Heskey has no Reds regrets

Emile Heskey said he does not regret his time at Liverpool ahead of Saturday's match.

The 26-year-old realised his dream when he joined Liverpool for £11 million from Leicester City in March 2000.

During the 2000-2001 campaign he was instrumental in assisting The Reds in winning a cup treble.

Heskey scored 22 goals that season and earned silverware in the form of the FA Cup, the Worthington Cup and the Uefa Cup.

His prominence at the club gradually declined and he found it difficult to hold onto a regular first team spot last season.

The Birmingham City striker moved to St Andrews for a club record £6.25 million in the summer but has only scored two goals in 13 games, a statistic that he will be looking to improve on against his old club.

"Liverpool was the club I supported as a boy," Heskey declared.

"I went there to win things, to establish myself and progress. I feel I accomplished that.

"I never felt that I had anything to prove and never felt the pressure of the price tag.

"That was between the clubs. It was other people who kept mentioning it.

"I just wanted to play football and to help Liverpool be successful.

"I especially have wonderful memories of my first season at the club when we won three trophies.

"The manager knew my qualities and he wanted to add them to the team.

"Gerard Houllier was a great influence, giving me license to go and play, which is exactly what I did.

"In the end I needed to be playing more.

"Liverpool is probably one of the biggest clubs in the world but I didn't want to be sat on the bench.

"I knew if I moved on I would get into another first team but I don't have any regrets about my time spent at Liverpool."