Merseyside actor Stephen Graham has spoken about his love for Liverpool FC, admiration for Jurgen Klopp and his earliest memory – getting lost among the crowds celebrating a Reds European Cup win.
Kirkby-born Graham, who is arguably best-known for his role as Andrew 'Combo' Gascoigne in the This Is England films, joined former Anfield ace Mark Lawrenson in his weekly Premier League predictions column for BBC Sport .
The 46-year-old said: “I support Liverpool because it is in my DNA.
“My earliest memory is my Ma took me when we had won the European Cup. I was maybe only about five or something like that, and we had made a massive cardboard cut-out of the trophy.
“I went, and I got lost – I went missing. It was in the Liverpool Echo and on Granada Reports – my mum lost me in the crowd and the police ended up getting me back together with her.
“Thankfully it ended well but yeah that is my first memory - and there is a picture somewhere of me in the Echo – a little kid with a little cap on.
“I don't get to many games these days but I saw Mark play a few times for Liverpool. He was absolutely brilliant – like a gazelle.
“He was one of the classic heroes, Lawro, he really was. A legend. He just glided along and him and Alan Hansen's centre-half combination was fantastic.”
Graham reckons Liverpool will defeat Manchester City in this Sunday's top-of-the-table clash at Anfield and while he's more cagey about the ultimate destination of the Premier League trophy.
He said: This is the fixture I looked out for straight away at the start of the season. Hopefully it is a brilliant game. We are at home so I have got to back us to beat City – 2-1.
“I think it will be extremely close again (the title race). We have started off brilliantly, but there is a long way to go.”
One thing Graham is in no doubt over though are his feelings about Reds boss Klopp.
He added: “He is absolutely wonderful. He is a genius. He is like Willy Wonka isn't he? He is just lovely.”
