Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher has sparked a feud with Manchester United icon Rio Ferdinand ahead of Sunday’s match between the clubs. Ferdinand will leave TNT Sports in May 2025, devoting his commentary to his YouTube channel “Rio Ferdinand Presents”. The 47-year-old interviews football legends past and present and gives his opinion on the latest football news.
Mr Carragher, who works for CBS Sports and the Telegraph, has appeared to be upset by comments made by Mr Ferdinand in the past. The two pundits have previously sparred over topics including Cristiano Ronaldo, the Saudi Professional League, the African Cup of Nations and Mo Salah.
And their feud continued on Sunday, with Ferdinand posting a photo on social media platform X celebrating United’s goal against the Reds, preceded by a heartbroken Carragher. Ferdinand captioned the photo: “Please add a caption to this.” Mr Carragher responded to the post.
He said: “Eat some of that bullb, Scouse xxxx.” Maybe… you don’t like seeing yourself in other people’s goal photos. You now continue this ritual by wandering around the mixed zone, annoying star players and asking your men to film it! ”
One notable incident between the two was in 2023 when Carragher called Ferdinand a “clown”. During the Champions League semi-final between Milan’s rivals Inter and AC.
Carragher mocked Ferdinand, saying his controversial penalty call was “obstruction” despite it being overturned by VAR. When former Manchester City player Micah Richards asked him to name him, Carragher replied: “Rio Ferdinand. I’m happy to call him Clown.”
In response to the abuse, Ferdinand said: “Every time I see him, he’s a loving guy. We’re loving guys, we hug, we shake hands, we laugh a little bit. I don’t understand why he came so hostile. It’s a hostile energy and I don’t understand it.”
“He’s been on our show, we’ve met and everything is cool. When he was with England he carried my boots and he’s always shown me love. Maybe it was Hall of Fame week (in the Premier League) but me and him are cool so that’s all I can think about. We chat, we text sometimes but I just don’t get it. I just get good energy from him.”
“He messages me all the time. That’s what I’m saying, it’s crazy for me. He messages me all the time, we played together in the England team and like I said, he carries my boots. He’s always shown me love.
“I don’t know where that energy comes from. And all I want him to tell me is where that energy comes from. Is it real energy? I need to know, so I’ll ask him when I meet him.”
