The Epic Clash: El-Hadji Diouf’s Scathing Attack on Steven Gerrard, With a Surprise Intervention by Emmanuel Petit

When discussing Liverpool’s most regrettable signings, it’s hard to overlook the notorious El-Hadji Diouf. The winger had showcased his talent during the 2002 World Cup, representing Senegal and playing a pivotal role in their remarkable journey to the quarter-finals, including a stunning victory over reigning champions France.

Diouf’s impressive performances caught the attention of English giants Liverpool, who secured his services from French side Lens for a reported fee of £12 million—an extravagant amount at the time. Excitement and expectations were high as the Senegalese international arrived at Anfield.

However, Diouf’s time at Liverpool turned out to be a profound disappointment. In 79 appearances for the Merseyside club, he managed to score a mere six goals, failing to live up to the lofty standards set by the club and its fans.

Thriving at Liverpool during the mid-2000s demanded not only impressing the manager but also winning the respect of the esteemed captain, Steven Gerrard, and influential defender Jamie Carragher. Unfortunately, Diouf failed to leave a positive impression on both Liverpool legends throughout his tumultuous tenure with the Reds.

In his autobiography published in 2015, Gerrard openly expressed his frustration with his former teammate, stating, “It seemed to me that Diouf did not care about football and about Liverpool.” Such scathing remarks only deepened the divide between the two players.

Interestingly, on the day Gerrard announced his retirement from professional football in November 2016, Diouf seized the opportunity to launch a scathing assessment of the Anfield icon during a live interview on French TV network SFR Sport. The Senegalese winger boldly declared, “People told me at Liverpool there were some guys you could not touch, but I touched them. That is why it was complicated for me.”

Diouf went further, asserting, “When I arrived, I showed [Gerrard] he was nothing at all. He was nothing at all. I asked him to tell me in which big competition, Euros or World Cup, people think about him.”

Sitting beside Diouf during the interview was former Arsenal and Chelsea midfielder Emmanuel Petit, who attempted to come to Gerrard’s defense by referencing Liverpool’s famous comeback victory in the 2005 Champions League final against AC Milan in Istanbul. However, when Petit struggled to recall whether the year of the final was 2005 or 2006, Diouf seized the opportunity to deliver another blow to Gerrard.

“Here is the proof, even you cannot remember,” Diouf retorted. “You are talking about Euros and World Cup. Today, I owe you respect [Petit], I owe respect to Mr. [Zinedine] Zidane because you did win the World Cup.”

Petit interjected once more, defending Gerrard’s legacy as an “immense player.” Nevertheless, Diouf stood firm, declaring, “I respect the player, a very big player, but the man, I do not respect. And I told him, I let him know that.”

He continued, shedding light on their confrontations: “When Gerrard did that, we had an argument, like real men. That is why he does not like me. He knows I say what I think, that when it is not right, no problem, I am up for it. He could not, he was afraid of looking into my eyes. He was afraid of talking to me.”

Diouf concluded by revealing an intriguing anecdote: “Let’s not forget when I arrived, I did not ask for his shirt. He asked for my Senegal shirt for one of his mates.” These words further emphasized the strained relationship between the two players.

The clash between El-Hadji Diouf and Steven Gerrard, witnessed by Emmanuel Petit, serves as a captivating episode that sheds light on the complexities and tensions that can arise within a football club, even amongst esteemed players.