Gareth Barry: The PL record breaker that wasn't good enough for Steven Gerrard

Back in the 2008/09 season Barry was being heavily linked with a move to Liverpool as a potential replacement for Xabi Alonso, who looked set to leave the club.

The manager of Liverpool at the time, Rafa Beintez, was a big fan of the midfielder, but when he asked Gerrard what he thought about it, he was met with a firm response.

The iconic Scouser told his manager not to sign Barry, as Alonso should be kept at all costs.

Gerrard revealed the anecdote on 'BT Sport', saying: 'He wanted to move Xabi (Alonso) on and bring in Gareth (Barry). Now for me that wasn't the right move, although I'm a big fan of Gareth Barry.

'I'd rather have him in to play alongside Xabi because I think they could have worked together.

'I don't think it was the right move from a Liverpool point of view to replace Xabi with Gareth. The fans love Xabi, he's a world-class player, and for me, Rafa should have been doing everything to keep him and not have him move on.'

In the end Alonso moved to Real Madrid the following summer, a summer which also saw Barry up sticks, but not for Anfield. The England international opted to snub interest from Liverpool and Arsenal to join Manchester City.

The switch paid off for the player, who won the Premier League title and an FA Cup with the 'Citizens' before finally heading for Merseyside as he joined Everton.

Liverpool's loss? Or City's gain?