Three takeaways from Emile Heskey on the 'We are Liverpool' podcast

The former striker, who lifted five major honours during his time with the Reds between 2000 and 2004, sat down with Jan Molby and Peter McDowall at the AXA Training Centre studio.

Here's what we learned from the episode, which is available now on LFCTV GO, YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify and wherever you get your podcasts.

A host of clubs were lining up for the services of the forward who had been tearing it up at Leicester City since breaking through as a 17-year-old.

But it was Liverpool who secured his signature in March 2000 after a long pursuit and a then-club-record transfer fee.

Heskey recalls: "Once I knew Liverpool were involved, it was like, 'That's where I'm going.'

"I had Villa, I had Spurs, I had Blackburn, Dortmund, I had a few others as well that were involved. Once I knew Liverpool were involved, that was it."

He adds: "At England U18s, Gerard Houllier was the manager for France, and me and Michael [Owen] were up front. Then I played an U18s game, I think I was a first-year scholar, and we played Liverpool. It had been something that was in the pipeline for a while.

"And then obviously I break through and I become a regular. And once you start becoming a regular, that's when people are really starting to pay attention."

Heskey was beloved by his managers and teammates for his ability and willingness to put team success before personal glory.

He scored 60 goals from his 223 appearances for the Reds but brought so much more to Houllier's side.

"I never saw myself as just 'goals'," Heskey says. "Yes, I will go and get goals but I'm not the goalscorer.

"That's one thing I even tell my sons as well – if you're not scoring goals, that's fine, but what are you giving me? There's a lot of players out there who give you loads of goals but once that little bit dries up, can you give me something else? And if you can't, what are you? Or are you just a burden to me?

"I always wanted to be on the ball, I wanted to be an option – not attacking-wise, I wanted to be an option in all aspects.

"So if I have to win a header off the line to save a goal, I'll do that. If I'm back defending a cross and I have to put my head where it hurts, I've got to do that. It wasn't just one end [where] I wanted to do the lot."

What first comes to Heskey's mind from a season during which he lifted the UEFA Cup, FA Cup and League Cup?

"Just so many games!" is the reply.

Heskey appeared 56 times in Liverpool's 63-game 2000-01 campaign – including starts in all three finals.

He reflects: "It was brilliant. I don't think I would change it because you play, you rest, you recover, you play, you rest, you recover – that's all it was. I actually enjoyed that.

"But the only thing is you get towards the end of the season and you're just running on adrenaline.

"I had to watch back the Alaves game because I can't remember it. A crazy game. I was in the game but I wasn't 'in' the game because we played so many games that season."

Listen to the full episode with Heskey now on LFCTV GO, YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify and wherever you get your podcasts.