'I would've hated to arrive at Liverpool as a young boy – I was fortunate to join at 23'

Liverpool icon John Barnes was told the Reds were the club for him by his late former boss Graham Taylor. Despite wishing to make a move at a younger age, the forward’s ex-manager advised him to stay and mature, and it turned out to be a successful strategy.

The left-footed legend arrived at Anfield in 1987 after six successful years with Watford – the club that gave him a chance after he moved to the country from Jamaica with his family when he was just 12 years old.

After an England debut and that infamous goal against Brazil, a young Barnes believed the time was right for him to move to a top side. But, Taylor’s advice was to wait until he was ready, and it paid off. The star has admitted in hindsight that he would have hated to make such a move in his teens.

“I would have hated to have gone to Liverpool at 18 years old, 17 years old,” Barnes stated to Gary Lineker on The Rest Is Football podcast. “Because then, of course, you do what you see the senior professionals do.

“You would have gone into that culture, and as a young boy, you know, with peer pressure, and that sort of character building you could call bullying – you have to go out and have a drink.

“So, because I went at 23 when I was a man and an international for five, six years, I knew when to and when not to. I would’ve hated to have gone to Liverpool as a young boy because of the culture back then – the drinking culture – and many players have succumbed to that.

“Six years playing at the highest level, four for England, that experience of being a regular player in the top flight, playing for England, playing with some of those Liverpool players for England and internationally, so I had that respect.

“Whereas, I suppose if you go as a young player, you need to earn that respect, and how you get that respect is to try and fit in with what everyone else is doing. So, I was fortunate in that way.”

Barnes went on to cement himself as a club great on Merseyside, winning two first division titles and a couple of FA Cup trophies during his 10-year Anfield tenure. His former manager, Taylor, was happy to let him move on to greater things and even encouraged him to make his Merseyside switch.

“You don’t just go to a big club because you’re doing well when you are 18 or 19,” Barnes continued. “So, of course, when Luther [Blissett] went to AC Milan when I was 20, I’m saying, ‘I scored the goal against Brazil, I’m playing really well.’

“But, Graham Taylor said you have to have a level of consistency over a period of time before you’re ready to go [to a big club]. 23 years old, Liverpool came calling. He said to me now is your time to go, and Liverpool is the club for you.

“So, he told me to go to Liverpool because he felt a responsibility to his players. As much as he’s Watford’s manager, he felt a responsibility. He said to me this is the right club for you.”