Former Chelsea captain admits he used to tap the ‘This Is Anfield’ sign before playing Liverpool

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Liverpool have benefitted from players being desperate to join them from some of their Premier League rivals this summer.

Milos Kerkez clearly wanted only the Reds when he left Bournemouth, while Alexander Isak destroyed his relationship with Newcastle to make it to Anfield.

Even before they were champions of England, though, Liverpool was always a place where rival players were desperate to be.

There is something undeniably unique about the club. There are none like it in the Premier League, and perhaps even the rest of Europe.

The mystique of Anfield is at the heart of that, with countless legendary players bowled over by the history and mythology of the stadium.

World Cup winner Marcel Desailly is one of those who counts himself as a big fan of Anfield, and the former Chelsea captain has now admitted that he even used to touch the fabled ‘This Is Anfield’ sign when playing against Liverpool.

Marcel Desailly always felt ‘happy’ to visit Anfield

Having spent his career in France and Italy, Desailly was already nearly 30 by the time he rocked up at Chelsea in 1998.

Nevertheless, the centre-back went on to spend six years at Stamford Bridge, captaining the side between 2001 and 2004.

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But despite his allegiances to Chelsea, Desailly told beIN SPORTS this week that he always felt ‘happy’ when he got the chance to play at Anfield, as well as St James’ Park.

“St James’ Park was, wow, just amazing. I love it,” he began. “Liverpool, when you play at Liverpool you are happy. You’ll Never Walk Alone, you even want to sing when you are the opponent!”

“When you come down the stairs you want to touch the logo of Liverpool. Captain of Chelsea, I’m touching the logo of Liverpool because I’m happy to be there, it’s football. Anfield is just smelling football happiness.

“But St James’ Park, ooh you are scared. [You are thinking] ooh, tonight is not going to be an easy night.”

Desailly would have been great for Liverpool

With Desailly clearly a big lover of Liverpool, it is a shame the Reds were not in for him when he left AC Milan for Chelsea in 1998.

The defender had just won the World Cup with France and would go on to become one of the best centre-backs in the Premier League.

Liverpool could have perhaps done with a centre-back at the time. They signed all three of Stephane Henchoz, Rigobert Song and Sami Hyypia in 1999. Desailly could have given the ranks an early boost.

Chelsea were yet to see the riches of Roman Abramovich, and they were competing at a similar level to Liverpool at the time. Yet they stole a march to claim Desailly.