Carson: I tried to give away my Champions League medal

Former Liverpool keeper Scott Carson has revealed how he tried to give Chris Kirkland his 2005 Champions League winners’ medal as he felt that he “deserved it more”.

The Derby County player was named on the bench for the famous 2005 Champions League final in which the Reds came from 3-0 down at half-time to win on penalties against AC Milan.

Jerzy Dudek started in net for Rafa Benitez’s side that night and Kirkland would have normally been on the bench but for an injury.

Carson says although it was nice to get the medal he felt like Kirkland “deserved it more” as he had played more matches in the tournament.

“When we got the medals, I tried to give mine to Chris. He played more games in the group stages than me. So I felt that he deserved it more,” Carson explained to The Guardian.

“But Chris, as anyone who knows him will say, is a really nice lad and he said: ‘No. You were on the bench, you played your part as well.’ I’m delighted I’ve got it, but a medal is a lot more valuable to you if you played. For me, Just to witness that night was good enough.”