Bayern Munich duo Pepe Reina and Xabi Alonso are relishing an emotional return to Anfield for the All-Star charity match this Sunday.

Under Rafael Benitez, the two quickly became fan favourites, winning the FA Cup and reaching the 2007 UEFA Champions League final, amongst many other memorable moments.

But the two both left on terms which did not give them the best opportunities to say goodbye to the beloved Kop. Alonso left after pre-season of 2010, moving to Real Madrid, whilst Reina never had chance to properly wave farewell after spending a year on loan at Napoli, before leaving for Bayern.

Sunday's game, organised by the Liverpool FC Foundation to help raise funds for vital causes on Merseyside, gives the two a final chance to get kitted up and run out onto the hallowed turf once again, joined by a number of their old team-mates, and they're both very excited.

"For five years I haven't had the chance to go back there," said Xabi Alonso, still a much-loved figure in the red half of Liverpool. "I spent five great years there and have great memories of those years. We had wonderful nights at Anfield. Of course it's going to be a special game for us and Stevie, and it's for a great cause. It has all of the ingredients to be special for everyone.

Reina, who made 394 appearances for the Reds, also cannot wait to go back to L4. He said: "I'm very much looking forward to it. It's a great opportunity to say 'goodbye' but also 'hello' back. It's going to be a great atmosphere and a great match between friendly faces. It's going to be a great day.

"It's a great city for me, but it was also my home for eight years. One of my kids was born there; three of them have been raised in Liverpool. And I was treated like one of them. For me, it's always going to be home."

That's a feeling that Alonso, who scored on that famous night from Istanbul despite initially seeing his penalty saved, shares. "Liverpool is a special city for me. It's where I started to become a man," said the Spaniard. "Until I got there, I was living with my parents, so it's where I had to start doing things on my own and settle down.

"From the first day, everyone was so kind to me and really friendly. My first son was born there, so it's always going to be special.

"We will always have that special link with the city and the club, because the club is so important in the city - it's like a religion. You feel it when you get there."

Getting competitive, Alonso - who will be playing alongside Steven Gerrard - joked that he's glad to be in the 34-year-old's team. The two shared a very special bond at the club and Alonso stoked the fire again earlier this year after Gerrard announced his decision to leave for the MLS, tweeting: "My mate. My hero." Accompanied with a picture of Gerrard and Alonso stood with their arms around each other.

"I'm glad I'm in Stevie's team," said Alonso. "Because I'm pretty sure Carra will be a terrible manager! So I'd rather be in Stevie's team and it's going to be a great game and we are going to have great fun.

"It's going to be good to see friends who we have been apart from for a few years, so it's going to be really nice going back to the stadium.

Reina, who started his first competitive game for Pep Guardiola's Bayern in a 4-0 win away at Werder Bremen, added: "Apparently we are playing in different teams.

"I will try to be on my line just in case [Xabi shoots from long distance]! But it's about the cause, about having fun and, no matter which teams we are in, enjoying the day and having fun.

"It's always a pleasure (to play in front of the Liverpool fans). Just to hear 'You'll Never Walk Alone' is one emotion, to defend in front of the Kop is another emotion, and to play in front of Anfield in front of them - because of how respectful they have been for me and my family during my time there - is a wonderful and enormous honour for me."

Alonso almost had the opportunity to return to Anfield as an opposing player. But as the 2014-15 Champions League draw revealed Real Madrid and Liverpool as group stage opponents, he was already in Bavaria preparing to sign with Bayern.

"Of course I'm really looking forward to it because this summer when I was in Madrid and after the Champions League draw, when Liverpool and Real Madrid came out together, I was here in Munich doing my medical," he said.

"It was like I had the chance to go back to Anfield! But, of course Anfield is a special stadium. The fans make it special and because of that Pepe, myself and all of the former players want to go back there and feel those special feelings again because it's something different."