'I was approached by Liverpool coach in McDonald's – I turned Everton down in a heartbeat'

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Former Liverpool defender Stephen Warnock has revealed he initially signed for the Reds over rivals Everton following an unexpected encounter with a youth coach in a McDonald's . Warnock went on to make 67 appearances for the Reds and carved out a respectable Premier League career.

The defender came through the club's academy in the early 2000s and established himself as a reliable first-team squad member. Following his departure in 2007, he would earn England caps and impress at clubs including Blackburn Rovers, Aston Villa and Leeds United .

However, while the 44-year-old launched his career at Liverpool , he had initially pledged his future to fierce rivals Everton. That changed after an impromptu encounter at McDonald's.

"I was playing for a local team. We had a manager who basically built the best of the best in our league," Warnock said on In The Mixer , brought to you by Sky Bet.

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"We started playing against Liverpool, Man United and Everton and basically going around these games. That's how we used to get picked up. We didn't have scouts going to every game as you do now.

"Initially, I got picked up by Everton and then played Liverpool a few weeks later. I played well in the game but didn't hear anything. We went to McDonald's on the way home and the Liverpool coach walked in.

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"We were all in there. Hugh McAuley, who was the Liverpool coach, he walked in and said, 'Oh, we missed you after the game. Do you want to come on trial?' So I sacked Everton off, went on trial at Liverpool and I think I was there from the age of like 10.

"It was different. We only trained twice a week. It's not like it is now. Like being taken out of school and the way things happen now. We had one game on a Sunday and that was it.

"But growing up as a Liverpool fan, it was unbelievable. I don't think you realise the magnitude of it, how big it could actually be, or where you could actually get to. I grew up on the Kop. I'm from a split family. Me and my mum are Reds. My dad and my brother are Blues.

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"My dad used to have season tickets to Everton. He had three season tickets for me, my brother and him. So I used to go to all the Everton games but sing with the away fans. Then I'd go to Liverpool the week after and stand on the Kop."

Reflecting on his father's reaction to him representing Liverpool, Warnock added: "My dad didn't care. He was just like, 'Wherever you're happy and you're playing football, that's all I care about.'

"My brother is a Blue. Both his boys are Reds. He takes them to Liverpool games. He's not bothered. He's like, 'Well, that's who they support.'"