Many former players have revealed that during their time at Liverpool, Steven Gerrard and fellow Scouser Jamie Carragher held immense influence—almost matching the manager’s authority. The pair were known for demanding high standards in training and maintaining discipline in the dressing room.
Gerrard once admitted that he closely observed new signings during their first training sessions, with the likes of Xabi Alonso and Luis Suárez quickly earning his respect through their quality and attitude. However, one player the former Liverpool captain never warmed to — and still seemingly doesn’t — is El Hadji Diouf. The Senegalese forward joined Liverpool from Lens for £10 million in 2002 after a standout World Cup campaign, but his spell at Anfield was hugely disappointing. His behaviour on and off the pitch frustrated many, leading Gerrard to name him as “top of the list of Liverpool signings I liked least” in his 2015 autobiography.
Gerrard wrote that Diouf “had no real interest in football and no respect for the club or the fans,” adding that he always seemed to put himself before the team. “He was all about show, not substance,” he noted. Diouf developed a reputation for controversy throughout his career, including multiple allegations of spitting at opponents and supporters.
After leaving Anfield, Diouf went on to play for several clubs including Bolton, Sunderland, Blackburn, Doncaster, Leeds, and enjoyed a loan stint at Rangers in 2011.
Now 44 and a decade into retirement, Diouf is facing fresh trouble. According to The Sun, he could be handed a jail sentence after being accused of neglecting his family responsibilities. Reports claim he has failed to pay £14,000 in child support owed to his ex-wife, Valerie Bishop, following their 2023 divorce. He allegedly missed a court hearing in Dakar, Senegal on Tuesday, despite a court order requiring him to pay £670 per month in child maintenance, alongside covering school and medical expenses.
In Senegal, failure to pay maintenance is a criminal offence that can lead to imprisonment. Valerie’s lawyer, Mame Adama Gueye, stated: “El Hadji Diouf is fully solvent. He has the means to pay but refuses to do so. He lives comfortably, splitting his time between Dakar and Saly Portudal.”
Diouf has been summoned to appear again at the High Court on December 5.
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