Liverpool followers’ brutal tribute for switch bombshell – ‘what a waste of expertise’

A Liverpool icon who played a key part in one of the Reds’ greatest ever teams got a warm welcome on his return to Anfield, but it came with a savage dig

Peter Beardsley found himself on the end of a savage tribute from Liverpool fans on his return to Anfield.

The former England international was a brilliant forward, who Gary Lineker described as “the best strike partner I could ever have”. Across his 20 years as a footballer, he went from Carlisle to Canada and was shockingly overlooked when at Manchester United, before wowing for Newcastle United in two spells. But most controversial of all was his switch from Liverpool to Everton.

Beardsley, who turned 63 last week, set records with his transfer deals. In 1987, legendary Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish bought Beardsley for a British record transfer fee of £1.9m.

His time at Liverpool was incredibly successful, winning two First Division titles and one FA Cup. But he isn’t only remembered at the Reds for his wins – it’s also his move to Merseyside rivals Everton that still aches the hearts of the Anfield faithful.

Beardsley described in his book, ‘My Life Story,’ how the negotiations regarding a deal with Everton in 1991 had to be low-key – at least he thought.

“He [Liverpool manager Graeme Souness] said there was a plane leaving the local airport at ten to five for Stockholm with a connection to London.” Beardsley wrote. “He admitted it was a bit of a rush but explained that it was the way Howard Kendall wanted it.

“He said the Everton manager had requested that I be on the plane and he was going to have me picked up to meet him to discuss the move. Souness then made a point of telling me not to say a word to anybody about the deal because he wanted it kept quiet.

“You can imagine my surprise then when I bumped into a journalist on the way out of the hotel who said to me, ‘So you’re off to Everton then?’ I just muttered, ‘No, where did you hear that?’, remembering that the manager had ordered me to keep the deal secret.

“He must have been surprised by my denial; it made me look especially foolish when he told me that Souness had just announced to the press what he had asked me to keep quiet about. I tried to find him to get some sort of explanation, but he had disappeared and I could not reach him.”

In only Beardsley’s fifth game for Everton, he was shoved into what was surely going to be a Merseyside Derby with a unique feel to it. The Toffees ended up losing 3-1, but it was the reception that the 63-year-old received that became an iconic moment.

He explained: “Just before the game the Kop chanted my name and I don’t suppose that’s happened too many times, an Everton player getting his name chanted by the Kop.

“But during the game, with Liverpool winning, the crowd started to chant, ‘What a waste of talent!’ The Kop were a bit special to me on that day and I won’t ever forget it.”