Jonjo delighted to achieve Stevie goal
Jonjo Shelvey claims it will be a 'mad' experience to oppose Steven Gerrard on Monday evening, as the former Liverpool midfielder prepares to face his old club for the first time since leaving Anfield.
The 21-year-old England international was hailed as a potential long-term replacement for the Reds captain when he joined the club in 2010.
Shelvey completed a switch to Swansea City during the summer, however, after 69 appearances and seven goals for Liverpool.
Having played in all three of the Welsh side's Barclays Premier League matches this term, the midfielder can expect to meet Gerrard at the Liberty Stadium - an occasion he has always hoped for.
Shelvey said: "It will be a bit mad facing him as I was living next door to him in Liverpool.
"But I always said I wanted to play with him and against him before he retired, because if you play against him you can really judge yourself on where you are as a player.
"For me he has been the best player in this country for God knows how long, he is the complete midfield player."
Following the confirmation of his transfer to Swansea in July, Shelvey sent a personal thank-you to the Liverpool fans; now he has expanded on his appreciation for the club.
"You get a love for the club, Liverpool are in my blood and I will always look out for their result," he explained.
"I was there for three years and I had a great time at a great club with such a great history, I loved it there and I cannot wait to play them.
"When I moved my dad said I was leaving one of the biggest clubs in world football to play somewhere else.
"But I felt it was something I needed to do, I didn't want to sit around, sit on the bench and just pick up money for not playing.
"Liverpool won the League Cup when I was there but I did not make the bench, and you feel like you are not there, even though you are happy and you get a medal, you feel like you are not part of it. I want to be part of something at Swansea."