'DON'T COME BACK' Crouch jokes wife Abbey’s friends told him he’s not welcome in Liverpool if he scores against them
Sean Dyche's Burnley travel to Anfield on Sunday and could plunge a knife into the Reds' title ambitions and boost their own survival bid
Posted Sunday, March 10, 2019 by Thesun.co.uk
IF Peter Crouch ends his return to Liverpool as a Burnley hero, he will not be shouting about it to the in-laws.
In fact, should Crouch put one in the Anfield net, he does not know if he will even be welcomed back to visit any of his relations on Merseyside.
Abbey Clancy and Peter Crouch have been married since June 2011
The Clarets striker makes an emotional return — potentially for the final time — to the club where he spent three years, scored 42 goals and won an FA Cup.
In the crowd will be Liverpool-born wife Abbey Clancy and plenty of members of her family — all of them die-hard Reds.
Crouch, 38, admitted: "It’s not good. I’ve had a few people on from her side, they’re all Reds.
"I was up there last week and people were saying, ‘Don’t expect to be able to come back if you do score’. I’m not even sure if they were joking — I think they might have been serious.
Crouch won the FA Cup with Liverpool during three seasons at the club
"I have a lot of friends in the area and basically they were saying, ‘Don’t be thinking of scoring’.
"I know what it means to the city, having been up there and know a lot of people at the club.
"But I have got to do my job and what’s right for Burnley.
"I would love Liverpool to win the league, though, and hopefully they can do that — but with us getting a result against them as well."
Crouch might not be welcomed home with open arms if he strikes a blow to Liverpool's title hopes
Crouch was a cult figure at Anfield, won the bulk of his 42 England caps while at Liverpool and is desperate to see them land a first Premier League title.
But that does not mean he would not be happy to score against them.
He added: “I don’t agree with a solemn face really.
"Any goal I score against any opponent you are pleased, you can’t help it.
The pair have three children together but are regulars at showbiz parties
"But I have a lot of respect for the club. I had the best part of my career at Liverpool, I played my best football there. I played for England, in the Champions League final and in big, big games.
"I can’t help being happy if I score but I wouldn’t rub their nose in it, no.
"I was actually at the game in 2014 (against Manchester City) when Raheem Sterling scored and the whole city felt they were going to win the league that year.
"Obviously it was not to be but you can see how much it means to them and they are so close."
Crouch arrived at Turf Moor on a free from Stoke only in January but is already a terrace favourite.
"He had just arrived when fans hung a banner off a town centre bridge with the message "Welcome Crouchie, mind your head lad", while a local butcher has created a giant spicy sausage in his name.
So even though he has played just three games off the bench so far, he is loving his new life in Lancashire — and has no plans to hang up those giant boots just yet.
He said: "I do love the game and, what I’ve found, especially with three young children, is it’s nice to get out of the house!
Crouch is likely to start from the bench at Anfield
"For 22 years now, every single day I’ve played football and the fact people are talking about me calling it a day makes me want it even more.
"I still feel I can run. I come in every single day with a smile on my face, I train and I do everything the lads do. I’ve never had pace so I can’t lose that!
"My attributes are other things and those haven’t waned too far, so as long as I’m making an impact and not being a hindrance, I’ll carry on.
"When the day does come, it will be very hard — that’s why I’m hanging on for dear life to prolong it as long as I can."
Photos
More»
American adult star Kendra Sunderland
Tuesday November 26 2024
Manchester City gear up for Feyenoord
Tuesday November 26 2024
Your Say