A former Liverpool player who was once on the losing side against the Reds in a League Cup final has recalled how that Wembley appearance helped him secure his dream move to Anfield.
Jason McAteer turned out for Bolton Wanderers against Roy Evans' side in the 1995 Coca-Cola Cup final.
The match, which Liverpool would go on to win 2-1 thanks to two goals from Steve McManaman, had been billed as something of a job interview for McAteer after he had enjoyed a successful spell with Wanderers under Bruce Rioch.
And despite his obvious disappointment at losing on the day, the Birkenhead-born midfielder's relationship with the Reds players had already blossomed to the point that he was even allowed to hold the trophy after the match.
Speaking exclusively to the ECHO on behalf of LV BET, McAteer recalled: “I was nervous. I needed loads of tickets, I remember. They were billing it as a bit of a trial for me to try and impress Roy Evans and make him sign me, so obviously I had that hanging over my head as well. But it was my first taste of old Wembley, so it was another dream come true for me.
“I thought we (Bolton) gave a good account of ourselves on the day. I played well. Well enough to sign for Liverpool. I’d done enough.
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“It finished 2-1. There was disappointment at the end of game, but I was friends with Phil Babb who had signed for Liverpool, and Jamie (Redknapp), Macca (McManaman) and Robbie (Fowler), who I’d known from going out around town and playing in reserve team games.
“I had a good chat with them at the end of the game. They let me get my hands on the cup. I remember lifting it to the Liverpool fans. A cheeky lift in my Bolton shirt! Which was a nice touch to be honest.
“I was obviously tinged with sadness - it’s not a place to lose - but I look back fondly. It was my first taste of Wembley and part of a Bolton side that went on to do great things.”
McAteer's disappointment at losing the final did not last for long. Bolton returned to Wembley a month later and gained promotion to Premier League after a dramatic extra-time triumph in the First Division play-off final.
And less than a month into the new season, his dream Anfield move was to be realised, although the switch turned out to be more complex than originally envisaged and he very nearly ended up elsewhere.
McAteer, speaking ahead of Liverpool's Carabao Cup final with Chelsea today, said: “It was a mad few months. We lost the cup final but from a confidence point of view it certainly lifted the club and we went on a really good run and managed to secure a play-off place. We ended up back at Wembley in the May and played Reading in one the greatest play-off games there’s ever been. 4-3 it finished.
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“We secured Premier League status, which changed the outlook of everything really, because Bruce Rioch left and went to Arsenal. Roy McFarland took over with Colin Todd and basically from what was a foregone conclusion about me leaving and joining someone in the Premier League, I was told that I was not available to leave and I was staying at Bolton.
“It obviously left a bit of a sour taste in my mouth, really.
“But I probably played about five or six games for Bolton at the start of the Premier League new season and every game it was all about me and Alan Stubbs, we were leaving and who we were going to go to.
“We were linked to Tottenham and Arsenal. Bruce was desperately trying to get us down to Arsenal but Blackburn were the ones who eventually triggered the transfer fee of £9million for me and Stubbsy. It was too much money for Bolton to ignore.
“We ended up having talks with Kenny (Dalglish) at Blackburn, which was great for me because Kenny was my hero, but not so great in the sense that it wasn't really the club I wanted to go to.
“It kind of pushed Liverpool into doing something, so they bid £4.5million whilst I was in the meeting with Kenny and I was told about it.
“I got the opportunity to go and meet with Liverpool and that’s when I made my decision that night to join them.
“Kenny wasn’t too happy in all honesty.”
Fast-forward 27 years and Liverpool are preparing to face Chelsea in another League Cup final.
A win for Jurgen Klopp's side would give the Reds a record ninth success in the competition, having also been runners-up on four occasions.
Much like their two Premier League encounters this season, McAteer is expecting another close match between the finalists, but believes that the cup will be coming back to Anfield.
He added: “The two league games have been brilliant. Both teams have gone at it and I’ve certainly enjoyed watching them. Obviously we cost each other points with the two draws.
“Liverpool more so will be disappointed with the last game at the Bridge when they were 2-0 up but it took something special to get Chelsea back in the match. The (Mateo) Kovacic volley was out of the top drawer, wasn’t it?
“And to concede just before half-time, from a Liverpool perspective was disappointing but as a neutral it was fantastic to watch. I don’t see the cup final being any different. I think both teams will go at each other.
“Obviously you don’t know who’s going to play, mostly from a Chelsea perspective. I think Liverpool will be extremely strong, the team kind of picks itself.
“He’s (Klopp's) already said Caoimhín (Kelleher) will play in goal which was a bit of a surprise to me, but obviously he’s promised him that and he’s not going to go back on that. Apart from that the team picks itself.
“You just don’t quite know what (Thomas) Tuchal will do. He does like to tinker a bit. But in that respect I see a very entertaining game.
“I could see it going to extra-time and I personally think that’s where Liverpool will win it.”
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