Friday, 19th October, 2012


El Hadji Diouf has slammed Steven Gerrard, branding him selfish and unloved at Liverpool.

The Senegal forward, who currently turns out for Leeds United in England’s second tier, played alongside Gerrard at Anfield between 2002 and 2004.

"I was committed to the Senegal national team. I took them to the quarter-finals of the 2002 World Cup", Diouf told French sports daily L’Equipe in response to Gerrard’s continuing commitment to Liverpool.

"I was in Pele’s top 100 players of the century. He wasn’t.

"I respect him as a footballer, but there is nobody more selfish than he is.

"He does not care about others.

"I’ve spoken with the Liverpool greats and nobody can stand him."

And in a further barbed comment, Diouf insisted he was not referring to a conversation with club stalwart Jamie Carragher, with the implication the defender is not one of Liverpool’s greats.

"And I’m not talking about Carragher", he said.

Diouf has endured a journeyman existence since leaving Anfield, with spells at Bolton Wanderers, Sunderland, Blackburn Rovers, Rangers and Doncaster Rovers.

At international level, Diouf, who cost Liverpool £10M to sign from Lens after the 2002 World Cup, won 69 caps for Senegal between 2000 and 2009, scoring 21 goals.