Steven Gerrard reignites feud with Liverpool flop El Hadji Diouf

Updated: 23 Nov, 2025 • 0 • min read

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Steven Gerrard reignites feud with Liverpool flop El Hadji Diouf

Photo: Reuters

Liverpool icon Steven Gerrard has reignited his long-standing feud with El Hadji Diouf, claiming the club made a major error by signing the Senegal forward instead of Nicolas Anelka back in 2002.

Speaking on Rio Ferdinand's podcast, Gerrard reflected on his 17-year spell at Anfield and revealed that Liverpool "got recruitment badly wrong at times" before using the Diouf transfer as a prime example.

We had the chance to sign Nicolas Anelka or El Hadji Diouf.

And we bought El Hadji Diouf on the back of a four, five-game period in a World Cup. That was the decision. I don't know who made the final decision.

That's one example of us as a club getting it wrong because that is one of the biggest mismatches you could debate, El Hadji Diouf or Nicolas Anelka.

Diouf's Disastrous Liverpool Spell

Diouf joined Liverpool from French side Lens for £10 million following his standout performances for Senegal at the 2002 World Cup, where he helped his nation reach the quarter-finals.

However, his time at Anfield quickly turned sour. In two seasons, he scored just six goals in 80 appearances, failing to find the net at all during his final campaign before being sold to Bolton Wanderers.

Gerrard's comments reopen old wounds between the two, as the pair clashed repeatedly during their time together at the club.

The former Reds captain once described Diouf as "selfish" and accused him of lacking passion for Liverpool, whilst Diouf has since branded Gerrard "jealous" and "racist" in various interviews.

Anelka the One That Got Away

Gerrard contrasted Diouf's underwhelming spell with the professionalism and class of Anelka, who had impressed whilst on loan from Paris Saint-Germain during the 2001/02 season.

He came into our sessions, Anelka, coolest man ever. Calm, relaxed. You just knew he had that aura and that confidence in himself.

He was ready to win. He was ready to help Liverpool win more or get closer to you guys [Manchester United] or wherever it was.

Anelka was coming in and he was a level above. He was a level above.

After Liverpool passed on the chance to sign him permanently, Anelka moved to Manchester City, where he scored 38 goals in two seasons, proving exactly what Gerrard and many fans had feared - that Liverpool had made the wrong call.

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