For a good five years, Alberto Moreno was a left-back at Liverpool.
Admittedly, some of that was spent watching Andy Robertson from the bench, but the Spaniard still managed to make 141 appearances for the Reds, scoring three goals and assisting another 11 along the way.
His time came to an end in 2019 when he transferred to Villarreal on a free transfer, and while his appearances have been limited due to a cruciate ligament rupture, the 29-year-old still featured in the Europa League final in May, helping his side lift the trophy after beating Manchester United on penalties.
The defender sat down on Monday with El Periodico Mediterraneo on Monday, where he was asked directly about his time at Anfield.
He said: “They were beautiful years, but strange things also happened and others where I had bad luck. I started the first two years playing constantly, but then, in the third year, the manager put James Milner, who is a right-handed midfielder, at left-back. I didn’t play at all that year and it wasn’t easy.
“After that, I spoke with Jürgen Klopp about my situation and he told me he was counting on me. I had a great preseason and was a starter in the Premier League, playing every game in both the league and the Champions League. In fact, Lopetegui called me and I returned to the Spain team, but I was unlucky, and in the last game of the Champions League group stage, I injured my ankle”.
That’s when Andy Robertson stepped in, then Moreno’s replacement at the time, but the Spaniard did admit he ‘did very well and won the title’.
He was playing so well, in fact, that Moreno revealed Klopp, whom he gets on ‘phenomenally’ with, said to him: “Alberto, I trust you, but now I can’t take him off”.
Following the loss to Real Madrid in the Champions League final, Moreno explained what led to his exit from Liverpool.
He said: “In my fifth year, I was offered to renew, but for another five years. I said no. We’d had many years in England. I have three children and spoke with my wife, and we decided that the best thing was to return to Spain. I just wanted to go back to Spain”.
That’s when Villarreal came forward, and the player ran down his contract at Anfield to join them on a free in 2019.
