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Former Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard tried to encourage his cousin to sign for the Reds(Image: Getty Images)

Anthony Gerrard, cousin of Liverpool icon Steven Gerrard, revealed he turned down the Reds on three occasions in decisions he's come to regret.

"And because Steven was Steven and me being like, ‘No, I want to walk my own path,’ and all that, which in hindsight was an absolute divvy move."

Anthony believes his connection to Gerrard may have helped him succeed at Anfield, while he declared that his choice to stick with the Reds' neighbours could have cost him one of the game's biggest prizes.

He added: "I’m not saying ride his coattails, but with what he was at the club and what he’d accomplished, he would have put me in good stead at the football club.

"So when I signed my pro deal at Everton I had two offers from Liverpool and I was like, ‘No, I don’t want to do it.’ In hindsight, could I have had them Premier League appearances and stuff?

Maybe I could even have a Champions League medal with the lads who were on the bench at the time."

Article continues belowAnthony Gerrard (left) in action for Oldham Athletic vs Carlisle United in October 2018(Image: MEN)

Anthony, a tough-tackling centre-half, eventually left Everton after one year to join Walsall.

However, it was his time at Cardiff that saw him go up against his famous cousin on the pitch as Liverpool beat the Bluebirds to lift the League Cup under Kenny Dalglish in 2012.

To rub salt into Anthony's wounds, it was the Scouse defender who missed the vital penalty at Wembley to gift the Reds the trophy.

Speaking about being released from Everton in 2012, Anthony opened up on the drive that kept him going and saw him forge a solid career in football.

Cardiff City's Anthony Gerrard stands dejected as he is consoled by cousin Steven Gerrard after his penalty miss(Image: Getty)

"When you have a dream, you just can't give up on it," he said to The Guardian.

They pick me up and tell me that I am not a bad player just because of one manager's say-so."

Meanwhile, Gerrard also spoke in glowing terms of his cousin, just as the two were set to meet at Wembley in 2012.
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