Peter Crouch revealed how Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher would write off new signings at Liverpool after just one training session.
The former Liverpool and England striker recalled how nerve-wracking it was training with the two Anfield legends for the first time.
Crouch joined Liverpool in 2005 from Southampton and, like any new player, was desperate to make a good first impression.
On the Peter Crouch Podcast, he said: "That first training session is vital - I didn't set the world on fire but I held my own.
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"Gerrard and Carragher were ruthless. They would write off a player in their first training session.
"I've been there knowing that I've been judged and I've been there when people are judging a new player.
"I've seen £10-15million players written off in one training session."
Crouch scored 42 goals in 134 games during three memorable years at Anfield.
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He struck up an instant relationship with Gerrard when the Liverpool captain was in his prime.
"Gerrard's standards are so high," Crouch said. "He would rap a pass into you with so much venom and expect you to control it.
"It happened to me a couple times where if it would bounce off you and he'd just look at you like 'what am I playing with? Get hold of it.'
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"I knew what was expected of me as soon as I walked in on my first day of training.
"He was going to rap balls into me at 100mph, expect me to kill it dead and lay it off to him.
"If I mis-controlled one, I'd get the evils so I ended up working on it and making sure I get it right - then it became second nature.
"The top top clubs and top top players demand the best every single day. It's a challenge that you either rise to or you go under."
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On his special rapport with Gerrard, Crouch added: "There was, but then Torres came along and he cheated on me."
Featured Image Credit:Topics: Liverpool