Footballing destinies are so often shaped by the thinnest of margins. A fraction of an inch either side of a post, a late refereeing decision, or, more routinely than many would care to admit, a few hundred thousand pounds left unnegotiated on a boardroom table when it comes to transfers.
For Liverpool, modern triumphs have been built on a foundation of shrewd, transformative recruitment. We all know the headline success stories the record-breaking arrivals who delivered instantly, alongside the bargain buys who went on to scale the absolute pinnacle of European and domestic football under the Anfield lights.
Yet history so easily could have taken a deeply uncomfortable turn.
Long before this particular player was lifting the Premier League and Champions League trophies, cementing his status as a modern Anfield legend he was a raw, relentless teenager catching eyes north. He had the work rate, the engine, and that unmistakable bite that would eventually make him a adored by the Kopites.
He was also, as it turns out, just days away from making a choice that would have fundamentally altered the balance of power across Stanley Park.
The former Liverpool left-back Andy Robertson confessed on the Stick to Football podcast that he nearly joined Everton instead of Hull City.
The Scottish defender was at Dundee when The Toffees made a bid in 2013, and Roberto Martinez had outlined his plans for Liverpool's former number 26.
The offer went in. The player, eager for his big break in the English game, was ready to make the leap.
Robertson said:
"They wanted to loan me back (to Dundee United) for six months, and then be back-up to Leighton Baines, and then try and be the guy that kinda (becomes first-choice). That was their plan."
"Everton put a bid in for me in the January. Roberto Martinez (Everton’s manager at the time) came up and actually watched me for Dundee United."
Luckily for Robertson, the move never materialised as Everton didn't match Dundee's valuation, and Hull would eventually go on to sign the full-back.
The defender added:
"I think they bid £750K. Dundee United, at that point, wanted £1.5 million. The manager was kinda saying, ‘I’m not losing him.’"
"“And to be fair, it was a good decision from Dundee United, because they ended up getting £2.85m in the summer."
After a successful three years with the Tigers, Robertson joined Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool and spend a whopping nine years in Merseyside, winning eight trophies and making 378 appearances.
One shudders at the thought of seeing Robertson in the blue of Everton. Had that paperwork been signed, one of Liverpool's greatest modern icons would have worn blue instead of red. The touchline battles, the silverware, the derby triumphs all of it wiped away before it ever had a chance to begin.
The Scot is one of those players you love to have at your club, but would hate to play against. Just ask Luis Suarez, Lionel Messi or Conor Coady.
After seeing his minutes drop following poor form and the arrival of Milos Kerkez from Bournemouth last summer, Robertson decided his time at Liverpool was up, and left at the end of his contract this year.
The defender now plays for Tottenham, who haven't been enjoying the best of starts. Sitting bottom of the Premier League with three losses and two draws, alarm bells are ringing at the creatively named Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
While a change of scenery may have been what Robertson was looking for, he may still have had a part to play this season for the Reds as Kerkez has struggled for consistency.
10 years at Liverpool would have also meant a testimonial for Liverpool's former defender, who has more than deserved one for his service to the Reds.
Like Mohamed Salah, it's odd to see him in anything other than Red. Both Liverpool legends deserved to retire at the club.
Here's hoping that both Virgil van Dijk and Alisson Becker get the opportunity that Robertson and Salah weren't given.
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