Steven Gerrard has admitted Liverpool made a big mistake when they allowed Nicolas Anelka to leave Anfield.
Anfield skipper wanted striker to stay
Steven Gerrard has admitted Liverpool made a big mistake when they allowed Nicolas Anelka to leave Anfield.
The nomadic striker spent five months on loan at Anfield from Paris St Germain at the start of 2002 and was keen to make his stay permanent.
But then-manager Gerard Houllier opted against signing the France international and Manchester City stepped in with a £13million deal.
Stints with Fenerbahce and Bolton followed before Anelka, who has been a prolific scorer throughout his career, secured a £15million move to Chelsea.
And Gerrard, whose Liverpool side face the Blues at Stamford Bridge in the Premier League on Sunday, wishes Anelka was still on his side.
Wrong
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 was that 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."
