Joey Barton says he was tapped up by Liverpool while an Everton player.

As a teenager he caught the eye of Liverpool, who were desperate for Barton to swap Blue for Red.

Writing in his new book No Nonsense, Barton said: "At the end of one of my Sunday morning matches a familiar figure introduced himself.

"He asked how things were going at Everton, and suggested that he could find a place for me in Liverpool's academy.

"I couldn't believe it. I was being tapped up by Steve Heighway, the former Liverpool winger who was developing a reputation as one of football's greatest talent spotters.

"I knew I could have learned so much under him, but also knew there was no way the ultimate betrayal would be allowed.

"Steve was persistent, if nothing else, and rang our home phone several times before Dad took the call.

"He barely had a chance to explain how impressed he had been with me when he was cut short. 'No, no, no, no,' Dad exclaimed. 'We're Evertonians, mate.'

"With that, he put the phone down."