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<\/p>\nManchester City and Liverpool will be going all-in this weekend – much like their former player Albert Riera when he was meant to be playing.<\/p>\n
Riera spent the second half of the 2005\/06 season on loan at City before going on to join the Reds two years later in an \u00a38million move from Espnayol. It didn't work out for the Spaniard at either club – but neither were as bad as his short-lived spell at Udinese.<\/p>\n
After signing for the Serie A side in the summer of 2014, he never even made his debut. That's because he went AWOL to play a poker tournament in Slovenia instead of featuring in their 1-1 draw against Chievo in November, according to The Mirror.<\/p>\n
READ MORE: Ex-Liverpool and Man City player holds record for most answers on The Chase cash builder<\/b><\/p>\n
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As well as the Champions League, TNT Sports will also be offering sports fans access to games across the Premier League, Europa League, Serie A and much more.<\/p>\n
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Soon after the Italians cut him loose, Riera denied it was anything to do with poker, saying on social media: "To clarify, the termination of the contract has been by mutual agreement for a long time and not for non-sporting reasons."<\/p>\n
But he hadn't helped his cause by previously posting a picture playing cards with his team-mates in-between training sessions. It wasn't all bad for him though, as he reportedly won \u00a33,000 for a second-place finish.<\/p>\n
What's your Man City vs Liverpool prediction? Let us know in the comments section.<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n
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He'd also publicly slammed Udinese as \u201cthe worst club I\u2019ve ever played for\u201d, but they weren't the only ones who had issues with him. He fell out with Rafa Benitez at Anfield, had a fight with team-mate Felipe Melo at Galatasaray and was banned for confronting officials while with Watford.<\/p>\n
Speaking to the Liverpool Echo last year, Riera, 41, explained how he'd since said sorry to Benitez for his behaviour having crossed over to the other side to begin his own managerial career – currently taking charge of Ligue 2 side Bordeaux.<\/p>\n
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\u201cNow that I am a coach, I see it differently,\u201d he admitted. \u201cMany times I have apologised to him (Benitez), to many coaches that I had during my career.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs a player, you just see yourself, you see that you want to play, you just see your part. But it\u2019s so difficult to keep 25 players happy, it\u2019s impossible. <\/p>\n
"You have to make decisions as a coach, someone will like it and someone won\u2019t like it. It\u2019s like this, as simple as that."<\/p>\n