El Hadji Diouf has been charged with assault for allegedly spitting at a Celtic supporter during Liverpool's UEFA Cup quarter-final at Parkhead in March. The news will overshadow the Reds' preparations for tomorrow's crucial Premiership clash with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
The Senegalese striker was excused attending court yesterday but has been told he is facing prosecution in Scotland, accused of spitting at Celtic fan Dominic Schiavone, and will appear at Glasgow Sheriff Court on May 30th. No plea was made before Sheriff Craig Henry yesterday.
Diouf, a £10 million summer signing from Lens, was fined two weeks' wages by his club - about £60,000 - and £2,300 plus a two-match ban by a UEFA disciplinary panel, which decided he had been incited by supporters after tumbling into the crowd near the end of the 1-1 draw at Celtic Park.
The 22-year-old was immediately substituted by his manager, Gerard Houllier, and later apologised to Mr Schiavone.
However, Strathclyde police launched an investigation into the incident, which led to two home fans being arrested - they were later released without charge - after they tried to climb over the advertising hoardings to confront the African footballer of the year.
Chelsea's head coach, Claudio Ranieri, insisted that all the pressure was on Liverpool to claim fourth place tomorrow because of their heavy spending. "They must go in the Champions League," he said. "We want to go in the Champions League." The losers will play in the UEFA Cup next season.
Whereas Chelsea paid out nothing last summer, bringing in Quique de Lucas on a free, Houllier spent £19 million on three players, including Diouf, and has recouped less than a third of that. Ranieri claimed his team were David to Liverpool's Goliath.
"A lot of teams have spent more money than Chelsea and \ we are fighting to go in the Champions League," he said. "Liverpool spent a lot of money. I think the problem is not for Chelsea but for Liverpool. We are like David and Goliath."
The Italian said it would be a "good" season if Chelsea finished fifth and a "great" season if they went one better.
"I prefer the great season," he added. "I'm very tired of seeing the Champions League \ on television." A draw will suffice for Chelsea and Ranieri hinted he would invite Liverpool to attack. "They aren't used to attacking," he said. "They like to wait and go on the counter-attack."
Whereas Champions League competitors enjoy the first instalment of the £249 million, three-year deal struck by UEFA with Sky and ITV, teams in the UEFA Cup must negotiate their own television contracts. Liverpool's UEFA Cup success two years ago earned them a relatively paltry £14.5 million; passage to the quarter-finals of the Champions League last term secured over £19 million.
Chelsea central defender John Terry's thigh strain will keep him out of tomorrow's game, but coach Ranieri has no other injury worries. Gerard Houllier has a major doubt over German midfielder Dietmar Hamann, who is suffering from a shin injury.