Fourteen years after signing for the club, Robbie Keane will line out in a Liverpool jersey again on Saturday week, as he forms part of a legends team to take on Manchester United legends at Anfield.
Keane arrived for the 2008/09 season at Liverpool after joining from Spurs for £19million. He would leave the club only six months later, after falling out of favour with manager Rafael Benitez.
Keane spoke to the Liverpool club website ahead of the legends game, and revealed that he held no ill will against Benitez for his exile. He did, however, wonder if the team's ultimately doomed title bid might have gone differently if he had been in the squad all season.
Robbie Keane on short spell at Anfield
Robbie Keane grew up as a Liverpool fan so, when he got the opportunity to don the number seven at Anfield, it was a childhood dream come true.
Things didn't quite work out, however, with Keane managing only seven goals in 28 games for the club before returning to White Hart Lane in the January transfer window.
Speaking to the Liverpool website ahead of next week's legends game against rivals Manchester United, Keane spoke about his six months with the club, and said he had "no problem" with Benitez's decision to freeze him out.
Obviously my intention was to stay there as long as possible. But in football, as we know, it happens, things change. Of course I would've liked to stay a little bit longer but it wasn't meant to be. All we ever want to do is just to play football.
I'm not one of those guys that wakes up on a Saturday morning looking forward to sitting on the bench. I was someone who just loved football. Whether it's Sunday league or for Liverpool or Tottenham, you still want to play every game.
The manager had different ideas, which is fine and I've got no problem with that, everyone's got their own ideas and I respect that.
But I do reflect on it [with] no regrets. As I said, I was very fortunate to pull that jersey on and have some good moments - scoring against Arsenal in the Emirates, that half-volley and goals like that. That will always stay forever.
The 2008/09 saw a rejuvenated Liverpool push Manchester United hard for the Premier League title. They won both games against their bitter rivals in the league, and lost just two league games all season.
A turn of pace, and a ruthless Robbie Keane finish 🔥#GoalOfTheDay @LFC pic.twitter.com/PDmwVNLKFv
— Premier League (@premierleague) September 14, 2018
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A lack of cutting edge ultimately cost them, and their title challenge fell apart in the second half. Liverpool drew 11 games all season, including a remarkable six 0-0 draws.
When asked by the Liverpool website if he thought he could have made the difference in that title battle, Robbie Keane did admit the question had crossed his mind.
Maybe if we had the strength in depth, I think we probably could've pushed a bit closer. But the manager had different ideas and wanted other people, which is fine.
I'm not one of those guys that looks back and has regrets. It is what it is and things are meant to happen. I've been very lucky to have a career. Of course I'd like to have stayed a lot longer but it wasn't meant to be.
Ultimately, Keane would go on to make a successful return to Spurs and enjoy a continually glittering international career. Even though he says he has no regrets, it certainly is a shame his dream move did not work out for Ireland's greatest ever goalscorer.
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