Teixeira delighted to be part of all-star charity match

JOAO TEIXEIRA described being part of the Liverpool all-star charity match on Sunday as an experience of a lifetime.
Albion's Joao Teixeira. Picture by Angela BrinkhurstAlbion's Joao Teixeira. Picture by Angela Brinkhurst
Albion's Joao Teixeira. Picture by Angela Brinkhurst

The Brighton & Hove Albion youngster was named as a substitute for Steven Gerrard’s XI as they took on a Jamie Carragher XI in front of a sell-out crowd at Anfield.

Teixeira had the likes of Gerrard, Thierry Henry, Luis Suarez, Fernando Torres, Xabi Alonso and John Terry in his side, while he came up against the likes of Pepe Reina, Didier Drogba and Mario Balotelli.

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The 22-year-old Portuguese talent, who is on loan to Albion from Liverpool, went on late at the end of both halves and he was delighted to get some game time alongside some of the sport’s greats.

He said: “It was an experience of a lifetime to play with players like Terry, Drogba, Alonso, Gerrard, Suarez and Torres.

“A lot of them I had never met before, so it was a great experience for me as a young player to be a part of the same match with all these legends together.

“I have trained with a couple of the Liverpool players before but to meet and be on the field with such great names was such an amazing experience.”

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Teixeira’s attention will now turn to the last seven matches of the Championship campaign with Albion.

Brighton face two games in four days, with a home fixture against Norwich at the Amex on Friday, before a trip to Rotherham on Monday.

The Liverpool loanee knows both games will be tough tests and said: “We all know that these are going to be two tough games.

“Norwich are a really strong side and it will be a difficult task.

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“We have beaten both Ipswich and Derby at home this season, so I’m sure we can repeat that against Norwich.

“We have a good team and I’m sure we can get a good result.”

Speaking about Monday’s game at Rotherham, Teixeria said: “It will be a real battle with lots of long balls being played on what could be a tricky pitch.

“We all know that it is going to be a tough battle, with a lot of running needed to be done.”