Rickie Lambert's move to Liverpool in the summer of 2014 represented the fulfilment of a childhood dream. At 32, the boyhood Reds supporter joined from Southampton for £4 million plus add-ons after scoring 117 goals in five seasons at St Mary's and helping the club climb from League One to the Premier League.
Lambert had scored 28 league goals in two Premier League seasons with Southampton, but his time at Anfield proved to be a major disappointment. He scored just three goals in 36 appearances and left for West Bromwich Albion after only one year.
A costly decision before the season
Speaking on the Straight From the Off podcast, Lambert admitted that his first pre-season with Liverpool was a turning point. After playing for England at the 2014 World Cup, manager Brendan Rodgers gave him and the other England players five weeks off.
Instead of taking the full rest period, Lambert returned early after just two weeks, thinking it would help him be in peak condition for Liverpool.
"My first pre-season, this is one of the biggest mistakes I ever made," Lambert told the podcast. "[Brendan] Rodgers gave me, Stevie [Gerrard] and the lads at England [international duty], I think it was five weeks off, so we would come back a lot later than everyone else."
"But I went on holiday with the missus and kids, and then I went back, because I wanted to be in the best shape possible playing for Liverpool. So I literally had two weeks off and then came back with the first group at Liverpool. And that was a massive mistake. Pretty early on I was thinking 'f***ing hell'. I could feel it in my legs. I needed the break. It was a stupid mistake."
Age and energy
Lambert explained that he was already feeling the effects of age. "I was 32 as well. The year before at Southampton I could start to feel a slight difference, my little yard of pace. Then at Liverpool I just felt leggy, I just didn't have the energy and the attitude that I was in."
He added: "But I was still raring to go, couldn't wait for the season to start and thought I was going to hit the ground running, score, do what I'd always done and be a success."
Rejected a move, but left anyway
Lambert revealed that five months into his Liverpool career, Rodgers told him that Crystal Palace were interested in signing him and suggested he consider a transfer. Lambert turned down the opportunity, deciding instead to fight for his place.
However, he left at the end of the season. After leaving Anfield, he scored five goals in 45 appearances for West Brom and Cardiff City before retiring in 2017.
