Gary McAllister will be handed the dual role of father figure and midfield enforcer by Gerard Houllier after agreeing to move to Liverpool from Coventry on a free transfer yesterday.
Liverpool's manager has turned to the 35-year-old in a bid to add some experience and guile to a team whose senior members, Patrik Berger and Dietmar Hamann, are only 26, and to help ensure the continued development of youngsters such as Steven Gerrard, David Thompson, Jamie Carragher and Danny Murphy.
"The average age of their side last season was under 25, and that's very young indeed for a top-flight club," McAllister said. "The manager explained that there was a need for some experience around the squad, an old head in the side.
"It's too early to say just how many games I will play, maybe people will be surprised. But I aim to take this chance to pass on to the youngsters at Liverpool the experience I have gained."
This includes 57 caps for Scotland in a career spanning 19 years. He remains, though, in peak fitness and was Coventry's player of the year last season, scoring 13 goals, his best tally in the Premiership. He is convinced he will be inspired and refreshed by working at Anfield.
"I'm feeling as fit as ever and I can't wait to get going. There are so many great young players at Liverpool. With that sort of quality around me maybe I can go on for a couple more seasons yet, you never know. If I can offer anything to help the younger players and their development, that's fine by me."
One player for whom McAllister has particular regard is the 19-year-old Gerrard, likely to be part of England's squad for Euro 2000. "He is already one of the best midfield players around and there's nothing he can't achieve in the game if he wants it. He's already a very special player.
"Obviously I'm there to help him. But he can help me too. Playing alongside him I will be able to bounce off him as much as he can bounce off me. I can't wait for it all to start."
Next season Liverpool face the rigours of three cup competitions, including the UEFA Cup, and attempting to qualify for the Champions League through a top-three finish in the Premiership, a feat they narrowly failed to achieve last season.
If they are successful this time round McAllister will get an extra year on top of the one season Houllier has already signed him for.
"This is fairy tale stuff for someone at my stage of life," said McAllister, who will officially sign on July 1st when his Coventry contract expires. "It did surprise me when Liverpool came in for me, but I have talked through the specific role that Gerard Houllier wants me to have and I am more than happy with it.
"It's a tremendous challenge for me and something that I really didn't expect at this stage of my career. But I intend to grasp it and enjoy it. In fact, I wish the season could start straight away."
Sunderland manager Peter Reid insisted yesterday that striker Kevin Phillips will remain an integral part of his squad.
Phillips, who is hoping to feature in Euro 2000, has been linked with a £20 million move to Leeds.
But Reid was adamant that Phillips is among those players he wants to keep at Sunderland.
"Kevin Phillips is a fundamental part of the Sunderland team and only three months ago committed himself to the club until 2005.
"His career has gone from strength with Sunderland, seeing him capped for England and closing last season as the Premiership's top scorer.
"I am currently looking to strengthen the squad, ready for next season, and none of our players who I see a future for at Sunderland are leaving," he said.
