In the summer of 2009, Liverpool were locked in a transfer tug-of-war with Premier League heavyweights Chelsea and Manchester City for one of England’s brightest full-backs. But it wasn’t just the offer on paper that sealed the deal—it was the voices on the other end of a phone that made all the difference.

Glen Johnson, then impressing at Portsmouth, was in high demand. Liverpool, fresh off a strong title push, needed that final spark in their defense. Rafa Benitez believed Johnson was the perfect fit—and it seems he wasn’t the only one.

According to Johnson, conversations with Steven Gerrard, Xabi Alonso, and Fernando Torres were pivotal in his decision. “They didn’t need to reach out, but they did,” he recalled in a later interview. “It showed me how much I was wanted.”

Even as Alonso prepared for a move back to Spain, he took the time to express his belief in Johnson’s potential role at Anfield. Those personal touches, combined with Liverpool’s fierce ambition, tipped the scales in the Reds’ favor.

Despite financial hurdles—including a clever deal that offset part of the £17.5m fee with money owed from a previous transfer—Liverpool completed the signing.

However, Johnson’s time at Anfield wasn’t without turbulence. The club was undergoing ownership struggles, Rafa Benitez’s eventual departure, and key player exits that weren’t adequately addressed. “We lost top players and didn’t bring in replacements,” Johnson admitted. “That made things really difficult.”

The instability brought a carousel of managers, but in 2010, a new era began with FSG’s arrival. Under this new ownership, Johnson lifted the League Cup in 2012—the only major silverware of his Liverpool spell.

One of the most memorable seasons came under Brendan Rodgers, when the Reds came heartbreakingly close to clinching the Premier League title. While Steven Gerrard’s slip and a dramatic draw at Crystal Palace are often blamed, Johnson believes the early season form was the real issue. “In the second half of that season, we were unstoppable,” he said.

Looking back, Johnson remains proud of his six-year Liverpool career. From iconic teammates like Torres and Suarez to the passion of the Anfield crowd, he says he loved every minute of it.

“I played a lot of games, gave everything, and was surrounded by some of the best players of that era,” he reflected. “It just hurts we didn’t win more.”