
Both players lined up in a Chelsea Legends versus Liverpool Legends match for charity
It had appeared that Wise had been pulled back in a jokey manner when trying to break with the ball. The pair were finally pulled apart, and the game was allowed to continue.
Wise also played for the likes of Wimbledon, Millwall and Coventry in his career, while he was capped 21 times by England.
Since his retirement in 2006, he has dipped into management, while also holding executive roles at the likes of Newcastle and Como.
Spearing, meanwhile, played 55 times for Liverpool, while also featuring for the likes of Bolton Wanderers and Blackpool before going into coaching himself.
He played on the Liverpool team captained by Steven Gerrard on Saturday, with the likes of Dirk Kuyt and Ryan Babel also featuring.
Proceeds went to the LFC Foundation, as well as supporting beneficiaries including Forever Reds, the Chelsea Players’ Trust and the Chelsea FC Foundation.
The fixture also commemorated Chelsea’s 2004-05 season, which saw them claim their first-ever Premier League and first top-flight title in 50 years, as well as the EFL Cup having beaten Liverpool in the final.
Some notable names on either side included Gianfranco Zola, Claude Makelele, William Gallas, Steven Gerrard, Dirk Kuyt and Crouch. Sir Kenny Dalglish managed the Liverpool Legends squad, while the Chelsea Legends were led by Roberto Di Matteo.
But it was Crouch who stole the show after Wise and Spearing’s confrontation, as he drew plenty of smiles by whipping out his iconic robot celebrations after netting his first goal. He went on to score again to wrap up victory for the hosts.
