▁only ▁playing ▁ 2 2 ▁Scottish ▁League ▁Second ▁Division ▁fi xt ures , ▁he ▁was ▁purchased ▁by ▁Cov entry ▁City ▁for ▁£ 7 5 , 0 0 0 ▁on ▁ 1 0 ▁March ▁ 1 9 7 8 , ▁while ▁still ▁not ▁yet ▁ 1 8 . ▁ ▁He ▁spent ▁the ▁rest ▁of ▁the ▁ 1 9 7 7 – 7 8 ▁season ▁in ▁the ▁City ▁res erves ▁but ▁was ▁given ▁his ▁chance ▁at ▁the ▁beginning ▁of ▁the ▁following ▁season , ▁making ▁his ▁debut ▁on ▁ 1 9 ▁August ▁ 1 9 7 8 ▁in ▁a ▁ 2 – 1 ▁win ▁over ▁M idd les br ough ▁at ▁Ay res ome ▁Park . ▁He ▁went ▁on ▁to ▁make ▁a ▁further ▁ 1 4 ▁league ▁appearances ▁before ▁the ▁end ▁of ▁the ▁season ▁and ▁made ▁more ▁League ▁appearances ▁for ▁Cov entry ▁City ▁than ▁for ▁any ▁other ▁club ▁during ▁his ▁career . ▁ ▁Liverpool ▁signed ▁him ▁on ▁ 8 ▁July ▁ 1 9 8 3 ▁for ▁£ 3 2 5 , 0 0 0 . ▁He ▁was ▁the ▁first ▁signing ▁made ▁by ▁new ▁manager ▁Joe ▁F agan . ▁ ▁Liverpool ▁G illes pie ▁took ▁a ▁while ▁to ▁sett le ▁in , ▁mainly ▁because ▁def enders ▁Mark ▁Law r enson ▁and ▁Alan ▁Hans en ▁were ▁ahead ▁of ▁him , ▁but ▁eventually ▁he ▁got ▁into ▁the ▁team , ▁making ▁his ▁debut ▁on ▁ 7 ▁February ▁ 1 9 8 4 ▁in ▁the ▁ 2 – 2 ▁League ▁Cup ▁draw ▁with ▁W als all ▁at ▁An field . ▁He