West Ham winger Stewart Downing has described his time playing makeshift left-back for Liverpool as the lowest moment of his career.
Much was expected of the 30-year-old winger when Kenny Dalglish forked out £20 million to sign him from Aston Villa in 2011.
However, Downing endured a torrid two-year spell on Merseyside that came to a head after he was told to play as a full-back by manager Brendan Rodgers.
When asked by reporters whether being played at left-back was as low as it got, Downing said: "I think so, yes. I was out of the team so for me just to play and get back in the team was a big thing.
"At left-back it was obviously difficult, but it was a chance to get back into the team for me, so I had to go along with it.
"I wasn't happy playing left-back. It is not my natural position. But I knew from then it was the time for me to move.
"I was getting signals other players were coming in, and I was getting used at left-back when I was a winger. I think you know when the writing is on the wall for you under a manager or at a club."
Downing finally ended his Anfield nightmare and moved to West Ham for £5 million in the summer of 2013.
He added: "The West Ham move came at a good time for me and was a chance to go out and play football regularly and play under a manager who wanted me to play every week."
Much was expected of the 30-year-old winger when Kenny Dalglish forked out £20 million to sign him from Aston Villa in 2011.
However, Downing endured a torrid two-year spell on Merseyside that came to a head after he was told to play as a full-back by manager Brendan Rodgers.
When asked by reporters whether being played at left-back was as low as it got, Downing said: "I think so, yes. I was out of the team so for me just to play and get back in the team was a big thing.
"At left-back it was obviously difficult, but it was a chance to get back into the team for me, so I had to go along with it.
"I wasn't happy playing left-back. It is not my natural position. But I knew from then it was the time for me to move.
"I was getting signals other players were coming in, and I was getting used at left-back when I was a winger. I think you know when the writing is on the wall for you under a manager or at a club."
Downing finally ended his Anfield nightmare and moved to West Ham for £5 million in the summer of 2013.
He added: "The West Ham move came at a good time for me and was a chance to go out and play football regularly and play under a manager who wanted me to play every week."
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