'I heard Liverpool wanted me so I blanked my agent until he got me the move'

 Jermaine Pennant admits to behaving "like a big baby" until his dream move to Liverpool was sealed. The former Reds winger moved to Anfield in 2006 after he was relegated with Birmingham City.

Pennant, who also played for Arsenal and Stoke City, opened up about his career trajectory on That Peter Crouch Podcast. He revealed his unwavering ambition to play for Liverpool.

Pennant said: "The dream was always one day to play for Liverpool."

When asked how he felt when Rafa Benitez came in for him, he explained: "Oh, it was it was unreal because Birmingham we got relegated that season and we were in training, all the boys were there and the coach came out and said 'You've got a phone call,' it's your agent.

"Automatically I've thought 'Ah, what have I done wrong? What's coming out now? What the hell am I going to put myself in now?'

"So I was like okay okay, very timid, ran over and got the phone call, came straight back out. I was like 'See you later boys, I'm off.'

"These guys are praying for Championship and I'm like 'Yeah good, I'm going to Liverpool,' they were all fuming!"

However, one teammate was supportive of Pennant's move. He added: "Apart from Emile [Heskey], he said 'Good club, you're going to enjoy it, you'll love it there.'"

When asked if Birmingham's drop to the Championship impacted his prospects of joining Liverpool, Pennant confessed the anxiety was always there - though he'd already caught wind of the Reds' attention.

The 42 year old said: "No, you always, when you're with a team and you get relegated you're always worried about, 'Are you going to get back into the Premier League? Is someone going to come in for you or is what's going to be your situation?'

"But I always I got told a lot that Liverpool were watching me through the game, sending scouts. Back in the day, it wasn't social media, it was like the back of the paper. You read the transfer news and I was in there a few times.

"So I was just like to my agent, 'You got to make it happen.' You know, I threw my toys out the pram and said 'I'm not speaking to you if you don't [sort the move].' I was a big baby. And a month later, he came back said, 'Oh, look, you can speak to me now.'

"I didn't speak to him for about two months. I know I was an idiot. I said 'What's happening?' He said 'Look, it's up to the club, I'm asking the questions.' We're still friends though."

Pennant's stint at Anfield didn't quite live up to expectations. Across 81 matches, the winger managed three goals and provided 18 assists.

He did lift one Community Shield during his spell on Merseyside, but it's fair to say Pennant's ambition was realise. He secured a move to his dream club and played on the pitch at one of the Premier League's most iconic stadiums.