How hard were you?
I was doing Bill Shankly's garden for him in 1960, after my dad had died, and he said : "Son, here's a bit of advice : don't take any s*** from anyone." I've lived like that for 40 years and I'm still here.
You v Roy Keane. Who would be the last man standing?
I'm not scared of anyone - except the wife. Keane was a good player, but I made myself into a unit that looked like he was going to kill you. I played against Jimmy Greaves once and I give him a piece of paper on the pitch. It was the menu from the local hospital.
You're marking Cristiano Ronaldo. Fancy your chances?
I played with Pele in the United States, so I wouldn't lose any sleep over it. Don't forget, football has changed. Nowadays they play on bowling greens with a bloody balloon. Ronaldo? No problem. He wouldn't be rolling around on the pitch after I'd finished with him.
What went wrong at Liverpool?
Football's not a sport any more, it's a business. The Yanks who own the club are only there for the money. Rafael Benitez has bought some very good players, but he has also bought some very bad ones. Some are happy on the bench laughing and joking and picking up £50,000 a week.
What's the most you ever earned?
The year we won the European Cup and the league I got £600 a week and that was including a £5,000 bonus for the European Cup and £5,000 for the league. It would have taken me six years to earn what Steven Gerrard earns in a week now.
Who was the hardest man you faced?
No one. I wasn't frightened of anyone - they were all scared of me. I played as a full back once and I asked Joe Fagan what he wanted me to do. He said : "Go and stand next to their winger." It worked.
Four titles, two FA Cups, two UEFA Cups, five charity shields and a European Cup - you weren't short of material for your new book?
It's all in there, it's called Anfield Iron. It's the story of a normal lad who lost his dad and then became a footballer because he loved the game.
Finally,Tommy, how lonely were all those early baths?
You've got the wrong bloke. I played 632 times for Liverpool and I never broke anyone's leg and I only ever got sent off once. That was for dissent.
Interview by Kaveh Solhekol in The Times (31/03/08)