Bellamy on Stevie, Suarez and Rafa

Several chapters have been serialised containing his recollection of working with Rafael Benitez and his much-publicised altercation with John Arne Riise.

Here are a few other extracts about his time at LFC:

"They were still the top team when I was growing up in the 1980s but that wasn't the only reason I supported them. I loved the kit for one thing, that brilliant crispy, shiny red kit that always looked so beautiful against the green of the turf with its big Liver Bird emblem. The first kit I owned was the yellow away kit they wore for the 1985-86 season."
On supporting LFC

"Gerrard was everything I expected and more. He was a cut above anyone I've ever played with. He had so much in his locker. He is an immense player but because he is streaks ahead of everyone - even someone like Alonso - he put too much onus on himself to do everything. There were days we knew that if we were going to win, Stevie was going to have to be at his best. He knew that too, and that is a lot of pressure to carry around on your shoulders. What makes him so good? Well, there is nothing he can't do. He is clever. He sees the game quicker than anyone else. He sees the picture. He can play the ball first time around corners that aren't even there. He has got intelligence. He has got physical attributes. He can bomb past people. He is quick. He is a powerful, proper athlete. Give him a header, he will score."
On Steven Gerrard

"Crouchie said to me that if he played, he would do a golf swing celebration. I said the same. In the elation of the moment, I forgot all about the celebration for about 20 seconds. Some people were upset...they said it showed a lack of contrition. That wasn't true. It was just an expression of happiness, mixed with a little mischief and a signal that there was more to me than bouts of bad behaviour. It was a proud moment looking up at the Nou Camp scoreboard and seeing my name on it. I knew my son would be looking at it, too."
On celebrating a goal v Barcelona

"His finishing was still a different league. He could dink it over the keeper, he could move the ball, he could whip it. And he was a lovely bloke too."
On playing with Robbie Fowler

"Rafa liked to nominate a penalty-taker for each game and it was Robbie that night. But when we were awarded one, I decided that I wanted to take it. Robbie and I had a brief argument but he couldn't be bothered to continue it. He stepped aside. I took it. The Birmingham keeper, Maik Taylor, saved it. The next day Rafa called me in. He asked me why I took the penalty. I said I felt confident and I wanted to score. 'But you weren't on penalties,' he said. 'I have to fine you.' 'Really,' I said. 'Yes,' Rafa said. 'I pick the penalty taker, not you.' I don't know how much the fine was. I didn't dare think about it because it would have driven me mad."
On being fined

"It was heart-wrenching not to play any part at all. When we were on the coach back to the hotel, a couple of the boys expressed surprise to me that Rafa hadn't brought me in. It was nice of them but it didn't help. It was over. The chance had gone. As a fan of the club, I felt sick about the defeat. As a player denied the chance to play the biggest game in club football I just felt empty."
On not playing in Athens

"Liverpool took the initiative. They sent a helicopter to Cardiff to fly me to Merseyside. As soon as we landed in Liverpool, Harry [Redknapp] was on the phone telling me not to sign. I thought Tottenham were probably the better team but Liverpool were in my heart. I had unfinished business at Liverpool, too. It had never really felt right playing under Rafa and I wanted to have better memories of playing for the club I loved."
On re-joining LFC

"There was a minute's applause for Speedo before the game. I stood in the line with the rest of the Liverpool players. I felt okay. The Liverpool fans started singing his name. It was real to me then and I started crying. I'm a man's man. I'm not supposed to cry. I didn't like Chelsea fans. I didn't want to cry in front of them. But I couldn't help it. 'I'm going to play well tonight,' I thought. And Chelsea couldn't get near me. It was one of the best games I have ever played. We won 2-0 and I set up both goals. The game was easy after the two days I had just had. It was a performance worthy of Speedo's memory. Kenny brought me off 10 minutes from the end and gave me the biggest hug when I got to the touchline, which is typical of him. Then I sat down on the bench, put a coat over my head and cried."
On returning to the pitch after Gary Speed's death

"People talk about Kenny being the greatest Liverpool footballer of all time. He probably is. But you know what, he is the greatest man who has ever played for Liverpool Football Club. He was brilliant to play for."
On Kenny Dalglish

"He was an incredible player and a lovely guy. He trained hard and worked relentlessly during matches. People talk about him diving but he took a hell of a lot of punishment, too. He would take his socks off after a game and his calves and his ankle would be black and blue from where he had been kicked."
On Luis Suarez

"I went with him to the pub. I sat with him and watched as he taunted every Evertonian who came through the door. I could see them glance at him and roll their eyes, smiling. They all knew he wouldn't spare them. He gave them merciless stick. It was a great night."
On post-FA Cup semi-final celebrations with Carra

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