'I swore at Liverpool manager and received greatest scolding of my life'

Former Liverpool skipper Phil Thompson has opened up on a fiery clash with manager Bob Paisley following an unexpected loss to Aston Villa.

Thompson, who is revered for his time at Anfield , clinching seven League titles, three European Cups, an FA Cup, three League Cups, six Charity Shields, and two UEFA Cups, confessed there was one match where he wasn't on top form.

On the Football's Greatest podcast , Thompson shared with Jeff Stelling a heated exchange with Paisley, where he brashly told him to "---- off" after the manager made a sarcastic remark about his captaincy. This came after Thompson had inadvertently knocked the ball into his own net past goalie Ray Clemence in a game against Aston Villa.

READ MORE: Liverpool announce fifth exit of the summer as transfer confirmed
READ MORE: Mats Wieffer transfer confirmed after Liverpool's 'last-ditch' attempt to sign midfielder

The match ended with Aston Villa triumphing 3-1, courtesy of strikes from Allan Evans, John Deehan, and Thompson's own goal, while David Johnson netted Liverpool 's lone reply. Reflecting on the incident, the ex-Soccer Saturday pundit remembered that particular defensive blunder didn't sit well with Paisley.

Thompson recounted: "My greatest rollicking? [It was] off Bob Paisley at Aston Villa. I sliced an own goal past Ray Clemence and he came in the dressing room after the game - we've won the league and only conceded 16 goals all season.

"And I sliced one past Ray Clemence at Villa Park and after the game, he's in the dressing room and he went, 'Is the captaincy too much for you, is it getting to you?'

"And I said 'You can F-off' and he went 'What'd you mean F-off' and all the players were killing themselves laughing. We've been beaten 3-1, oh my god, that was probably the biggest rollicking that I'd ever had."

Liverpool clinched the title back at Anfield the following month during the rematch with Villa. In that match, The Reds triumphed 3-0 with Alan Kennedy, Kenny Dalglish, and Terry McDermott all contributing goals.

Reflecting on his football career, Thompson stated he held "no regrets", going on to call it "the most wonderful life". He boasted that his crowning glory was lifting the European Cup - now known as the Champions League - up high against Real Madrid in 1981. He emphasized: "Not a great game, but my greatest ever honor."