Ola Toivonen has revealed that he regrets not pushing for a transfer to Liverpool a few years back.

The Swedish striker was with current Dutch champions PSV Eindhoven when Roy Hodgson came calling about a move to Anfield, which in the end, did not eventuate.

This summer, 29-year-old Toivonen joined Sunderland on loan from French club Rennes but he suggests it could have been another story if things had have panned out differently with Liverpool and current England boss Hodgson.

"A couple of years ago it looked like I would be joining Liverpool when Roy Hodgson was there. Not fighting hard enough for that to happen is something I regret in my life," he told the Northern Echo.

"I am 29 so when I look back I will be pleased that I took the opportunity to move to France to try out a new league also.

"I experienced how it is to live there, experienced a new language and culture so it was a nice time.

"But I always wanted to play in the Premier League so when I got the call from Sunderland it was a quick decision to make."