Photo by AMA/Corbis via Getty Images
Photo by AMA/Corbis via Getty Images
Despite failing to win any big trophies with Liverpool, Fernando Torres and Luis Suarez are seen as two of the best strikers to play for the club in modern times.
Both were arguably the best forward in Europe at some point during their spells at Anfield, with former captain Steven Gerrard regularly speaking about the pair as two of the greatest players he ever played with.
But according to Gerrard, Liverpool missed out on having a striker who could’ve been just as good as Torres or Suarez when they opted not to sign Nicolas Anelka on a permanent transfer in 2002.
Liverpool four-grid
Gerrard bemoans decision not to sign Nicolas Anelka
Anelka was at something of a low ebb when he joined Liverpool on loan from Paris Saint-Germain in December 2001. Having failed to make the grade at Real Madrid, the Frenchman was similarly struggling in Paris as well, and Gerard Houllier’s decision to take him until the rest of the season was seen as a bit of a gamble.
But Anelka hit the ground running at Anfield, and though he only managed five goals in 22 appearances overall, he won over the Liverpool fanbase with a string of impressive performances. However, despite pressure from supporters to sign him permanently, Houllier chose to bring in Senegal striker El Hadji Diouf instead. The decision proved to be a bad one, with Diouf going on to be one of Liverpool’s worst ever players.
Anelka joined Manchester City instead, scoring 30 Premier League goals across the following two seasons, and according to Gerrard, it was a huge mistake from Liverpool.
“It’s not the decision I would’ve made, I’d have took Anelka all day long,” the Scouser told the Open Goal podcast. “I loved Anelka, Anelka was class. His movement, his touch, he had a swagger. He’d done it at Arsenal, played at Madrid, he was in the French national team.”
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“And, listen, with all due respect, Diouf had a fantastic World Cup, he’d had a really good World Cup. So you could understand why Liverpool maybe thought there was more in that in terms of buy, maybe sell further down the line.
“Anelka had a little bit of baggage, if you like, with him. But if you’re talking about El Hadji Diouf and Nicolas Anelka, come on. Playing with him, he was just on it.”
Anelka could’ve matched Torres and Suarez
Asked whether he felt Anelka could have been as good for Liverpool as Torres and Suarez were, Gerrard suggested that had he stayed, there’s every chance the France international could have had a similar impact.
“I think if he would’ve had a longer stint at Liverpool, I think potentially he could’ve done as much damage as them,” he answered, before going on to hail both of his former teammates.
“But, listen, Suarez was off the scale. He’s the best player I’ve ever played with. Torres had an 18 month period where he was unplayable, he was powerful from the waist down. Everything was so explosive, his movement. He was a winner. At Liverpool the main striker gets built up to be the top man and Torres just revelled in it, he loved it.
“He used to come off the pitch and say to me ‘I just feel on top of the world here, the way the fans see me’. He was phenomenal, but I always say that I’d take Suarez just because he could do more.
“I’ve seen Suarez occupy defences and midfields on his own, he’s that good. He’s just an absolute animal as well. Never injured, never in the treatment room. Trained the way he played, he was just desperate to be in the team. Two great boys as well.”
Steven Gerrard celebrates after scoring during Liverpool's UEFA Champions League last-16 match against Real Madrid at Anfield. Luis Suarez celebrat...
Steven Gerrard celebrates after scoring during Liverpool's UEFA Champions League last-16 match against Real Madrid at Anfield. Luis Suarez celebrat...
Photo by Omar Vega/Getty Images
Photo by Omar Vega/Getty Images
Kevin Schade