Sir Alex Ferguson told Jonjo Shelvey 'you've got a bit of balls about you' after infamous row with Manchester United boss at Liverpool

Shelvey became a cult hero at Anfield after row with United boss

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Jonjo Shelvey has revealed that Sir Alex Ferguson was impressed after the midfielder infamously hit out at him when the midfielder was still at Liverpool.

The incident (below) came in September 2012 when Shelvey was sent off against Manchester United at Anfield for a two-footed tackle on Jonny Evans.

As Shelvey walked off the midfielder, now impressing at Swansea, got involved in a row with the Scottish manager, who reacted strongly to the tackle, and later accused Ferguson of getting him sent off and 'grassing' him up.

The midfielder became a popular figure at Liverpool for standing up to Ferguson.

The 23-year-old, who was recalled to the England squad by Roy Hodgson this week, accepts he was wrong to confront the 13-time Premier League winner, but has revealed that his reaction actually endeared him to Ferguson

"I was a bit immature then and a bit silly. I pulled him aside afterwards and apologised to him and he was spot on with me," he told the Liverpool Echo.

"He said, 'no I like it. It shows you’ve got a bit of balls about you'.

"I got a few high fives around town for the next few months, but it was silly from me on the professional stage. You don’t do something like that.

"I was young and I was starting for Liverpool against Manchester United, games don’t come much bigger.

"I was immature, the occasion got the better of me. It was part of growing up and you learn from those sort of things."