Ex-Red Aldridge Slams Diouf

Last updated : 19 February 2005 By Mark Heys
Former Liverpool striker John Aldridge has launched a scathing attack on Bolton loanee El-Hadji Diouf by claiming that the African hotshot played a huge part in Gerard Houllier's exit from the Anfield hot-seat last year.

Aldridge, who played for the Reds between 1987 and 1989, says that Diouf had enough time to make an impact on Merseyside following a £10 million move from Lens in the summer of 2002 but did not impress sufficiently.

"I think he contributed [to Houllier's downfall], Diouf was the biggest buy at the time and there was so much expectation, but he didn't impress at all.

The one time Republic of Ireland international also felt that the spitting incident in the European game against Celtic two years ago was the last straw in the 23-year old's spell with the Reds.

"The Liverpool fans gave him the benefit of the doubt for a lot longer than they should have, but when he spat at the Celtic fans that was a real kick in the balls because there's such a strong bond between Liverpool and Celtic. Liverpool fans were appalled and that was the end of Diouf."