Andriy Voronin claims a language barrier was behind his failed Liverpool stint.
Voronin moved to Anfield in summer 2007 on a free transfer but the striker scored just five goals in 40 appearances before leaving three years later.
However the Ukraine international has lifted the lid on that underwhelming spell and cites ex-Reds teammates Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher.
According to Voronin, the homegrown duo’s dialect made it difficult to adapt to life on Merseyside along with the weather and relentless fixture schedule.
When asked by Goal.com the reasons for his poor stay, he replied: “Scouse.
“I understood almost nothing, my English wasn’t good anyway. When Carragher and Gerrard talked, I asked them to repeat it in English.
“Liverpool didn’t suit me as a city overall, even though it has a lot of history to offer, such as The Beatles. My father is a big fan of the band.
“When I told him I had signed with Liverpool, he started crying.
“I also couldn’t cope with the weather and the rhythm of the games without a winter break. I was just traveling and playing, which was very exhausting.”
Despite his issues with Carragher’s accent, Voronin went on to credit the former defender turned TV pundit as one of the toughest players he faced.
“Carragher, among others. I hated playing against him in training,” he added.
“I would also include Fabio Cannavaro, a great player and a great guy. Playing against Roberto Carlos was a disaster.
“He runs so much, he has two or three hearts. After ten minutes, I said, ‘Roberto, give me five minutes, please!’
“He didn’t run after me, I ran after him.”