 Early in the 1995–96 season, Liverpool captured the midfielder in a £4.5 million deal after he played against them in the 1995 Football League Cup Final for Bolton.McAteer came close to joining Blackburn Rovers in 1995, but when Liverpool declared an interest, McAteer decided to sign for the team he had supported as a boy.He appeared 139 times for Liverpool and scored 6 goals for the Reds.