I realised I'd been spoiled at Liverpool. We were used to winning. In Italy I grew up as a person. I didn't enjoy the football, mind. It was very defensive, but I became a better player because of the work I had to do around the box. Off the pitch, I learned about what to eat and what to drink to be successful, and I learned about life.

But after the half-time team-talk by the now player/manager Kenny Dalglish Liverpool looked a different side in the second half. Manager Bob Paisley paid a record fee for a teenager of £300000. It remained Chester's record sale until they went bankrupt in March 2010.

He is also the all-time leading goalscorer for Liverpool having scored a total of 346 goals in all competitions for them during his two spells there. Since retiring as a player in 2000 Rush has had a stint as manager of Chester City (2004–05) and has worked as a television football pundit.