10 Liverpool Players Who Nearly Signed for Man United

10. Harry Kewell

It will probably come as no great disappointment to Manchester United supporters to learn that they were gazumped by their bitter north-west rivals for the signature of the ultimately injury-plagued Aussie in the summer of 2003. With Leeds United issuing a fire-sale due to their alarming fiscal irregularities, the former PFA Young Player of the Year was first out the door, tossed to the ravenous hounds of Europe's elite to fight over like a piece of meat. With Man United enduring a frustrating will he-won't he summer with PSG's Brazilian starlet Ronaldinho, they turned their attentions to the highly-rated Aussie winger, but they would be knocked back on account of Kewell's predictions that the club were 'destined to go into a downturn'.

''Harry wanted to go to a club he felt were on the up. United had a huge amount of success, but if you look at cycles, they are destined to go into a downturn. Being in the first team at United was not an issue. When you consider the money being offered, Harry would have been guaranteed a first-team place. You don't pay that money to an individual, or his club, for him to sit on the bench.'' - Agent Bernie Mandic, July 2003.

It's 11 years later, and Manchester United have since added 11 trophies to their cabinet, compared to Liverpool's modest total of three. Kewell himself, enjoyed an injury-blighted stay at Anfield, where he mustered a paltry 12 goals in five stop-start seasons. Rule of thumb to be learned from Harry? Never predict a side managed by Sir Alex Ferguson to wilt - it won't end well.