Peter Crouch: I nearly exchanging blows with Rio Ferdinand during Liverpool days

Peter Crouch has indicated that his extensive knowledge of Rio’s ability almost caused a scuffle between them many years ago.

But he insists that they both laugh at the thought of almost punching each other when remembering it.

When asked about whether he came close to exchanging blows with any teammate during his playing career, Peter Crouch explained in a Q&A session for the Daily Mail: “When you moved clubs as often as I did, there was always someone I knew in opposition.

“Put it this way - if you play 5-a-side against your mates, are you going to smash into them to get the ball? Of course you are!

“The closest I ever came to exchanging blows with someone on a pitch was Rio Ferdinand during a Liverpool-Manchester United game.

“We were England teammates at the time and he’s one of my closest friends now. When we think about the squabble now, it’s just something to laugh about.”

Crouch and Rio Ferdinand just got entangled in the intensity of the Man United-Liverpool rivalry back then. Maybe the striker was frustrated at not being able to get the better off Rio, whom he had to witness lift many Premier League trophies with United while Liverpool struggled to win anything back then.