Former Everton midfielder Barry reveals how close he came to joining Liverpool

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Gareth Barry has lifted the lid on just how close he came to becoming a Liverpool player years before his eventual move to Everton, as reported by the Liverpool Echo.

Barry was reportedly all set for a move to Anfield back in May 2008, but the move fell through and he remained at Aston Villa.

He eventually moved to Manchester City, where he became a Premier League winner, before moving to Everton in 2013, under Roberto Martinez.

Barry had a decent spell on the blue half of Merseyside but things could have been very different. He said of his failed move to Anfield: “It was really close but when things don’t happen you have to get over them really quickly and once I know that something isn’t there I can move on and not worry about it.”

Barry would have been a replacement for Xabi Alonso at Anfield, but ended up being a decent symbol of the post David Moyes era at Everton.

He signified a shift towards a more flowing style of football under Roberto Martinez and his winning mentality was also a coup for the dressing room.

Life might have been very different for Barry if he went to Liverpool, but he wouldn’t have won the title like he did with City.