[ad_1]
Former Liverpool defender Daniel Cleary is suing former team-mate Tom Brewitt over an on-field fight which the latter said he hoped would put him out of the way.
Cleary (pictured centre) was part of the academy for four-and-a-half years between 2012 and 2016, coming through the ranks alongside Liverpool-born Brewitt.
The two centre-backs found themselves battling for an unlikely first-team berth under Jurgen Klopp in 2015 as the Reds faced an options crisis.
With Dejan Lovren, Kolo Toure, Mamadou Sakho and Martin Skrtel all ruled out for the FA Cup clash with Exeter, the manager was expected to call on academy options – prompting Brewitt to take action.
Speaking on the Football Journeys podcast in 2020, Brewitt admitted he “tried to hurt” Cleary with a training tackle that left the Irishman on crutches and therefore “out of the way” when it came to Klopp’s plans.
Four years after the equalizer – in which neither player played with Joe Maguire in his place – Cleary is seeking over £200,000 in damages from Liverpool and Brewitt.
Impact on Cleary’s career
Per the Liverpool EchoCleary’s claim is that Brewitt’s challenge played a role in “the loss of a career high”.
Defender Satinder Hunjan KC’s lawyer explained that Cleary was “sure” he would be selected, claiming the attack changed his running gait, limiting his career options due to further injuries and causing depression.
His claim for damages was launched as a direct result of Brewitt’s comments on the Football Journeys podcast, but the latter’s lawyer denied it was “an admission that he deliberately tried to hurt Cleary and knock him out of the game”.
The EchoRichard Gittins reports that “both club and player deny responsibility” and Liverpool insist that “their players have been taught to play by the rules”.
‘The club and the player deny responsibility’
Representing the club, barrister Pippa Manby argued that the challenge was “not considered particularly serious or improbable and/or deliberate by those refereeing and overseeing the practice match”.
Manby added that Liverpool do not consider Cleary to have first-team potential, with Maguire considered better and Tiago Ilori, who partnered Jose Enrique at centre-back in the first tie and his return, recalled from loan to deal injury problems.
Brewitt’s defense argued the contact was “accidental” after the player, now at Swindon Town, saw his foot “roll over the top of the ball” and connect with Cleary’s leg.
The full trial will be heard at a later date, during which Brewitt’s appearance on the Football Journeys podcast will no doubt be broadcast.
“I knew it was a bad move and I did it on purpose”
“It was me or him, so I followed him to training,” said the 27-year-old at the time.
“Before Christmas, and between Christmas and New Years, I was putting myself next to him in possession games, I was putting myself next to him in games and I was just kicking him.
“I wasn’t trying to hurt him too bad, but I was trying to hurt him enough to get out of my way and play.
“It was about a week before the Exeter game, and I was getting a bit of a grip on the seven and he comes in to tackle me.
“I waited a split second too long and absolutely outplayed him. Went over the ball, it was a bad shot.
“I knew it was a bad attempt and I did it on purpose. I’m not incredibly proud of it, I’m not ashamed either because in my head it was either me or him and I chose me.
“There was a bit of a scuffle afterwards and I think they sent him to react, and rightly so, his reaction was probably a hit.
“I finished the session and he was on crutches for the next two weeks so it was kind of mission accomplished because I think that’s a bit rough, I just needed him out of the way for this game.”
Cleary left Liverpool for Birmingham City in 2016 and has since played for Dundalk, St Johnstone and currently Shamrock Rovers.
Brewitt left for Middlesbrough in 2017 having never played for Liverpool’s first team and is now with Swindon in League Two after spells with AFC Fylde, Morecambe and American sides Tacoma Defiance and Hartford Athletic.
[ad_2]
