Nottingham Forest striker Taiwo Awoniyi has claimed that he’s ‘dreamed’ of playing for Liverpool at Anfield.
Awoniyi has been a great player so far for Forest, scoring 13 Premier League goals since signing for £17m in 2022.
Had things been different, the Nigerian could have been hitting the net for Liverpool. Having joining the Reds in 2015, work permit issues prevented him from ever playing for the club.
Now, with Forest due at Anfield tomorrow, Awoniyi has been talking to liverpoolfc.com about his past dreams of playing for Liverpool.
“It’s been a long journey!” says the 26-year-old, of his rise to being a fully fledged Premier League striker.
“Last season playing at Anfield was a dream come true. Of course I probably dreamed of playing there for Liverpool before I left, so playing there against them, it was a mixed feeling, I would say!”
Having been denied a career at Liverpool, it’s fantastic to see Awoniyi doing so well at Forest.
Although it throws up questions of why the Reds didn’t eventually keep him, it does vindicate their decision to take a chance on him all those years ago.
After the Nigerian scored the winner against them at the City Ground last season, Liverpool know just what a handful he can be.
Still only 26, it feels as though if Awoniyi can kick on again this season he could still get himself a bigger move.
Even if that does turn out to be the case though, his chances of playing for Liverpool at Anfield have surely ended.
Nevertheless, with Awoniyi having recovered from a recent injury issue, he looks set to feature tomorrow.
The Reds will have to be careful of him. The Nigeria international gave Ibrahima Konate a torrid time last year, and the Frenchman will have to be right at it on Sunday.
But with Liverpool in fantastic form at home, the odds are still heavily weighted in their favour. That won’t stop Awoniyi doing his best to fulfil another dream though – scoring at Anfield. Let’s hope that doesn’t happen.
