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"A lot of my trouble came away from the football club, like on nights out.

"I could have controlled things if I had a more sensible head on me by not being in them places at those times but other than that, going through my career, once I started growing up and maturing I didn't have problems anywhere else.

"It was just unfortunate that it happened at such a young age at a club where I had so much potential of doing well there."



Jon Otsemobor playing for Liverpool against Bolton's Henrik Pedersen(Image: Getty Images)

Does he believe that had he kept a different group of friends, or a lower profile, things could have been different at Liverpool?

Could it have been him handing over his mantle to Trent Alexander-Arnold several seasons ago?

"I would never know," he says.

Any football club doesn't need that but fortunately, at the time, Liverpool did see something in me.

"I think if they didn't it would have just been easier to boot me out the door, really.

"It was just the way I was processing things and thinking then.

I was thinking like a young, Liverpool lad, instead of thinking, hang on a minute, I am young, but I am at Liverpool Football Club here.

"I can't be going out to town where there are people who want to start fights with me.

I don't recall any, anyway."

Otsemobor admits it was a challenge for academy players making the step-up to Melwood at the time to prove they were better than the influx of French and foreign signings Houllier was bringing in.

On Under the Cosh, he went as far as labelling Anthony Le Tallec 'arrogant' and 'cocky'.

Did he dislike some of the imports?

"No, no, there was nobody I didn't get along with at the football club," he says.

"I just think they were young and they came and automatically were on bigger contracts than us, and I felt, and I'm sure a lot of other younger lads did too, like they got treated differently than us.

"I think there was a bit of jealousy in there, maybe, on my behalf.

"I've played for other clubs and played in important games, derbies, all that, and I've never had that experience of playing for your local team.

"Unless you're a Liverpool lad, and you support Liverpool, and you get that opportunity to do it, you can't really understand it.

"I've seen players come and play for Liverpool, really talented, and even looking at the way they play and away from the football club and sometimes I think they just don't get it.

I knew at the beginning of a season I'd be at Liverpool so it was a bit of a blow in that respect.

"I always felt like there was something inside me, not that I couldn't bring out....it's weird, it's a weird thing.

"I played at other football clubs and played well in other games but there was something about Liverpool I've never experienced with any other shirt I put on during my career."

Otsemobor is about to enjoy his run in the park.

He is managing his son's team and, when lockdown is over and life hopefully returns to normal, he wants to concentrate on his coaching badges.

He doesn't quite know at what level or standard he would like to work, but a return to Liverpool is not ruled out.

After all, he used to sleep with a sketched image of Bill Shankly, Ian Rush, Robbie Fowler and Steve McManaman above his bed as a young boy.

"If I could do anything at the football club it would be an honour," he admits.