Former Liverpool defender Stephen Warnock has claimed he was used as a "scapegoat" during his stint at Anfield - but "loved" his time with Aston Villa.
The left-back joined the Merseyside outfit as a 10-year-old and made his way through the ranks. He eventually broke into the first team under Rafael Benitez in 2004 after a period of injuries, including a broken leg.
Warnock went on to win the UEFA Super Cup with the Reds in 2005, but that followed a blow where he was left out of the Benitez squad that won the Champions League against AC Milan the same year. However, the 42-year-old has since claimed that life at Liverpool was often a struggle. The former England international believed being a product of the academy gave him less footing than other players who had been bought by the club. Recalling his time on Merseyside, Warnock declared that while he enjoyed playing for Liverpool, he felt more "wanted" during his spells with Blackburn Rovers and Villa.
Speaking to World Football Index, Warnock said: "I came through the academy from the age of 10, and then I was in and around the first team as a teenager and got called up to the first team at the age of 16. When I was just moved from the academy, I broke my leg. So, I had a period of about three years where I was injured.
"Then when I came back into the fold, Gerard Houllier was manager, which was a change from when (former Liverpool manager) Roy Evans was in charge as it was him who initially wanted to call me into the first team. So, when Gerard Houllier took sole charge of the team, things changed and there was just a huge influx of French players, whether it was youth or first-team players.
"From there, I always knew it was going to be tough to break through, having come from the academy and recovered from a broken leg and other injury setbacks."
After his injury, Warnock was sent out on loan to Bradford and then Coventry City where he impressed after making 44 appearances for the Sky Blues. On his return to Liverpool he found himself under Benitez where his fortunes began to change, however, he would soon find himself shipped off to Blackburn where his career began to settle down.
"When I came back after that loan spell, it was Rafa Benitez who had taken over as manager at the club and that was where I got my opportunity. It was a completely fresh start for me," Warnock said. "He gave me my opportunity at Liverpool, and I was very fortunate that he saw something in me that he liked.
"Whereas, as much as I enjoyed my time at Liverpool, I always felt like I was treated as an academy graduate and treated as someone who you can almost scapegoat and leave out at times because you haven’t been brought into the club.
"When Mark Hughes came in for me at Blackburn, it was the feeling of being wanted by a manager and being seen as someone who feels like you are going to help the team that made me want to join."
Warnock, who has since moved into a career in the media with the BBC, amongst other broadcasters, stated that his move to Villa in 2009 boosted his confidence due to the calibre of player he stood alongside. He also praised the club and called his time spent there an "honour".
"I was equally as lucky when I moved to Aston Villa, where I had Richard Dunne alongside me, who was a magnificent player, again someone who talked me through the game and helped me," he said. "Then, in front of me at Villa, I had Ashley Young and Stewart Downing who were brilliant wingers who made me look a little bit better (laughs)."
“Villa is a massive club steeped in history, so it was an honour to play for them. I loved my time at Villa even if it didn’t come as easy as I’d have liked it to because there were some tough times as well, but I really enjoyed it when I look back on it now."