Peter Crouch

Liverpool 3- 2 Galatasaray, Champions League, 2006

Peter Crouch endured a long wait for his first Champions League goal – but the drought was halted emphatically against Galatasaray.

The 6ft 7in striker was unable to score in six games across his debut Champions League season, after joining holders Liverpool in the summer of 2005. But his second campaign in the competition started rather better: just nine minutes into the clash with Galatasaray, he finally broke his duck with a side- footed finish.

Early in the second half, Crouch followed up with arguably the most memorable goal of his career: a stunning overhead kick that arrowed past Colombian goalkeeper Faryd Mondragon.

“It has to be my favourite,” the 39- year- old tells Fourfourtwo. “I scored one at Man City to get Spurs into the Champions League, and there was another at Stoke when I scored a worldie against City. But as a feeling, my goal against Galatasaray was the best, because it came at the Kop end at Anfield.

“Steve Finnan went down the right – he was a great crosser and created most of my goals. He hung one up to the back post and my eyes lit up – overhead kicks were something I often practised as a kid. I used to love trying them.

“Having scored my first Champions League goal, I was more confident to try something spectacular. We were winning the game, I was playing well and full of confidence. They don’t often come off like that, but it was the perfect connection – bang. I knew it was in.”

Crouch’s goal earned him plenty of plaudits, even if he doesn’t remember any particular words of post- match praise from gaffer Rafa Benitez – a notoriously hard man to please.

“Rafa wouldn’t have said anything – he would have just moved on!” laughs Crouch. “The next day, all the newspapers were saying ‘ X Factor’, because my arms were out and my whole body was like an X as I scored. They were amazing back pages – my mum has kept a load of them. I always remember Luis Garcia’s reaction, too: he put his hands on his head, as he couldn’t believe what had just happened.

“I scored another overhead kick against Bolton not long afterwards – that was at the Kop end too, it was so similar. I remember running away to celebrate, going, ‘ That’s two!’”

Peter Crouch is a columnist for the Daily Mail