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Joey Barton almost signed for Liverpool in 2004 - before the Reds swapped Gerard Houllier for Rafa Benitez, who signed Xabi Alonso.

According to Barton’s new book ‘No Nonsense’, the controversial midfielder met former Reds boss Houllier at Melwood training ground to discuss a deal to partner him with Steven Gerrard in Liverpool’s midfield.

But Houllier’s sacking in the summer of 2004 ended Barton’s hopes of signing for the Reds, and the Frenchman’s replacement, Benitez, swooped to sign Real Sociedad’s Alonso in a £10m deal.

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Barton writes: "Had things panned out differently, I could have made the obsessive debate about the mutual suitability of the Gerrard-Lampard axis redundant. From what I gathered, Steven Gerrard agitated to get Liverpool to sign me in 2004, because he felt we had the potential to forge a partnership.

"I met with Gerard Houllier at Melwood, and agreed everything verbally.

"A deal was close to being concluded but then he was sacked that summer. It was never revived."

Barton reportedly didn’t forgive Alonso for being the man to sign for the Reds instead of him - leading to him being sent off for a reckless two-footed tackle on the Spaniard during a 3-0 defeat to Liverpool at Anfield in 2009.

He added: "Xabi and I had history. He blamed me for knocking him out in what he thought was a deliberate clash of heads in one of our earliest contests, and I blamed him for stealing my move to Liverpool.

"All that remained to be agreed with City was the fee, when Rafa Benitez took over from Gerard Houllier. I was in Dubai when I was informed that he had instead decided to sign a kid from Real Sociedad who had just broken into the Spanish national team.

"That turned out to be £10.7m well spent. Xabi is one hell of a player, whose passes have a great range and accuracy.

"Whenever we played, I sought to get the game on my terms, which were relentlessly physical.

"(In 2009) Thirteen minutes remained. Liverpool were two up, cruising and playing keep ball. The Kop conducted an incessant, infuriating chant of 'Ole, ole, ole!'

"Xabi retained the ball near the corner flag fractionally longer than was prudent. That gave me the opportunity to fly in, and disguise my malicious intent as best as I could. Alonso milked the moment with a barrel roll. I expected a yellow and was shown a red."