10 Who Did Nothing At Liverpool But Excelled For Their Country

4. El Hadji Diouf

Considering his club career has taken him to Bolton, Sunderland and Doncaster Rovers, there must surely have been external influences to land the Senegalese centre-forward in Pele€™s compiled list of the 125 greatest living footballers. The man has spent his career spitting on fans, being called a €˜sewer rat€™, and generally incurring the wrath of managers and supporters alike for his petulant and arrogant demeanour. There was no rhyme or reason for Pele€™s nonsensical decision to include him in such a list - only for his performances on the international stage. The man has earned 69 caps for his nation and scored 21 times. He rose to fame during the 2002 World Cup, and was even included in the World Cup All-Star team for a series of fine displays as the Africans reached the quarter-finals. He was also part of the side who finished runners-up to Cameroon in the African Cup of Nations that same year. Of course, while the contrast between Diouf€™s club and international career might be Jekyll and Hyde-esque, you can€™t keep a nasty streak away for too long, as shown by Diouf€™s suspension from international football for four matches in 2004 for a verbal assault on a referee, and a further suspension of five years after the volatile forward reacted angrily to a claim that he hadn€™t attended a disciplinary hearing. The ban was later removed, but the two-time African Footballer of the Year was omitted from future squads. Still, considering he scored a sum total of three goals in two seasons at Anfield, incurred a suspension for spitting on a fan at Celtic Park, and was later derided by Steven Gerrard for being €˜just interested in himself€™, his time in the Senegalese colours were like night and day.