Former Liverpool defender Stephen Warnock once opened up on how a dream return to Liverpool from Aston Villa was prevented by ex-Reds' boss Gerard Houllier. The defender, who joined the Reds' academy at age 10, climbed the ranks at the club before finally breaking into the first team in 2004 under Rafael Benitez.

He later moved to Blackburn in 2007 and joined Villa in 2009. However, a major row with Houllier, who died in December 2020 aged 73 and who was then in charge of Villa, left him seeking an exit from the Midlands-based side.

The fallout revolved around Warnock, now 43, being able to go straight home after games in the north-west, where he was still based. Having been told he was free to go home after a tie with Manchester City, Warnock says he was stunned to be reprimanded by Houllier, who demanded an apology.