Ex-Liverpool defender insists he made right decision joining Premier League rival

Sepp van den Berg insists he made the right call by quitting Liverpool having joined Brentford in the summer.

The Dutchman had a succession of loan spells away whilst he was on the books at Anfield, but he never got a consistent shot in the Reds first-team. His stock continued to rise throughout his periods away from Liverpool but he choose to seek a permanent move, rather than eye a role on Merseyside.

Van den Berg made it clear that he wanted and needed regular football. Since moving to the Bees he has started 12 of their 14 games.

The 22-year-old acknowledged the quality of the players in Liverpool's backline and knew he needed to seek pastures new, but didn't want another temporary move away, which is why he sought a permanent home in the capital.

He said: “I was very clear from the start that I wanted to play this season. At Liverpool you have two of the best centre-backs in the world at the moment. To me it was the right moment to leave, I’m at the age when I needed to play.

“I’ve done it for many years going out on loan. It was time for me to make the permanent move and establish myself as a Premier League player and that’s what I’m doing so far. I made the right decision (but) still a long way to go.”

Van den Berg had cut a frustrated figure in the summer as Liverpool continued to hold out for the highest price. They signed the defender when he was a teenager for just over £4million, but eventually moved him on for £25m.

Image: Christian Kaspar-Bartke/Getty Images) Christian Kaspar-Bartke/Getty Images)

The player felt that Liverpool's demands in the window was pricing out certain clubs and, whilst he was chuffed they valued him so highly, he was concerned it would hamper him.

He said: "For the price they want for me, hmmm…Liverpool may think it is right as I had a good season, if they want £20-£25million, that is a lot more. Hopefully we can find a way. Maybe I stay, maybe I go. The first reaction from me is that it was quite high! But it is also a compliment."

Brentford made moves to sign two of Liverpool's fringe players in the summer with Fabio Carvalho, once of Fulham, also making the switch.

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