Former Arsenal striker Ian Wright has credited Robbie Fowler’s Liverpool replacement with having more raw talent than Thierry Henry in a shock claim.
Fowler began his first spell on Merseyside back in 1993, signing his first professional contract with the club in his 17th birthday.
Despite moving on to play for Manchester City and Leeds United after his initial 8-years at the Reds, Fowler made a return to Anfield in January of 2006, signing on a free transfer.
He scored 183 goals in all competitions across both of his spells at the club, establishing himself as a fan-favourite amongst the Liverpool faithful.
After he departed the club in 2001, Liverpool opted to bring in France international Nicolas Anelka on a short-term loan deal to fill the void that Fowler left. Anelka scored 4 goals for the club during his time on Merseyside, although he failed to secure a permanent move at the conclusion of the season.
In footage shared on YouTube, ex-Arsenal star Ian Wright recalled witnessing Anelka for the first time as he claims the Frenchman had more talent than teammate Thierry Henry.
“When Anelka came and I saw him in the first session, I just started to pack up the boots. I’ve never seen anything like it, no-one that quick.
Speak to Thierry, he said that when they were in Clairefontaine [France’s national training centre], he was the one that were all saying ‘oh, my god’ because he is amazing. When he came in at 17, you saw that.
Anelka [had more talent]. Thierry would probably say that himself. If we’re talking about raw at that age, once I saw Anelka I knew it was over.”
After his time at Liverpool came to an end, Anelka would go on to play for the likes of Chelsea and Manchester City in the years that followed, scoring over 200 club goals before retiring from the sport.
