Anelka's Liverpool wish

Anelka spent five months on loan at Liverpool

Manchester City's new signing Nicolas Anelka has said that he would rather still be a Liverpool player.

The striker was on loan at Liverpool from Paris St Germain last season, but Houllier opted against offering Anelka a permanent deal.

I really wanted to stay at Liverpool

Nicolas Anelka

Premiership new boys City then signed the 23-year-old for £13m as Kevin Keegan assembles a squad ready for the forthcoming Premiership season.

"Why didn't I stay at Liverpool after having achieved what I wanted to do - to play, score and relaunch may career?" Anelka said in the Mirror newspaper.

Man City striker's new deal

"I cannot answer that. It is better to put the question to Gerard Houllier because I really wanted to stay.

"I did well, they played the game I was looking for and the atmosphere was good. For me there was no question, but obviously that did not suit Mr Houllier."

Keegan contacted Anelka through City midfielder Ali Benarbia while Liverpool were still in the process of deciding whether to keep the striker permanently.

And after Liverpool decided not to sign Anelka, Keegan moved quickly to ensure the Frenchman will be playing in the Premiership next season.

But the Liverpool saga has led Anelka with a bitter aftertaste.

"It all came together at City when Houllier did the opposite of what he had said. From the moment they did not want me I moved on to something else," added Anelka.

City is Anelka's third Premiership club after spells at Arsenal and Liverpool.