Liverpool ended their 30-year wait for the title in 2020, but Nicolas Anelka could have clinched it 17 years earlier had he stayed at Anfield, says Danny Murphy.

The French striker arrived on Merseyside on loan in January 2002 having previously spent just over two years with Arsenal as a fresh-faced teenager.

2



Anelka made a real impression during his time at LiverpoolCredit: Getty Images - Getty

Having left for Real Madrid and then Paris Saint-Germain, Anelka had a point to prove when signed by Gerard Houllier, but it didn't take long for him to make an impression on former Liverpool midfielder Murphy and his teammates.

Premier League LIVE: Arsenal start pursuit of title with comfortable win, Arne Slot’s Liverpool reign starts with 2-0 victory, Nottingham Forest’s Danilo suffers horrible injury	Premier League LIVE: Arne Slot starts Liverpool era with comfortable win, Nottingham Forest ace Danilo taken to hospital after brutal injury, Arsenal, Newcastle Brighton and Aston Villa win	Why Liverpool are selling Bobby Clark after breakthrough season

Speaking on talkSPORT's The Shortlist, Murphy said: "I didn’t really appreciate Nicolas Anelka until he came to Liverpool and spent half a season on loan.

"I know he went off to Spain early and maybe people remember that brief time at Arsenal but this guy was super-chilled, not a problem.

He came with this reputation of being difficult – no.

He trained well, never moaned if he was on the bench because we had loads of players at the time – a great lad."

READ MORE ON LIVERPOOL

While being a pleasure to play with, Anelka was a nightmare to defend against due to his pace and power as he played off the shoulder of defenders to cause plenty of issues.

It was that explosive speed that Murphy says made him stand out from the crown.

Murphy said: "His footwork and a thing that I’ve never seen anybody do that he did was go from zero to 60 so quickly – he’d stop people and then go.

“He wasn’t a bad finisher, but scored so often because he’d get in positions because of his skill.

Alvarez completes transfer with lengthy goodbye as Man City bank six times what they paid

Souness unimpressed with 'lightweight' De Ligt in damning verdict on Man United transfer

Wolves director makes startling admission about Pedro Neto's emotional transfer to Chelsea

Joao Felix signs and Victor Osimhen follows - Chelsea new-look line-up under Enzo Maresca

“One thing I remember about Nico was that it didn’t matter how much rain there was, or how slippery the pitch was, he always wore molds and I never saw him slip over.

I don’t know how he did it!”

While making just 22 appearances for Liverpool, Anelka went on to 125 goals in 364 games in the Premier League.

That included two titles won with Arsenal in 1998 and Chelsea in 2010, along with three FA Cups and two Community Shields.

2

Murphy believes that Liverpool would have won the league if they signed Anelka permanentlyCredit: Getty

Away from England, Anelka also won the Champions League with Real Madrid in 200, Serie A with Juventus and the Turkish Super Lig with Fenerbahce in 2005.

He also won the European Championship and the Confederations Cup with France in 2000 and 2001.

Despite those achievements in England and abroad, the Frenchman fails to be recognised as one of the top strikers in Premier League history.

Title winners?

talkSPORT pundits give their Premier League predictions ahead of the 2024/25 season

Asked if Anelka is underrated, Murphy said: “I think because of his time here because he left Arsenal quite early and then he was away for quite a while then came back and had a spell with us and then Chelsea.

“Most of the great strikers have a time when you see them season in, season out, but because his was a bit stop-start, maybe that’s why.

“He was one of the most gifted though, it was all easy for him.

“He wasn’t technically brilliant but gifted in terms of taking the ball, beating people – it was just the finishing I’d say.

He snatched at things a little bit and tried to hammer things.

Nicolas Anelka trophy haul

League titles: 4

Domestic Cups: 4

Champions Leagues: 1

Other European Cups: 1

European Championships: 1

FIFA Confederations Cup: 1

Premier League Golden Boot: 1 (2008/09)

“But in terms of grace and going past people, players were terrified of him.

“He had a game at Anfield against Newcastle and he absolutely ran the game and tore them apart – I can’t remember who he was against but they wouldn’t want to watch it back!

“You know when people are coming off the pitch, it was the first time that people like MO (Michael Owen) Stevie (Gerrard) were going ‘oh my god’.

Read More on talkSPORT

“Then for some reason, Gerard Houllier didn’t sign him permanently at the end of his loan, he signed El Hadji Diouf instead.

“I think if we’d have signed Anelka that summer we could have won the league the next year.”


For more news relating to Chelsea, visit our sister site Chelsea Latest Live.