Steven Gerrard names the Liverpool transfer decision he is still fuming about

A Liverpool transfer in 2002 is still winding up Steven Gerrard (Picture: Getty Images)

Steven Gerrard is still unhappy about a transfer decision Liverpool made 23 years ago, saying: ‘I couldn’t believe what was happening.’

The Reds legend recalls the club getting ‘recruitment badly wrong at times’ during his long stint as a player at Anfield.

The one choice that stands out in his mind above all others came in 2002 when Liverpool brought in El-Hadji Diouf from Lens after a good World Cup with Senegal.

Manager Gerard Houllier had Nicolas Anelka on loan from PSG for the second half of the 2001/02 season and had the option to sign the Frenchman permanently.

Anelka was keen to stay at Anfield but Liverpool went for Diouf instead and the France international signed for Manchester City instead.

Gerrard was very impressed by Anelka during his loan stint and was no fan of Diouf, scarcely believing that Liverpool made the decision they did.

‘We got recruitment badly wrong at times,’ Gerrard told his old England teammate on Rio Ferdinand Presents . ‘I’ll give you one example.

El-Hadji Diouf was not very impressive in a Liverpool shirt (Picture: Getty Images)

‘We had the chance to sign Nicolas Anelka or El-Hadji Diouf and we bought El-Hadji Diouf on the back of a four or five game period in a World Cup when we could have bought someone on the back of five or six years.

‘I don’t know who made the final decision, but that 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 was undoubtedly a flop at Anfield, leaving for Bolton after just two seasons, having scored three goals in 55 Premier League appearances and six in 80 outings across all competitions.

In contrast, Anelka scored 14 goals in his first season with Manchester City and 24 in his second. He went on to have a late career resurgence, winning the Premier League with Chelsea in 2010.

Rio Ferdinand admits he struggled with Nicolas Anelka (Picture: Getty Images)

Ferdinand said of the French forward: ‘Anelka was one of the hardest players I played against. Top three hardest I played against.’

Gerrard continued the glowing praise of the former Arsenal and Real Madrid striker, praising his mentality.

‘He came into our sessions, Anelka, coolest man ever, calm, relaxed,’ said Gerrard. ‘You just knew he had that aura and that confidence in himself that he was ready to win. He was ready to help Liverpool win more. Anelka was coming in and he was a level above.

‘That decision was made and honestly it was a complete mismatch. That was one example where I couldn’t believe what was happening.’

Nicolas Anelka only scored five times in 22 appearances for Liverpool (Picture: Getty Images)

Houllier was asked about the decision in the January after it was made as Diouf struggled and Anelka shone, but insisted he was fine with the call.