Dirk Kuyt reveals the 'real reason' Peter Crouch drove into him

Dirk Kuyt reveals the 'real reason' Peter Crouch drove into him & says Alonso Liverpool snub was a 'strange decision'

• Former Red desperately wanted to see Carragher in management
• "The go-karting story is funny because I know he say he had a choice of crashing into myself or Xabi Alonso, and so he thought about who we needed most in the final, so he chose to hit me. But if he's really being honest, I think he tried to hit me because he wanted to play in my position!"
• "I suppose the best thing I can say about Peter Crouch is that, whenever I've seen him, it doesn't matter where it was, whether it's on the pitch, on the training ground, in the dressing room, or outside of football... whenever I see him, there's a smile on his face. I think that says everything about Crouchy."
• "When a club like Liverpool is coming for you, as a manager, and you have history there as a former player... you have to be a real man to turn a club like Liverpool down."
• "If you have the opportunity to manage a club like Liverpool, you know, for some people, job offers like that only come around once... I'm wondering if he'll have a second chance at it."
• "I was always hoping that Jamie Carragher would become a manager, too. He said, from the beginning, that it wasn't something he was ever going to do. But I always thought he had a great eye, and look on the game. And I was always looking forward to seeing him as a manager."
• "I really like Cody as a Liverpool player... Expectations are very high, and I think the best is still to come... I know Arne Slot, and his style of playing, and I think Cody will fit in excellently... and I'm sure he'll be used out wide."
  

I had such a great time with Crouchy [Peter Crouch], he was a great player, and an even better person. I really liked him, and his family - with his wife, they're a really funny couple... she's a proper scouser as well. I had so many great moments with him. 

He's an unbelievable person; such a tall guy who you just wouldn't expect to play the way he did, and then outside of the pitch, you wouldn't look at him and expect him to dance the way he did! He's just a really funny guy. I spoke with him a few weeks back and he's still exactly the same. From time to time I hear bits and pieces from his podcast, I'm glad to see him doing really well.

The go-karting story is funny because I know he say he had a choice of crashing into myself or Xabi Alonso, and so he thought about who we needed most in the final, so he chose to hit me. But if he's really being honest, I think he tried to hit me because he wanted to play in my position! I'd have probably done the same if I had to choose between Xabi Alonso and Peter Crouch!

We were at this outdoor go-karting venue and because there were so many players, there were 12 of us go-karting and the others were waiting in the pit lane. We were about to start while Crouchy was still on the track. The next thing you know, he came around the corner, like Luigi from the Super Mario games - full speed, and I could see his was in shock because he couldn't find the breaks.

All of the players were there, and he's driven straight at me, so I've jumped up and I just remember him driving into the sides... it was a big crash and, to be honest, it was unbelievable that nobody got hurt!

For me, Crouchy was a great player. He was so funny in the dressing room as well. What can I say about him? I suppose the best thing I can say about Peter Crouch is that, whenever I've seen him, it doesn't matter where it was, whether it's on the pitch, on the training ground, in the dressing room, or outside of football... whenever I see him, there's a smile on his face. I think that says everything about Crouchy.

I didn't speak with Xabi [Alonso] about the Liverpool job earlier this year, so I don't know exactly what his thoughts on it were. But when a club like Liverpool is coming for you, as a manager, and you have history there as a former player... you have to be a real man to turn a club like Liverpool down. But I think he did it with good reason. He is in the middle of making an unbelievable career, and what he achieved last season with Bayern Leverkusen was amazing. And I think he had a feeling that he was not finished with that job yet. 

I think he wants to become an even better manager, get some more experience and, I don't know, maybe it's a job he'll look at again at a later date. I don't think for a second that it's a case of him not being interested in Liverpool. But, to manage that team after Jurgen Klopp, you know, I think you need a lot of experience. Xabi is still a young manager and, despite him having won a lot already, so early on in his managerial career, I think he chose wisely to stay with Leverkusen. I don't think many people would have done that. Maybe, for some people, it's a strange decision... it is - at least - a very brave decision. If you have the opportunity to manage a club like Liverpool, you know, for some people, job offers like that only come around once... I'm wondering if he'll have a second chance at it. He's one of the most promising managers in the world right now, though, that's for sure. 

Xabi [Alonso] was a great midfielder and teammate, and you could see, early on, that he was already reading the game very easily. I'd always look around that Liverpool dressing room and wonder who would go on to become a manager, and that was definitely the case with Xabi. He was almost already a manager when he was a player, to be honest. Technically, his reading of the game, he was very strong. He always had an eye for the whole pitch... that's why he was always shooting from 50 yards!

There's just something about Xabi, and when you think of some of the managers he's worked under... Rafa Benitez, Jose Mourinho, Pep Guardiola... you learn from the best - and then when you read a little more about him, and you learn his father was a coach, too... it all makes sense. 

Steven Gerrard was also a clear one for me, who I just knew was going to go into management. But I was always hoping that Jamie Carragher would become a manager, too. He said, from the beginning, that it wasn't something he was ever going to do. But I always thought he had a great eye, and look on the game. And I was always looking forward to seeing him as a manager, especially considering the type of person he is... it could have been really interesting! I'm happy that he's on the TV, though; I love to watch his shows, and I think he has a really good eye on football, as well. 

Cody Gakpo is doing really well in this tournament; he's already scored three goals... he looks like a player who can score at any moment, which is great for us. He's capable of making an impact from anywhere; I've seen a lot of people compare him to Arjen Robben, but from the opposite wing - he has that ability to cut inside and can score at any time. His assist against Romania was fantastic, too. 

I really like Cody as a Liverpool player. He arrived at a difficult time, really, immediately after the World Cup in 2022, during the winter break. In that moment, Liverpool were dealing with a lot of injuries, and so Jurgen Klopp had to put him straight into the first-team. I thought he did quite well early on, but I know as well as anyone that it's a huge step to go from the Eredivisie to the Premier League. 

He did well in his first six months at the club, and in his second season, again, I thought he had some very good games. Expectations are very high, and I think the best is still to come. One thing he has done at the Euros is show everyone that he's ready to be an important player at the highest level. I think I'm right in saying he's scored 12 goals for Holland, and half of them have come at major tournaments... three in the World Cup and three in the Euros.

There's a decision to be made now, for the new manager; what is his best position for Liverpool? You can see when he's not playing as a striker, but from the left-hand side, that he can be pretty dangerous. The fact is that Cody can play in many different positions, and the good thing about him is that he has the mentality to give his everything, regardless of where the manager puts him. But, if you're asking me, I think he's most dangerous when he's playing on the left. 

I know Arne Slot, and his style of playing, and I think Cody will fit in excellently... and I'm sure he'll be used out wide.