Crouch on his time at Liverpool

PETER CROUCH claims Liverpool were just two players away from winning the league when he quit the Kop. 

The Stoke striker, 31, joined Portsmouth in 2008 in order to keep his England spot as he could not break into a side containing Fernando Torres as lone forward. 

And ahead of today’s reunion with his former club, Crouch still thinks back to what might have been. 

He said: “It was disappointing, I don’t think anyone ever wants to leave a club like Liverpool. It has such a fantastic history and I had some of the best times of my life there. 

“We finished second and won the FA Cup but, at the time, Torres was playing up front on his own and it was difficult for me to stake a claim. 

“I had the opportunity to play games at Portsmouth. I was playing for England at the time and I thought if I sat on the bench at Liverpool, it could hinder my international chances. 

“Obviously leaving Liverpool was a huge wrench but I look back on also the fact I had so many great memories there. 

“It’s very strange. When I was there the side we had was unbelievable, We were a couple of players from winning the league. 

“We got to a Champions League final, won the FA Cup and finished second. The next step was to go on and win the league. 

“But I think a change of ownership and different things led to a lot of players leaving for whatever reason. 

“I still think Liverpool have a fantastic set of players though — and they will always have those amazing fans and an incredible history. 

“They’ve got a good manager now and, hopefully, they can kick on and get back to where Liverpool should be — and that is competing for trophies and playing in the top level of Europe.” 

Crouch came on as sub at another former club Tottenham on Saturday and is now eyeing his first start since his shocking mouth injury. 

He had three teeth knocked out in a clash with Newcastle’s Fabricio Coloccini last month. 

The big striker also believes another former Liverpool man in Michael Owen will finally come good in the second half of the season. 

Owen could return from a hamstring injury today and Crouch added: “I think Michael can be a big player for us in the second half of campaign. 

“He’s an established goal-scorer — they don’t come much better at scoring goals than Michael Owen.”

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Source: theSun