Ex-Liverpool defender admits desire to rejoin Reds | OneFootball

Former Liverpool defender Sepp van den Berg has admitted that he wants to return to the club in the future as he continues to thrive with Brentford.

The Dutchman arrived at Liverpool as a 17-year-old in 2019 after leaving PEC Zwolle but struggled to make his ascent into the Reds' first-team over the next few seasons.

Loan spells with Preston North End and Schalke yielded mixed degrees of success, with a serious injury during his first spell in German football restricting his development. However, a temporary stint at Mainz last season allowed Van den Berg to showcase his talents.

Van den Berg returned to Liverpool last summer, desperate to impress new boss and compatriot Arne Slot, but his determination to play regular first-team football resulted in an Anfield exit. Brentford took the plunge, splashing up to £25m for the 23-year-old.

The centre-back has taken little time to adapt in west London and has impressed during 25 appearances in all competitions this term. He's certainly enjoyed greater success than Fabio Carvalho, who also made the move from Liverpool to Brentford last summer.

However, Van den Berg has revealed that he would love to return to Liverpool in the coming years having only ever made four senior appearances for the club.

Sepp van den Berg has caught the eye at Brentford / Sebastian Frej/MB Media/GettyImages

"I would be lying if I said that I did not dream of returning to Liverpool one day," he told Voetbal Primeur. "That is still on my mind. But for now, it was better for my career to take a different path and play a lot.

"I am doing that now and that allows me to develop as well as possible. After the preparation, Liverpool indicated that I had done so well that they wanted me to stay. But I did not really see that myself. It was all my choice; I am happy that I now play in the Premier League every week."

Liverpool have suffered injuries at centre-back this season, chiefly to Ibrahima Konate and Joe Gomez, and Van den Berg admitted frustration knowing he may have received first-team minutes on Merseyside had he not departed.

"I would be lying if I said that I didn't look at that myself," he remarked regarding Liverpool injuries. "That's football, you don't know. I did well in the preparation, and I could really see myself playing for the club, but not with the credit that I now have at Brentford. I am now a starter who always plays as long as he is fit.

"At Liverpool I would have been more of a player who had to fill in gaps. I would rather be that starter. And who knows, if I do well here for two or three years, I will return to Liverpool and be a starter there too."