Charlie Adam admits he feared his chance to join Liverpool had gone after the January market shut last season.
Blackpool resisted offers from Liverpool and Tottenham during the winter transfer window.
"I had to get my head around the fact I was not a Liverpool player, I was still a Blackpool player. That was tough," Adam told The Liverpool Way.
"I am not going to lie about it. It was tough for a few weeks after that too. One thing I was never going to hide was the fact I wanted to join Liverpool. Once the opportunity was there it was an honour for me to be even linked with the club.
"When the manager and chairman made the decision I could not leave in January I respected that. I knew my staying could have helped Blackpool stay in the league, but when you reach a stage of your career where there is a chance to play at a higher level, you know you might not get it again and want to grab with both hands."