Momo Sissoko pictured on RMC Sport 1 TV show

Liverpool midfielder was moved to tears by TV clip after career almost ended

Mohamed Sissoko was loved during his brief time at Liverpool

22 Jan 2024, 16:02 by Liv Heslington · Liverpool Echo

Liverpool midfielder was moved to tears by TV clip after career almost ended by horror injury at 21

Bookmark

Mohamed Sissoko remains a popular player at Anfield, 15 years on from his Liverpool departure.

And while he may only have the one goal to his name during his time at Liverpool, it was certainly a memorable one.

Indeed, it was in the final of three seasons with the Reds when he opened his account with a super strike at Sunderland in August.

The much-maligned striker Andriy Voronin fed Sissoko outside the box, with the Malian midfielder running onto the ball and hitting a low strike with such power it found the back of the net from 20 yards.

It was a strike that cemented his place in history as Liverpool's 7000thleague goal.

Sissoko joined from Valencia for £5.6million in the months after Istanbul, emerging as a clear fan favourite during the short but sweet stint playing alongside Anfield greats such as Steven Gerrard, Xabi Alonso and Javier Mascherano.

After winning three major trophies during his time in Merseyside, fans have always showed their admiration and support of a true Anfield ‘cult hero’.

One fan said: “One of our cult heroes at Liverpool. It’s just that he was a consistent player, the fans absolutely loved him. He played with his heart on his sleeve.”

Another supporter added: “Everybody loves him, and I think he endeared himself to the fans very much and his passion was great on the field.”

A tall midfielder, whose ability to break up opposition attacks and physical presence added much-needed steel to Liverpool's midfield, Sissoko found himself compared to Patrick Vieira because of his hard-hitting challenges. His first season saw him establish a midfield trio with Gerrard and Alonso that took the Reds up to third in the Premier League table and to an FA Cup victory over West Ham.

However the 39-year-old nearly had a quick ending to his career after a terrible eye injury he suffered during his maiden season at Anfield. He was just 21 years old at the time. A Champions League defeat by Benfica saw him suffer a kick to his head in the 60th minute causing dangerous retina damage.

With his eyesight being immediately affected, concerns were raised over whether he could continue his playing career.

“The doctor said to me, ‘I think football is finished for you’. I was in shock. I was only 21 and I was playing for Liverpool, I just felt so sad," he said.

“It was so painful; I couldn’t see anything out of that eye. It was scary. At that moment I entered depression.”

Fortunately, Sissoko defeated the odds, regained eyesight, and returned to the pitch just over a month later in an action packed 7-0 victory over Birmingham City in the FA Cup, going on to help the Reds win the trophy against West Ham United.

The Malian improved during his time at the club, while also putting his body on the line and wearing his heart on his sleeve whenever he put on the Liverpool shirt. However the arrival of Javier Mascherano pushed him down the pecking order and Sissoko found himself on the move.

The midfielder left Liverpool in 2008 after reuniting with former manager Claudio Ranieri at Juventus. He went on to make 310 appearances in his playing career and announced his retirement in 2020, before being moved to tears by messages from Liverpool fans during a segment on French TV.

He’s always been clear that he’d love to make a return to Anfield after telling the club website: “Thanks for all the love, thanks for everything. I’m very proud to be part of the Liverpool family.

“What they give me every day on social media is amazing. To be honest, for a football player, it’s a very special thing. I’m very happy for all the love of the Liverpool supporters.”

Story Saved
You can find this story in My Bookmarks.Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right.