Liverpool
Steven Gerrard reveals he was left shocked by Liverpool’s £13m transfer blunder
Last Updated on 8 October 2025
Steven Gerrard has sensationally opened up about one of Liverpool’s most contentious transfer decisions of the modern era.
Gerrard expressed his disbelief over the Reds’ choice to sign El Hadji Diouf instead of Nicolas Anelka back in 2002.
Steven Gerrard slams Liverpool for signing El Hadji Diouf over Nicolas Anelka
Speaking on Rio Ferdinand Presents, Steven Gerrard revealed how Liverpool’s recruitment team ignored Anelka’s proven quality and instead spent £13 million on Diouf following his impressive 2002 World Cup with Senegal.
He said: “We got recruitment badly wrong at times. We had the chance to sign Nicolas Anelka or El Hadji Diouf, and we bought Diouf on the back of a four or five game World Cup instead of someone off the back of five or six years.
“Anelka came into our training sessions, he was the coolest man ever, calm, relaxed, and had confidence in himself. He was a level above everyone else, but then that decision was made and I couldn’t believe what was happening.”
Diouf’s time at Anfield turned out to be one of Liverpool’s biggest disappointments. Despite his early hype, he scored just six goals in 80 games, struggled for consistency, and often made headlines for the wrong reasons.
Meanwhile, Anelka went on to become one of Europe’s most respected forwards, and Gerrard’s reflection highlights how costly that decision truly was for Liverpool during the early 2000s.
Nicolas Anelka’s brilliant career proves Liverpool made a blunder
While Liverpool moved on from the missed opportunity, Anelka continued to shine for some of the world’s biggest clubs, winning league titles in England, France, and Spain.
His composure, experience, and ability to adapt made him one of the most underrated strikers of his generation.
| Club | Years | Appearances | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arsenal | 1997–1999 | 90 | 28 |
| Real Madrid | 1999–2000 | 33 | 7 |
| Paris Saint-Germain | 2000–2002 | 56 | 19 |
| Liverpool (loan) | 2001–2002 | 22 | 5 |
| Manchester City | 2002–2005 | 103 | 45 |
| Bolton Wanderers | 2006–2008 | 61 | 21 |
| Chelsea | 2008–2012 | 184 | 59 |
Anelka finished his career with over 200 club goals and multiple major honours, a stark contrast to Diouf’s turbulent spell at Anfield.
Liverpool’s 2002 transfer call remains one of the most talked-about “what ifs” in Premier League history, and Gerrard’s comments only reignite the debate among Reds fans today.
