21 April 2023 , 13:23
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It's rare to see a Liverpool player impress and offend Sir Alex Ferguson in equal measure, but Jonjo Shelvey has a Jekyll-and-Hyde quality not always seen among Anfield favourites.
Shelvey's reputation with Reds fans was dealt a blow in 2012, when - in what would end up being his final season with Liverpool - he was sent off against Ferguson's Manchester United. Opposition boss Ferguson was impressed by the Londoner's "balls", though, and the midfield talent has continued to show good and bad elements of his game when returning to Anfield with other clubs.
Now 31, the midfielder might not be part of Nottingham Forest's starting XI after being dropped for last week's defeat against Manchester United. If he features, though, Liverpool will know not to underestimate the England international.
Shelvey incensed Ferguson after a dangerous tackle on Jonny Evans, before facing off with the United boss. “I was a bit immature then and a bit silly,” Shelvey later said when reflecting on the run-in.
“I pulled him aside afterwards and apologised to him and he was spot on with me. He said, ‘no I like it. It shows you’ve got a bit of balls about you.’”
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He briefly bounced back from that setback, scoring Europa League goals against Udinese and Young Boys, but the addition of Philippe Coutinho and Daniel Sturridge in January meant his days were numbered. A summer exit was inevitable, with Swansea the team to take the plunge, and there began Shelvey's bizarre run of reunions with his former club.
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Jonjo Shelvey's 2013 Anfield return was an eventful one (PA)When Shelvey took on his old employers with Swansea in September 2013, almost a year to the day after the red card against Man Utd, he was at the heart of everything - both good and bad. Less than 90 seconds were on the clock when he fired past Simon Mignolet to give Michael Laudrup's Swans the lead, but it didn't end there.
It was Shelvey's blind backpass which gifted Sturridge an equaliser, while another loose pass allowed Victor Moses to run through and put the Reds in front. There was still time for redemption, though, with Shelvey making an untracked run before a perfectly-weighted header down allowed Michu to level things up.
"You have to remember he's only 21 years old," Laudrup said. "Yeah he made a mistake - he made two mistakes - but I think he came out of it in a good way in the second half.
"I'm sure he will learn from this and that's important," the Dane added. Sure enough, Shelvey's story against his former employers was far from over.
Shelvey scored an own goal in a defeat to Liverpool in 2014 (AFP/Getty Images)He netted again in the reverse fixture that season - a 4-3 defeat for Swansea which was one of a number of chaotic games for Liverpool during their own title run-in. An own goal followed in 2014, capping off a 4-1 win for Rodgers' team and sparking a run of one win in seven which ultimately ended the visitors' European hopes.
The drama didn't stop with Shelvey's eventual move to Newcastle, and the gulf between his present and former clubs didn't slow him down either. Even as Liverpool rounded off their title-winning season at St James' Park in 2020, their ex-player laid on a first-minute opener for Dwight Gayle before Jurgen Klopp's men battled back to win by three goals to one.
Another 3-1 Liverpool win last season delivered an even greater example of Shelvey building on the reputation he developed in that Manchester United game more than a decade ago. He remains desperate to be in the thick of things at all times, for good and for bad, and his risks have what you might consider a mixed hit-rate.
After scoring against Liverpool for Swansea and Newcastle, Shelvey can complete the set with Nottingham Forest (PA)Heading into the clash in December 2021, Liverpool sat second in the league with Newcastle down in 19th. The Magpies had picked up just one win in five games under new manager Eddie Howe, while their opponents had won five on the spin, but Shelvey threatened to haunt his former club with an early opener from 25 yards out which gave Alisson no chance.
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As Liverpool have come to learn, though, there tend to be two sides to any Shelvey display against them. It was another errant backpass on this occasion, presenting Sadio Mane with a golden chance out of nothing and allowing Mohamed Salah to equalise after Martin Dubravka saved Mane's initial shot.
Having left the North-East for the East Midlands in January, Shelvey now has an opportunity to make an impression for Forest on Saturday, and a shock for the strugglers could help them strengthen their chances of remaining in the league. Based on his previous, though, it would be hard to rule anything out.