Anelka: I'd have been great with Torres at Anfield

Nicolas Anelka has claimed he would still be at Liverpool today if they had signed him seven years ago.

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Chelsea's new £15million striker could be a pivotal figure in the race for trophies among the Premier League's top four, but he wanted to stay at Anfield after a loan spell there in 2001.

He was never offered the chance, though, and moved to three clubs in search of the big time before arriving back in it at Stamford Bridge from Bolton last week.

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Anelka would have made a fearsome partner for Fernando Torres at Liverpool and insists he would have been an even more formidable striker if he had stayed.

Instead the Frenchman will form a frightening pair with Didier Drogba when he returns from international duty and has told the unsettled Ivorian it would be a big mistake for him to leave Chelsea.

Anelka said: "If Liverpool had wanted me to sign I would have and I think I would still be there today.

"If I had stayed at a big club I'd have been a better player than I am now.

"When Didier comes back I will speak with him because he doesn't know about leaving England.

"I did it [leaving Arsenal for Real Madrid in 1999] and I know. The Premier League is the best. I will tell him to stay because he won't find what he has at Chelsea somewhere else."

Drogba's absence preparing for the African Nations' Cup means Anelka, 28, will face Birmingham tomorrow in a side which could have Frank Lampard back from a thigh injury.