Sunderland midfielder Ola Toivonen has said he regrets not forcing through a move to Liverpool five years ago.
Toivonen, 29, had the chance to move to Anfield during current England boss Roy Hodgson's period in charge -- but he ended up staying with Dutch club PSV Eindhoven.
The Sweden international, who has also attracted interest from Newcastle and Norwich in the past, left PSV for French club Rennes in 2014 before making a season-long loan switch to Sunderland in August.
He marked his Black Cats debut by setting up an equaliser for Jeremain Lens in a 2-2 Premier League draw at Aston Villa on Aug. 29.
Toivonen said he could have moved to England sooner, having attracted attention by scoring a memorable free kick for PSV against Newcastle in a preseason friendly in 2010.
He told the Northern Echo: "I have had opportunities to come to the Premier League before.
"A couple of years ago it looked like I would be joining Liverpool when Roy Hodgson was there. Not fighting hard enough for that to happen is something I regret in my life.
"I am 29, so when I look back I will be pleased that I took the opportunity to move to France to try out a new league.
"I experienced how it is to live there, and experienced a new language and culture, so it was a nice time.
"But I always wanted to play in the Premier League, so when I got the call from Sunderland it was a quick decision to make."
Hodgson took charge at Liverpool in July 2010, but lasted only six months before being sacked and replaced by Kenny Dalglish.
