'If only I had joined Man Utd instead of Liverpool as they also wanted me'

El Hadji Diouf’s stellar performances at the 2002 World Cup earned him a dream move to Liverpool, but his time at Anfield quickly turned into a disappointment.

The Senegalese forward captured global attention by leading his nation to a surprise quarter-final finish, with a standout display against France persuading Liverpool manager Gérard Houllier to sign him from Lens for £10 million.

Diouf was joined by his international teammate Salif Diao, and hopes were high that he could spearhead the Reds to Premier League glory after they finished runners-up to Arsenal the previous season. However, the reality fell far short of expectations.

Diouf’s Anfield career began with promise, as he scored twice on his home debut. Yet that brief spark soon fizzled out, with the forward managing just six goals in 80 appearances.

His inability to find the net regularly, coupled with disciplinary issues, made him a divisive figure among fans. Diouf’s first Premier League campaign saw him fail to score another league goal after March, and he went goalless in the league the following season.

Diouf’s time at Liverpool was marred by off-field controversies and a poor disciplinary record.

He picked up 13 yellow cards and one red during his spell on Merseyside. One of the most infamous incidents came in a UEFA Cup tie against Celtic in 2003 when Diouf spat at a fan, leading to a police investigation, a two-match ban, and a fine of two weeks' wages.

Reflecting on Diouf’s impact, Gérard Houllier later admitted that the signing was a mistake.

"The disappointment has been El-Hadji Diouf because he has great potential but has never shown consistency," Houllier told the BBC. "On occasions, he has not given a good impression of the club, and that has no doubt affected people’s views."

Diouf’s tenure at Liverpool also featured clashes with teammates, including captain Steven Gerrard.

Club icon Jamie Carragher offered a scathing assessment of Diouf’s time, stating, "He has one of the worst strike rates of any forward in Liverpool history.

"He’s the only No. 9 ever to go through a whole season without scoring. He was always the last one to get picked in training."

Years later, Diouf himself expressed regret over his move to Liverpool. In a 2018 interview with RMC Sport, he revealed he wished he had joined Manchester United or Barcelona instead.

"If I had the chance again, I would go to Manchester United or Barcelona. At the time, they wanted me also," he said.

Liverpool’s decision to sign Diouf was particularly frustrating for fans given the club’s failure to secure a permanent deal for Nicolas Anelka, who had impressed during a loan spell the previous season.

Instead, Anelka moved to Manchester City, and Diouf was brought in as his replacement.

After falling out of favor at Liverpool, Diouf was loaned to Bolton Wanderers in 2004, where he spent four years and rejuvenated his career under Sam Allardyce.

He later reunited with Allardyce at Blackburn Rovers, had a brief stint at Rangers, and played for Championship sides Doncaster Rovers and Leeds United before retiring in 2015 following a spell with Malaysian club Sabah.

Though his career included flashes of brilliance, Diouf’s time at Liverpool remains a cautionary tale of unfulfilled potential and off-field distractions. Today, as he celebrates his 44th birthday, his legacy at Anfield is more a story of regret than success.