When I signed for Liverpool, I was 18 and they basically said as a youngster you have two years to break into the first team. As I mentioned, you could make the mistakes in the reserves and that's how you learn to put things right and play the Liverpool way.
I made my debut just after I'd signed and then I was involved towards the end of the season after being there for just five or six months. I played in the League Cup final replay, and I'd played in the European Cup semi-final against Bayern Munich.
I was then looking forward to the next season being in the first team, so I went to see Bob Paisley to ask him for a pay rise because I saw myself as a first-team player now. But he said I wasn't getting one, so we had an argument, which resulted in me asking to go on the transfer list! He said it wouldn't be a problem and called my bluff there and then on the spot.
He asked me how many games I had played… it was about seven at that time, and he pointed to the fact I hadn't scored a single goal. But because we'd won a few of the matches I'd been involved in - and I'd done OK - I thought that meant something. He said he would put me on the transfer list and that was that.
In response, I went out with the bit between my teeth and started playing to get away from Liverpool. I scored two in the reserves then got my chance in the European Cup against Finnish team Oulu Palloseura. We were 4-0 up and Bob threw me on and I scored a tap-in in front of the Kop - my first goal for Liverpool!
Then he played me again against Exeter twice and I scored in both games of that tie, and then against Leeds where I scored two again - so I'd scored seven goals in three or so games. Bob pulled me in after that and said he'd give me the rise I wanted. So, I asked if that meant he'd take me off the transfer list… and he told me I was never even on it! It was a stroke of genius to get that fire in my belly.
**I liked to prove people wrong**
---------------------------------
That last example is probably a very good one for having this trait. I was actually very shy when I first came to Liverpool. I was only 18 and I remember getting changed next to [**Ray Clemence**](https://www.liverpoolfc.com/info/ray-clemence) and [**Alan Hansen**](https://www.liverpoolfc.com/info/alan-hansen) and all the players I had seen on television.
I was very nervous but after I settled in, I realised I was just as good as them. I used to get pulled in by Bob Paisley to train with the first team for a day on a Thursday and then on a Saturday I'd be back in with the reserves. But I think he quickly found out that being around better players, I raised my game to their level.