Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers has revealed he almost joined Roberto Mancini’s coaching staff at Manchester City before becoming Swansea City manager in 2009.

When the Ulsterman was dismissed from his managerial role with Reading after just six months in charge at the Championship outfit, he held talks with City administrator Brian Marwood and even flew to Milan in order to discuss with a possible move with Mancini.

“I was grateful because it was good for my confidence at the time because I’d left Reading having had a long career in coaching and all of a sudden I was on the outside looking in,” Rodgers told The Telegraph.

“I went up at the end of the season, took a couple of days looking around the project and everything and I flew to Milan to meet Roberto out there.

“They were excited about what was happening there and I didn’t really think I was going to get a manager’s job so the next best thing was at least working with top players.”

Talks with the Manchester club fell through when Rodgers closed in on a move to Swansea, who had just seen manager Paulo Sousa walk out the doors of the Liberty Stadium.

Rodgers lead the Welsh side to promotion in his first season in charge, with the Swans enjoying memorable home wins over Arsenal, Liverpool and City in their debut top-flight campaign.

“Then all of a sudden I got the opportunity to go to Swansea so to be the No.1,” Rodgers continued. “Irrespective of money and whatever contract, at a great club like Swansea was always going to be too good to turn down.

“I hadn’t had anything in writing from Man City but I probably would have [earned more money].

“In the first game [against Swansea] they brought [Sergio] Aguero on, and he cost more than our stadium, over the two games, for three quarters of both games we were the better team.

“They have quality players, and once you’ve won the league it gives you greater confidence. But if we’re going to do anything this year we need to ensure that Anfield is a real cauldron of a place to come to.”

Newcastle manager Alan Pardew says it is unlikely that the club will make another offer to sign Andy Carroll from Liverpool.

The striker moved to Anfield form the Magpies for £35 million in January 2011, but has struggled to make an impact and seemingly fallen out of favour with new manager Brendan Rodgers.

Newcastle have already had one loan bid – with a view to a permanent move – rejected, and now Pardew says there is little chance of Carroll returning to the North East before the transfer window closes on September 1.

“I don’t think so,” he told reporters when asked about the possibility of a fresh approach for Carroll.

“We’re talking more of a younger player who could perhaps take the club forward. We’ve taken two or three younger players this season who have done very well for us.

“It depends if the price is right and everything fits the bill.”

Carroll was an unused substitute in Liverpool’s opening day Premier League defeat to West Brom and was not included in their squad to face Hearts in the Europa League.

Liverpool have completed the signing of Real Madrid midfielder Nuri Sahin on a season-long loan deal, the club have confirmed.

Sahin passed a medical at the Reds’ Melwood training ground before putting pen to paper on a deal which will see him spend the rest of the current campaign at Anfield.Arsenal were initially thought to be favourites to secure the services of Sahin and were in advanced negotiations, but Liverpool offered a financial package which the Spaniards found more agreeable.

“I am happy to be here and I am looking forward to playing for Liverpool,” he told the club’s official website.

“It makes me proud to have joined such a big club like Liverpool Football Club.

“After the first conversation we had, I was left impressed by Brendan Rodgers. He told me about how he wants to play football and what the goals are he wants to reach with Liverpool.

“I am looking forward to meeting the fans. I hope it will be a nice year with trophies.”

Sahin revealed Real Madrid team-mate and former Liverpool star Xabi Alonso played a significant role in persuading him to make the switch to Anfield.

“When he heard Liverpool were interested in me, he started telling me about Liverpool,” he added. “He is still in love with Liverpool Football Club, I think!

“He was saying, ‘Go there, you will love it. The fans will take care of you and love you’ and things like that. He said Anfield is the best stadium in the world.

“Xabi won a lot of trophies here, and hopefully we can do that too.”

Sahin says he is relishing the prospect of playing for the Merseyside giants – and particularly captain Steven Gerrard, whom he greatly admires.

“Steven Gerrard is a huge name, not only in Liverpool but in world football,” he continued. “I am looking forward to playing with him – I’ve played against him once.

“There are many other players that I could name – I could start from number one to 25. I know them all, not personally, but I know how they play football and what the style of Liverpool is.

“I am looking forward to meeting them all. If I have to choose one name, it would be Steven Gerrard – but it is not only Gerrard.”

Former Dortmund ace Sahin will wear the number four shirt at Anfield.