Jamie Carragher has revealed that Liverpool tried to sign Nemanja Vidic from Spartak Moscow before his Manchester United move.
Vidic was a key player for United, where he became captain and won five Premier League titles and the 2008 Champions League, after joining the club in January 2006 for 6.75 million pounds.
Carragher, who retired in 2013 after making 737 appearances for Liverpool, wrote in the Daily Mail that the Serbian centre-back was his "type of defender."
He added: "Liverpool tried to buy him in January 2006 but our loss was United's gain. I'd have loved to have played alongside him and I'm sure we could have formed a solid partnership.
"He loves defending and putting his head in where it hurts. His arrival took [Rio] Ferdinand's performances up another level. They became the best defensive pairing in Europe."
United had announced the deal to sign Vidic in late December 2005, and he went on to make 300 appearances in eight-and-a-half years at Old Trafford before leaving to join Inter Milan this summer.
While Liverpool only finished above United in the last of Vidic's nine seasons in England, the defender endured more mixed fortunes against the Reds and was sent-off three times when facing them.
When Liverpool failed to get Vidic, Rafa Benitez moved instead for Daniel Agger, who also departed in the summer after eight-and-a-half years in the Premier League.