Seven players Liverpool sold to a direct rival – and what happened next!

Dominic Matteo

When Liverpool sold defender Dominic Matteo to Leeds United they really were rivals. The season before, 1999/2000, they had been beaten to third place by United by only two points. Things were tight at the top!

But after 140 appearances, Anfield bosses decided that a £6.4 million offer was enough to let the left-back leave Merseyside for a direct rival. The Scottish international never won a trophy at either club, but played over 100 games for both and was a valued squad member.

What happened next?

The arrival of Matteo didn’t help the Yorkshire outfit, who couldn’t hold on to their slender lead over Liverpool and slipped below the Reds by just one agonizing point.

On a personal level, the Scot had a good time of it. 30 league games were followed by 15 in the Champions League. Overall Matteo played 141 times for Leeds before moving to Blackburn Rovers on a free in 2004.

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Three years at Rovers were followed by two at Stoke City before the defender retired in 2009 after 341 professional appearances.