John Arne Riise acknowledges that his seven years at Liverpool were the best of his career so far – but he will be out to get one over on his old club when they travel to Fulham on Monday night.
The Norwegian left back will face his former club for the first time at Craven Cottage on Monday, having signed for Fulham from Roma in the summer. He looks back with fondness on his spell at Anfield, where he made more than 300 appearances and won five trophies.
I felt those seven years were the best seven years of my career. I was lucky enough to come into a squad who had just won the treble in 2000/2001 and it just went on from there, winning the the Champions League and the FA Cup and the Carling Cup and stuff was like a dream come true.
It was hard to leave, I had a lot of friends there and I got to love the club and it’s supporters. I just left because that was my choice and I didn’t have much choice to stay if I wanted to improve as a player and play.
But it was always in my mind that I wanted to return to the Premier League. So after two years it was quite an easy decision to come back. I have heard people say that they haven’t really replaced me but that is not my concern. If they wanted me back they could have made an effort.
I know a few of the fans wanted me back but I hadn’t heard anything and it wasn’t even an issue because what’s happened has gone.
Riise almost signed for Fulham back in 2001, going as far as agreeing a contract with the then newly promoted Cottagers, before deciding to join Liverpool.
It was very close but I ended up with Liverpool and I do not regret my decision there because what I’ve experienced and the games I played in. And I don’t regret going here now. I’m very happy here.
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