Former Liverpool striker Milan Baros has admitted that leaving Anfield for Aston Villa in 2005 was a mistake. The Czech international, who joined Villa in search of more playing time, later conceded he should have stayed and fought for his place.
Baros was told he would be third-choice striker at Liverpool, but he now believes he should have remained. 'At that age, I wish I had fought a little bit more to stay in Liverpool and try to get fit,' he told the ECHO in 2022. 'In the end, I know it was a mistake.'
Baros scored 12 goals in his first season at Villa, but opportunities dwindled after Martin O'Neill's arrival. He left in January 2007 in a swap deal that brought John Carew to Villa Park. He later won league titles with Lyon and the FA Cup with Portsmouth before retiring in 2020.
Liverpool and Villa meet on Friday with Champions League qualification at stake. A win for either side would secure a top-five finish, while defeat could allow Bournemouth or Brighton to overtake them.
