Steven Caulker got himself a shock move to Liverpool just weeks after he was beaten 6-1 by them with Southampton.
The defender, now a player-manager at Spanish non league club Malaga City, sealed the switch on loan to the Reds midway through the 2015/16 season.
Caulker was initially playing for Southampton on loan from Queens Park Rangers before going to Anfield.
During his final weeks at St Mary’s, they were defeated 6-1 at home against Liverpool in the League Cup, a match Caulker said was the worst of his career.
Appearing on talkSPORT Drive to talk about his move to Jurgen Klopp’s Reds, he said: “I’m not sure he actually knew me when I signed, whether I was his signing or the club’s signing, I’m not sure.”
And speaking on his prior experience against Liverpool, he added: “It’s actually really interesting… I played for Southampton against Liverpool.
“I had, officially, the worst game of my career. We lost 6-1, and two months later I signed for Liverpool. So, I don’t know how that happened, I still don’t know to this day but it happened.
“Two days later, I was coming on up front against Arsenal at Anfield. We got a late equaliser… not because of me but whatever, I played my part, I was on the pitch, but just amazing.”
Klopp opted to play Caulker up front despite his defensive capabilities but it was still a huge moment for him to savour as he provided an assist for Joe Allen’s late goal in the 3-3 draw.
“To be honest I was ecstatic,” he said to talkSPORT.com “First of all to make my debut at Anfield was a great moment but when I was told I was playing up front it was a bit surreal.
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“It does sum him up as a manager in the sense that he’s willing to take risks, you can see it at the moment that he’s prepared to put young players in.
“He believes in the squad he’s got, he believes in you and you feel the belief which is important, it’s not just words with him, you genuinely believe it.
“It was a great experience and I’m grateful to have had those minutes up front and to have got the equaliser against Arsenal – what a moment.”
Caulker joined Liverpool three months after Klopp arrived, with the German since winning ever major honour possible at Anfield.
The centre-back was asked if he could tell what the Reds boss was going to achieve, and he replied: “Honestly, I’m not just saying this but you could.
“Genuinely you could tell because of the work he put in day in, day out and the progress the team was making it was honestly becoming quite apparent they were going to be successful.
“In training I was often in the second XI, you have the starting XI and I was on the subs and it was getting harder and harder to play out, the pressing was getting better and better. In all honesty it was becoming apparent that they were going to become a top, top side.”
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