Gerrard slams Houllier over Liverpool's Anelka gaffe

The Incredible Sulk could have been an Anfield player for the past six years - but the then manager decided that El Hadji Diouf was a better prospect. Did anyone ever make a worse decision?

by Mark Apostolou on 10 February 2008

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Steven Gerrard will line up against Nicolas Anelka this afternoon believing they would both be playing for Liverpool but for a gaffe by Gerard Houllier in 2002.

The England captain was talking ahead of the match-up with Chelsea about then Anfield manager Houllier's failure to sign Anelka permanently when he was on loan at the club.

Gerrard told the News of the World: "Every club makes a couple of mistakes in the transfer market and we made one when we didn't sign Nicolas Anelka in 2002. Nicolas was top-class for us and I thought he'd done enough to stay. He was a good lad around the dressing-room as well. I've always thought it was a shame he's not still with us.

''What made it doubly disappointing for me was I knew how desperate he was to sign on a permanent deal at the time. Unfortunately, these decisions are taken and it's only when you look back later you can make a judgement. I don't think anyone will deny we got that one wrong."

Comments (7)

by Nathan on February 10, 2008

I totally agree, Anelka should not have been turned down, lets hope we keep him quiet today!

by davio on February 10, 2008

Do you really think Anelka can stay at one club for six years when his brother is Mr10%?

by Not Again on February 11, 2008

[quote]Do you really think Anelka can stay at one club for six years when his brother is Mr10%?[/quote] - Davio, you are an uppity git, it feels like any article I read on here comes with a ready made, smug, and utterly argumentative response!

by davio on February 11, 2008

I beilieve that this is a valid point in the case of Anelka. It may be me but i thought that the authors of the article bring up a subject for people to have there opinions on. The fact is 9 years ago he left Arsenal because he was advised by his brother who was his agent and has had more clubs than I can list, He and his brother have made a nice sum of money doing this but I feel that a player that talented if had stayed at any of the bigger clubs he played at he would have had a better career. The article is about Anelka give the auther a valid opinion for the effort he has put in.

by Chegs on February 12, 2008

A valid point, but a silly article. Of course Anelka is better than the spitting African. I doubt he would have stayed for longer than a few years, but would bave been good for when Rafa came in and he is quality. Diouf's main problem was that hes an a**hole, coupled with not being very good

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