Joey Barton felt Xabi Alonso 'stole' Liverpool transfer before reckless red card revenge

As Joey Barton picked up the red card against Liverpool which brought his Newcastle United team one step closer to relegation from the Premier League, he might have been tempted to think back to the moment he almost joined the Reds.

Barton was one of the Newcastle players unable to drag themselves towards safety after Alan Shearer took the reins in April 2009. The relegation was the Magpies' first in 16 years, and a defeat at Anfield - a 10th game without victory - played its part.

The England international endured a frustrating afternoon on Merseyside, with Liverpool dominating to the extent that a three-goal defeat may have flattered Shearer's side. When Barton's day ended early, though, it was for an unforgivable challenge on the man who ended up taking what might have been his place in the Reds side back in 2004.

In the summer of 2004, Barton was in high demand after a breakout season at Manchester City. He won the club's young player of the year award, and was linked with bigger and better things after Kevin Keegan's side finished in the lower reaches of the table.

Had Gerard Houllier remained in charge at Anfield, the move may still have materialised. However, the Reds instead moved for Rafa Benitez, and the former Valencia boss decided he wanted Xabi Alonso to come with him to the Premier League.

“From what I gathered, Steven Gerrard agitated to get Liverpool to sign me in 2004, because he felt we had the potential to forge a partnership," Barton wrote in his autobiography 'No Nonsense' (via The Sun ). The young midfielder had featured from the bench in February 2004 when Liverpool beat City with Gerrard scoring the winner.

“I met with Gerard Houllier at Melwood, and agreed everything verbally," Barton