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MICHAEL LAUDRUP will take his place in the Anfield dugout tonight – nearly three decades after he came so close to signing for Liverpool FC.

The Swansea City boss was poised to join the Reds from Brondby back in 1983 when the Dane shook hands on a three-year contract.

However, when Liverpool insisted on increasing the length of the deal by an extra 12 months, the transfer collapsed and the attacking midfielder moved to Juventus instead.

It was the Reds’ loss as during a glittering playing career Laudrup went on to win an array of honours with Barcelona, Real Madrid and Ajax.

Remarkably, Laudrup’s only previous visit to Anfield was as a commentator with Spanish television for a European game against Barcelona. But tonight the 48-year-old will be a lot closer to the action.

“Liverpool were my team as a kid,” Laudrup said. “I watched them as a kid on television back home in Denmark.

“I loved the team, the atmosphere. But I never got the chance to play there, partly because Liverpool were banned from Europe for a long time after Heysel.

“They tried to sign me, but that was a long time ago now — back in the good old days. Now I’m looking forward to being involved there, even on the touchline.

“It’s a fantastic ground with a great crowd always.”

Laudrup doesn’t know what kind of reception awaits Brendan Rodgers from Swansea’s travelling fans following his decision to leave the Liberty Stadium for Anfield.

However, the Swans boss says it will be nothing compared to what he experienced back in the mid-90s after moving from Barcelona to Real Madrid.

“I don’t know how much stick Brendan will take, but I can tell you it won’t be as much as I did when, after five years playing for Barcelona, I went back there with Real Madrid,” he added.

“You could say the fans weren’t that happy to see me — there were 100,000 whistling at me every time I touched the ball. The noise was incredible. It wasn’t very pleasant.

“But years on, I can now go to the Camp Nou and be welcomed there. Time is a great healer.

“Football is about feelings, sometimes very strong feelings — from the highest love to the deepest hate. That’s how it can change, very quickly. You cannot alter it.

“That’s why supporters react the way they do. But over time, you begin to appreciate what a particular person did.

“That’s why I believe that eventually they will realise what progress Brendan made here. He did a great job for the club.”

Keeper Michel Vorm is out with a groin problem so Gerhard Tremmel will start in goal.

Angel Rangel is suspended, while the Swans have fitness doubts over Ashley Williams (ankle) and Wayne Routledge (groin).