Sheffield United midfielder John Lundstram revealed he used to attend Everton training in a Liverpool kit and get stick from his coaches as a result.
The Blades central midfielder, who has scored three goals in his 12 Premier League appearances this season, shared that he was a mad-Liverpool fan growing up and as a result didn’t hide who he supported even when in the Toffees’ academy.
Lundstram admitted the stick he received was light-hearted, while also sharing that he was a Liverpool supporter as a result of his father.
“My dad was a mad Liverpool fan, and I’d always be sitting in the house watching the games with him,” Lundstram explained during an interview with The Times.
“He was always shouting at the telly! I was a mad Liverpool fan growing up. I went to one or two games at Anfield as a kid.
“I never wanted for nothing, but my mum and dad never had the money to take me to games every week.
“I used to go to Everton training in Liverpool kit. The coaches wouldn’t half give me stick, but it was all light-hearted!”
OPINION
Lundstram never made it at Everton as while he did appear 46 times for the Toffees’ U-23s, he end up leaving Goodison Park without ever making an appearance for their senior team. Given that Liverpool clearly remained in his heart, even when playing for Everton, perhaps it was a blessing in disguise that it didn’t work out for him with the Toffees, after all, if his Liverpool fandom had ever come to light, he wouldn’t have had an easy task becoming a fan favourite. Also, it’s easy for him not to feel too down about not making it at Everton as in hindsight, it didn’t stop him having a successful career. The 25-year-old has started every one of Sheffield United’s Premier League matches this season and doesn’t look out of place in the top-flight. Lundstram, aside from scoring three times, has been an impressive defensive presence in Sheffield United’s midfield as he has averaged 1.8 tackles and 1.5 interceptions per game across his league outings so far, as per WhoScored, and has more than proven his top-flight pedigree as a result. The midfielder may have had to drop down the leagues and worked his way back up to the top-flight, but it’s probably made him a better player. While Lundstram may never get to pull on the Liverpool shirt, though never say never, at least he gets to face the Reds this season and experience that Anfield atmosphere player at least once in his career.
