'I didn't want to leave Liverpool but manager had already bought my replacement'

Liverpool face Marseille in the Champions League on Wednesday, and one former Anfield favourite who starred for both clubs explained how he never wanted to leave Anfield

Djibril Cisse might find himself in two minds about who to cheer for when Liverpool head to Marseille on Wednesday night. The Merseysiders are back in Champions League action on the French Riviera, with a shot at securing a place in Europe's elite eight and bagging an automatic qualification spot.

Over the years, several players have worn the shirts of both Liverpool and Marseille. Names like Mario Balotelli, Fernando Morientes and Alou Diarra spring to mind, but Cisse is arguably the most celebrated footballer to have represented both sides.

The 44-year-old hails from Arles, just an hour's drive north-west of Marseille, and grew up supporting Les Olympiens. Many would assume he'd have jumped at the chance to swap Anfield for the Velodrome in 2006, but Cisse's feelings were quite different.

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After playing a crucial part in Liverpool's stunning 2005 Champions League victory against AC Milan, he was keen to stay in Rafa Benitez's plans. However, he ended up joining Marseille in 2006 on loan, despite suffering his second broken leg in two years, before making the switch permanent a year later when Fernando Torres arrived.

Speaking to FourFourTwo in 2020, he reflected: "I signed for Liverpool in 2003, before playing one last season at Auxerre. Then I got badly injured, so I was impatient to make things happen at Anfield. It was a very long wait. I had to acclimatise and get to know people.

"I scored at Tottenham in my first league game under Rafa, but things slowed down for me and it was tough. I had a five-year contract and wanted to see it out, but Rafa had different ideas and eventually signed Torres. That's football, although I wish I'd been given a bit more time."

Cisse, who later moved into coaching roles at Marseille and Auxerre, netted 24 times in 79 matches during his two campaigns at Liverpool, with 21 of those coming in his second term following his recovery from a devastating leg fracture. Though his spell on Merseyside proved brief, the Frenchman had already established roots in the city, which made his departure far from straightforward.

"There were mixed feelings," he added. "I grew up a big Marseille fan, so of course I was excited to join them, but I didn't want to leave Liverpool.

"By now I had a family, and my kids were settled. As I said, I had waited a long time to make it there. You can't stand still, though. I was a goalscorer, I was a No. 9, and they can't sit on the bench; they have to play."

Though initially met with scepticism in Marseille, the transfer ultimately proved successful as he bagged a far superior tally of 37 goals across 80 appearances for the French heavyweights. Cisse would later make his way back to the Premier League on a season-long loan at Sunderland, before enjoying a two-year stint at QPR.

Arne Slot could benefit from a clinical striker in France after a 1-1 draw at home to Burnley on Saturday. Hugo Ekitike played the full 90 minutes up front but was unable to score, with Alexander Isak absent due to his own leg fracture recovery.

There are questions as to whether Mohamed Salah will play against Marseille given his recent return from the Africa Cup of Nations. His Egypt team finished fourth, behind Nigeria in third place on Saturday, and Wednesday's game may be too soon to anticipate a comeback.