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One-time Netherlands international Meijer was the first player to represent both the Reds and Leverkusen, moving to Anfield on a free transfer from the German side in the summer of 1999.

But the now 55-year-old, who is these days a Bundesliga pundit, ultimately only spent a season and a half with Liverpool, scoring twice from 27 appearances, before returning to Germany on a permanent basis with Hamburg.

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Looking back, Meijer can admit he was not quite good enough to play for the Reds or in the Premier League.



So they are some big steps up.

“But the good thing is you also have very good players around yourself who make you better and that's something that you have to step up.

“You have to make the step to the next level and other players or the coach will help you with that and if it works, everybody's happy and you get titles.

“And if it doesn't work, like for me, then you have to make a step back.

“I was on a free, we played UEFA Cup and the Champions League in those years at Leverkusen.

“But to be on a free, that gives you possibilities and in that time the contracts were not that way that everybody was thinking, ‘Oh he still has a year to go on his contract, we have to make a new one.’ Nowadays the managers are more alert on these things.

“But suddenly I was without a contract anymore and I was on a free and I was playing well and then clubs were interested, that's the way it goes.

“I had to make a choice between signing up for another four years at Bayer Leverkusen, make a swap to Dortmund or Liverpool.

“Because, since a kid, I’m a Liverpool fan, there was no discussion.

I would go to Liverpool and see how good I am and try to make it there.

“It was for me a big honour, as a Liverpool fan, to play for my club.

In our butcher shop we watched a lot of Liverpool and my main man was Ian Rush in the front.

“I wanted to be like him, unfortunately I didn't make it like he did!”

Meijer was back at Anfield last November to watch Liverpool host Leverkusen in the Champions League as a Luis Diaz hat-trick helped Arne Slot’s side to a 4-0 victory over a team including both Wirtz and Frimpong.

The Dutchman always enjoys returning to his former club, and is already looking forward to his next visit next season.

“I'm always happy to go back to Liverpool,” he said.

I really, I really liked it.

“I really like to be back once or twice a year and then go as a fan, just buy a ticket, sit down and enjoy some lovely football.”