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Liverpool 'sought opinion' of rival EPL player before completing Adrian transfer

  /  autty

Liverpool sounded out a rival Premier League player over a key transfer which has already paid dividends.

Adrian's move to Liverpool was one of the surprise moves of the summer - but it also proved to be a crucial one when Reds No1 Alisson injured his calf in the Community Shield.

Former West Ham keeper Adrian was therefore thrust into action much sooner than expected, and will be between the sticks when Liverpool host Arsenal in Saturday's top-of-the-table showdown.

The 32-year-old's short time at Anfield so far has been something of a rollercoaster ride, with a howler against Southampton following hot on the heels of his heroics in Istanbul.

Liverpool have their goalkeeping coach John Achterberg to thank for the signing of Adrian - but also West Ham and England left-back Aaron Cresswell, according to The Athletic.

Achterberg was coming to the end of his playing career at Tranmere Rovers when Cresswell started his professional career at Prenton Park 11 years ago.

And the coach contacted Cresswell to get the lowdown on Adrian, whose contract at West Ham ended this summer.

It was Cresswell who gave Achterberg the phone number to contact Adrian, who with Alisson out injured is currently Liverpool's first-choice available keeper.

Klopp also has Andy Lonergan, who has signed a year-long contract, and youngster Caiomhin Kelleher at his disposal - although the latter has recently been recovering from a broken wrist.

And who knows, had it not been for Achterberg's contacts, Cresswell's help and Adrian's heroics, Liverpool's season could be looking very different right now.