David Meyler says Liverpool wanted to sign him when he was at Sunderland

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David Meyler was at Sunderland from 2008 until 2013.

David Meyler has told Off The Ball that he could have joined Liverpool from Sunderland had he not suffered injury problems.

The 30-year-old former Republic of Ireland international, who could operate as a midfielder or as a defender, was on the books of Sunderland from 2008 until 2013.

The former Cork man subsequently went on to play for Hull City, Reading and Coventry City (on loan).

Earlier this summer, Meyler announced his decision to retire from professional football due to injury issues.

The 30-year-old has stated that then Liverpool manager Sir Kenny Dalglish wanted to sign him in the summer of 2011, but they signed his then Sunderland teammate Jordan Henderson instead due to his injury problems.

Meyler suffered a bad and serious injury against Manchester United in May 2010 and was injured again against Aston Villa in January 2011, as reported in The Chronicle.

Meyler told Off The Ball, as transcribed by The Chronicle: “I went to the Champions League final in Madrid (last summer). So I went with Jordan (Henderson)’s family but I met King Kenny (Dalglish) after.

“Kenny was actually going to sign me when he signed Jordan for Liverpool but I’d done my cruciate.

“He talks about it in his book. He said, ‘What could have been…’ I said, ‘Let’s not get it started now’.”

Successful career

Moving to Liverpool would have been massive for Meyler, especially as he supported the Reds as a boy, as reported in The Chronicle, but the former Republic of Ireland international still had a successful career, as he played in the FA Cup final, won two promotions to the Premier League, and captained his national team.