Kevin Nolan rubbed salt in the wounds of Newcastle United fans with his choice of words when Andy Carroll joined Liverpool in a club-record £35million move in 2011
Andy Carroll celebrates with fellow Liverpool players
Andy Carroll joined Liverpool in January 2011(Image: GLYN KIRK, AFP via Getty Images)
Kevin Nolan was compelled to apologise to Newcastle United supporters after Andy Carroll signed for Liverpool. The towering 6'4" forward had made a name for himself at his boyhood club before securing a transfer to Merseyside in January 2011.
The move, which set Liverpool back a then club-record fee of around £35million, was greeted with jubilation by Reds fans, while Newcastle supporters were understandably distraught to see their star player leave the north east. And Nolan unintentionally added insult to injury for Geordies at the time by announcing that Carroll was joining a "great" club.
The Newcastle captain said: "Well, Liverpool is a great club. I've not taken anything away from how great this club is, I've just said Liverpool is a great club with the history it has got and everything.
"It's a great move for Andy and no one can deny that but I want to be playing for Newcastle. If fans don't like it I apologise. It was never meant to affect them. But Liverpool is a great club and everyone knows that."
The situation on Tyneside only deteriorated for Newcastle fans when their other striker, Shola Ameobi, sustained a cheekbone fracture which left him out of action, while questions arose regarding the suitability of alternatives Leon Best, Peter Lovenkrands and Nile Ranger at Premier League level.
Carroll's exit didn't significantly impact Newcastle's season, with the Magpies securing a respectable 12th-place finish in the Premier League before recruiting replacements for the striker in the summer, including Papiss Cisse and Demba Ba.
Kevin Nolan and Andy Carroll celebrate
Kevin Nolan said Andy Carroll was joining a great club
Carroll's stint at Anfield was short-lived, netting just 11 goals in 58 matches for the Reds before being sold to West Ham United in the summer of 2013.
Fast forward to 2025, and Carroll has had a second spell with Newcastle, played for clubs such as West Bromwich Albion, Reading, Amiens and Bordeaux, and this summer signed for non-league Dagenham and Redbridge.
Newcastle face a similar situation this summer in potentially losing a key striker, with Alexander Isak considering his options away from the club.
Eddie Howe and Alexander Isak during a game
Alexander Isak could leave Newcastle this summer(Image: PA)
The Swedish international, who has scored 62 goals and provided 11 assists for the Magpies since joining from Real Sociedad in 2022, has expressed an interest in leaving St James' Park this summer.
Despite Newcastle placing a hefty, British transfer record price tag on their star player, it hasn't deterred big spenders Liverpool from trying to tempt him to Anfield ahead of the new Premier League season.
The Reds officially submitted an initial offer of around £110m, which was quickly rejected by Newcastle, who value Isak closer to the £150m mark.
However, the saga isn't thought to be over just yet, with Liverpool continuing to monitor the striker's situation despite holding no intentions of submitting a second bid just yet.