Crystal
Palace 1 - 6 Liverpool
| Saturday 20 August 1994 15:00 FA
Carling Premier League |
| |
 |
 |
| Crystal Palace |
Liverpool |
| 1 - 6 (0-3) |
| |
| GOAL |
| Armstrong 49 |
Molby 12 p, McManaman 14, 70, Fowler
45, Rush 60, 73 |
| |
 |
1 Nigel Martin
6 Chris Colman
4 Gary Southgate
3 Dean Gordon
5 Eric Young
16 Darren Pitcher
7 Simon Rodger
8 Ray Wilkins
9 Chris Armstrong
11 John Salaco
18 Andy Preece
Subs:
10 Bruce Dyer
15 Bobby Bowry |
 |
1 David James
4 Steve Nicol
25 Neil Ruddock
20 Stig Inge Bjornebye
2 Rob Jones
17 Steve McManaman
14 Jan Molby
15 Jamie Redknapp
10 John Barnes
23 Robbie Fowler
9 Ian Rush (c)
Subs:
13 Michael Stensgaard
22 Steve Harkness
16 Michael Thomas |
| |
| SUBSTITUTIONS |
Preece (Dyer 23)
Wilkins (Bowry 81) |
Molby (Thomas 87) |
| |
| OFFICIALS & BOOKINGS |
| Referee: Robbie Hart |
| Booked: Wilkins,
Armstrong |
Booked: McManaman |
| VENUE |
MANAGERS |
Selhurst Park (capacity 29,215)
Attendance: 18,084 |
Alan Smith (Crystal P)
Roy Evans (Liverpool) |
 Price: J2,00
Notes:
- Bobby Bowry sub in second half.
|
|
Reds
storm Palace
Six-hitters Liverpool ruthlessly punished suicidal defending by a shell_shocked
Crystal Palace side slaughtered on their Premiership return.
Alan Smith's first division champions will clearly face a struggle to establish
themselves in the top flight if they continue to produce horror shows like this.
As Liverpool's goals flew in, Palace fans feared a repeat of the club's worst
nightmare - the nine-goal defeat by Liverpool at Anfield five years ago.
It was a desperate day for Palace's three summer signings.
Former Stockport County striker Andy Preece was taken to hospital with back trouble
after 24 minutes. Former England captain Ray Wilkins was booked and limped off eight
minutes early and uncertain Darren Pitcher, signed from Charlton, presented Liverpool with
their crucial third goal.
The goals timetable went like this :
Twelve minutes : Jan Molby, back in the first team for the first time since last
December, fired Liverpool ahead from the penalty spot after Simon Rodger bundled over Rob
Jones.
Fourteen minutes : Steve McManaman grabbed the second from the edge of the
Liverpool penalty area to beat Nigel Martyn.
Forty-four minutes : Robbie Fowler side-footed the third after Pitcher miskicked
into his path.
Forty-nine minutes : Chris Armstrong headed Palace briefly back into the game by
connecting with a Dean Gordon cross.
Sixty minutes : Ian Rush headed in a Stig Bjornebye cross with the Palace defence
absent.
Seventy minutes : McManaman tapped in his second and Liverpool's fifth from a Jamie
Redknapp pass.
Seventy-four minutes : Rush again took advantage of sloppy defending by heading the
sixth after John Barnes nodded on a Redknapp corner.
Manager Alan Smith ordered his Palace team to report on Sunday so they can watch a
horror video of themselves in action.
Unhappy Smith refused to slate his players in the dressing room afterwards but will
analyse their failings after watching the video with them.
"Our defending was horrific," snapped Smith. "The goals were going
in at will. It was a painful lesson for us and I have told the chaps to come in tomorrow
and watch a video of it. I think they must have been listening to Terry Venables talk
about his Christmas tree plan. We had the tree with all the presents on it. It wasn't
naivety - just bad play. I can't really talk my way out of it. Liverpool scored some great
goals and their goalkeeper made marvellous saves when he had to. But it was not a freak
result. We just defended so poorly. It is going to be a bloody hard season for us. This
was a rude awakening and I hope we have got it out of our system now."
Amazingly, Liverpool boss Roy Evans admitted to a tinge of disappointment over the
result.
Perfectionist Evans was unhappy that Liverpool had conceded a goal to 6 million
pound Everton target Chris Armstrong.
He said: "I'm a bit disappointed we lost a goal but obviously I'm pleased with
such a convincing scoreline on the first day - we are capable of beating teams heavily if
we keep our consistency. But we started the second half badly, allowed Palace to get back
into it and it wasn't until we started passing the ball around that I began to feel
happier."
Evans is planning to bring in at least two new players but claims he is still
waiting to hear from Coventry about his bid for Republic Of Ireland defender Phil Babb.
WILKINS REFLECTS ON LOSS
Ray Wilkins left Selhurst Park on Saturday bruised, battered but mainly bewildered
by Liverpool's treatment from the critics.
Crystal Palace's new midfield general eagerly praised a Liverpool team stung by
their dismissal as title candidates into handing out a 6-1 opening day hiding.
"Liverpool deserve all the credit they can get after a performance like
that," said Wilkins. "They scored some marvellous goals and are still a force to
be reckoned with."
But didn't Palace contribute hugely to their own downfall with suicidal defending?
"There was probably a bit of nerves and tension on our part," added
Wilkins diplomatically.
Palace's Premiership return became a nightmare instead of the celebration they had
planned.
Liverpool ruthlessly exploited a catalogue of errors to top the Premiership by
virtue of the greatest victory margin.
It was a painful debut for former England captain Wilkins. The sight of him weaving
unsteadily on crutches to his car afterwards somehow summed up Palace's torrid afternoon.
"This hasn't been the best of starts for me," he said.
Wilkins, 38 next month, struggled to fit in with a young Palace side who frequently
bypassed midfield on their way to the First Division championship last season.
Instead, it was Jan Molby, looking considerably heavier than Wilkins, who ran this
six-goal show. Delighted Liverpool boss Roy Evans said: "There is a determination
among the lads to prove people wrong."
Copyright - British Soccer Week |
Liverpool 3 - 0 Arsenal
| Sunday 28 August 1994 FA Carling
Premier League |
| |
 |
 |
| Liverpool |
"Arsenal" |
| 3 - 0 (3-0) |
| |
| GOAL |
| Fowler 26, 29, 31 |
|
| |
 |
1 David James
4 Steve Nicol
25 Neil Ruddock
20 Stig Inge Bjornebye
2 Rob Jones
17 Steve McManaman
14 Jan Molby
15 Jamie Redknapp
10 John Barnes
23 Robbie Fowler
9 Ian Rush (c)
Subs:
13 Michael Stensgaard
21 Dominic Matteo
16 Michael Thomas |
 |
1 David Seaman
6 Tony Adams
14 Martin Keown
2 Lee Dixon
3 Nigel Winterburn
17 John Jensen
15 Stefan Schwarz
10 Paul Merson
7 Kevin Campbell
9 Alan Smith
8 Ian Wright
Subs:
-
5 Andy Linighan
4 Paul Davis |
| |
| SUBSTITUTIONS |
| Molby (Thomas 57) |
Keown (Linighan or Davis
74)
Merson (Linighan or Davis 74) |
| |
| OFFICIALS & BOOKINGS |
| Referee: Alan Wilkie |
| Booked: |
Booked: Keown, Wright,
Davis |
| VENUE |
MANAGERS |
Anfield (capacity 44,000)
Attendance: 30,017 |
Roy Evans (Liverpool)
George Graham (Arsenal) |
 Price: J1,50
Notes:
- Fowler's hat-trick in only 4 minutes and 35 seconds is the fastest in Premiership
history!
|
|
Fantastic
Fowler's net profit
Robbie Fowler, who cost the price of Liverpool's best football education, put the
millionaires in the shade yesterday with the precious performance of a goal scoring
natural.
The 19-year-old scored a hat-trick in four minutes, 35 seconds -- one of the
fastest in top-flight football -- and admitted: 'I didn't really have a clue today's goals
came so quickly. I thought they were 15 minutes apart.'
While the English game decided to spend itself into a state of apoplectic frenzy,
the boy from the back streets was being taught the game at one of its finest cradles of
learning. To Liverpool yesterday went a delicious profit. Sutton and Shearer, Cole and
Colleymore have gone for fortunes. The price tags get attached to them whenever they take
the field and their performances are judged in terms of cost and investment, not their
talent.
The most refreshing aspect of Fowler's high-speed hat-trick was the sheer delight
that one of Liverpool's own should score with such relish for the club he undoubtedly
loves. He took part a defence of mean intent, occupied by four internationals of varying
quality, with scoring of the highest pedigree.
The outcome was of scorching importance, giving Liverpool the belief that this
start can really lead to something. With Coventry City's 3.75 million pound defender Phil
Babb likely to make his last appearance for the sky blues against Aston Villa tonight and
join the red campaign later this week, there is a buzz of anticipation at Anfield.
Arsenal are left to contemplate two defeats in six days -- with Blackburn to come
on Wednesday, smelling blood. The surprise was that defeat arrived so much out of the
blue, just at the time Arsenal seemed to have everything nearly packaged and parcelled.
There was nothing between them -- then suddenly the difference was astonishing. It isn't
often that Arsenal are mugged.
It wasn't all Fowler, by any means. But any move of note, any string of passes so
blissfully laced together, any positive intent, requires someone special to grace it with
a finishing touch. Fowler graced three and just could have had a few more just to put the
boot in.
The goals were lapped up by a Liverpool crowd driven to ecstasy and quite
forgetting the first sight of Anfield without a standing Kop.
Arsenal contributed considerably to their own downfall. The loss of Steve Bould to
an injury which may deprive him of an England squad place meant that Martin Keown was
moved into central defence. He was to have a game he'd rather forget. It was his mistimed
clumsy lunge on Rob Jones, who was moving with no great threat towards the touchline,
which gifted Liverpool with a free kick. The precision in Jamie Redknapp's kick was
followed by a touch from Ian Rush which granted Fowler the chance to swing a left-footed
shot past David Seaman.
The impact of that had not died when Steve McManaman, let loose to roam at his
discretion, cut a swathe through the middle and slipped the ball sideways to Fowler. He
had all of a yard to aim at but his aim was true, his left-foot shot driven in against the
foot of the far post.
The coup de grace followed almost immediately as John Barnes -- as good as his word
in these pages on Saturday -- clipped a delightful ball over the befuddled heads of the
Arsenal defence for Fowler to slip in, hold off Keown, collect a rebound from the fallen
Seaman and arrogantly clip the ball in from the byline.
The goals were over but the joy had only just begun. For this was a Liverpool
performance to blow away the cobwebs of the distressing Souness era and indicate that, in
Roy Evans, they have a manager with all the Boot Room savvy and the quiet resolve to play
the Liverpool way.
Arsenal weren't at the races. Sluggish at the back, indifferent in midfield,
lacking any bite up front, this was a ghoulish display which brought the expected
condemnation from manager George Graham. 'It was way, way below the level of performance
we expect at the club,' he said. 'We were a yard slow today'. ' We looked like a side that
had played an away game with a long journey in midweek, they looked like a side who had a
break in midweek. I thought their front was excellent, they caused us problems and we
couldn't handle them.'
You could see the pleasure brimming inside the Liverpool manager, but Evans is not
one to bow to hyperbole. 'The lad Fowler is obviously an immense talent, frightening,' he
said. 'but it's about other people as well and he's got to learn to appreciate what they
do for him. I think he's getting there.' He's getting there fast. Liverpool expects, and
one day England will too.
Copyright - The Daily Mail |
Southampton 0 - 2 Liverpool
| Wednesday 31 August 1994 19:30 FA
Carling Premier League |
| |
 |
|
| "Southampton" |
Liverpool |
| 0 - 2 (0-1) |
| |
| GOAL |
| |
Fowler 21, Barnes 78 |
| |
 |
1 Bruce
Grobbelaar
3 Francis Benali
6 Ken Monkou
14 Simon Charlton
2 Jeff Kenna
11 Paul Allen
10 Neil Maddison
4 Jim Magilton
7 Matt Le Tissier
16 Nicky Banger
12 Neil Heaney
Subs:
5 Richard Hall |
 |
1 David James
4 Steve Nicol
25 Neil Ruddock
20 Stig Inge Bjornebye
2 Rob Jones
17 Steve McManaman
14 Jan Molby
15 Jamie Redknapp
10 John Barnes
23 Robbie Fowler
9 Ian Rush (c)
Subs:
13 Michael Stensgaard
22 Steve Harkness
7 Nigel Clough |
| |
| SUBSTITUTIONS |
| Monkou (Hall 41) |
|
| |
| OFFICIALS & BOOKINGS |
| Referee: Martin Bodenham |
| Booked: Monkou, Le
Tissier |
Booked: Redknapp |
| VENUE |
MANAGERS |
The Dell (capacity 15,280)
Attendance: 15,190 |
Alan Ball (Southampton)
Roy Evans (Liverpool) |
 Price: J1,50
|
|
New-look Barnes inspires revival
England recall John Barnes was given the boo-boy treatment again as Liverpool's 100
per cent winning start to the season continued at Southampton.
But the 30-year-old, controversially reinstated in the international squad by Terry
Venables, answered them in deadly fashion with his first goal of the season 12 minutes
from time. Barnes hardly merited the full force of The Dell taunts for his part in the
build-up to Liverpool's opening goal, almost inevitably scored by Robbie Fowler, the
in-form teenager's fifth in three games. They howled for handball as Barnes used his chest
to turn a 21st minute cross into the path of full-back Stig Bjornebye. As Saints froze in
appeal, the Norwegian drove it forward and Steve McManaman flicked it on for the
19-year-old to race clear from half-way. Bruce Grobbelaar, facing the team with which he
won 13 major trophies before his summer free-transfer release, tried to close on him, but
Fowler shot through his legs.
The home fans cried "cheat" - an echo of Barnes' Wembley treatment two
seasons ago. But with England chief scout Ted Buxton in the stands he ignored it to
concentrate on his battle with Matthew Le Tissier for a starting role against the
Americans. The Southampton captain had scored five goals in the two Premiership meetings
with Liverpool last season.
But it seemed no contest in the first half as Barnes, leaner and sharper now,
revelled behind a rejuvenated Liverpool attack. He echoed the better times in his varied
past with delicate flicks and accurate passes.
But a defiant Grobbelaar and the wastefulness of players like Jamie Redknapp and
Steve McManaman, whose finishing does not match their approach work, ensured the expected
rout did not materialise.
It looked even more likely when Southampton, who had conceded five goals at
Newcastle, lost cool central defender Ken Monkou with concussion, suffered making the
brave 37th minute diving header which just went wide.
But Alan Ball reorganised superbly at half-time and a Liverpool side which had
scored nine goals in its first two games, spent much of the second half practising its
defensive skills, with Barnes increasingly anonymous and Le Tissier to the fore.
The Guernsey play-maker, booked for a foul on Bjornebye, showed plenty of
commitment - and his skill set up a chance for Nicky Banger whose shot was blocked by Neil
Ruddock. Le Tissier latched on to the loose ball to crack a vicious low shot that fully
tested goalkeeper David James.
Southampton appealed in vain for handball decisions against Steve Nicol and former
Saint Neil Ruddock in the penalty area, but again they got short change from Cornish
referee Martin Bodenham.
But just when they had forgotten him, Barnes popped up again to clinch Liverpool's
first win at The Dell since 1988. He picked the ball up on the edge of the area, drifted
wide of Benali and Charlton and switched the ball onto his right foot before placing it
wide of Grobbelaar's dive and low into the far left-hand corner.
Liverpool boss Roy Evans hailed England's rejuvenated Barnes as "like having a
brand new player. It's all down to him," said Evans. "He's the man who has put
himself back in the frame by his fitness and his hard work. We're delighted with him. He
has a different role now. He's more inhibited and has more defensive duties. But there are
times when he can break forward and he showed he can still do his stuff."
But Southampton manager Alan Ball claimed Barnes' strike was "lucky",
saying: "It was a cruel twist for us to lose 2-0. He was very fortunate in front of
goal. Its ricocheted right into his path off two of our players and he's dug it into the
ground; he's not struck it as sweetly as he wanted to. Liverpool will say it was a good
goal. I'll call it lucky."
"We didn't fire on all cylinders," said Evans. "We should have put
the game out of their reach by half-time. They then put us under the pressure and we were
delighted to see the second goal, it gave us breathing space. We didn't live up to the
first two games, but you can't expect great performances every time. And even when we were
under the cosh, I was pleased with the attitude and determination."
Copyright - British Soccer Week |
Liverpool 0 - 0 West Ham United
| Saturday 10 September 1994 FA
Carling Premier League |
| |
|
 |
| Liverpool |
West Ham United |
| 0 - 0 (0-0) |
| |
| GOAL |
| |
|
| |
 |
1 David James
20 Stig Inge Bjornebye
2 Rob Jones
25 Neil Ruddock
12 John Scales
10 John Barnes
17 Steve McManaman
14 Jan Molby
15 Jamie Redknapp
23 Robbie Fowler
22 Ian Rush (c)
Subs:
13 Michael Stensgaard
6 Phil Babb
7 Nigel Clough |
|
1 Ludek Miklosko
-
4 Steve Potts
-
-
6 Martin Allen
14 Matthew Rush
10 John Moncur
-
-
27 Tony Cottee
Subs:
- |
| |
| SUBSTITUTIONS |
| |
|
| |
| OFFICIALS & BOOKINGS |
| Referee: Paul Danson |
| Booked: |
Booked:
Sent Off: Cottee 54 |
| VENUE |
MANAGERS |
Anfield (capacity 44,000)
Attendance: 30,907 |
Roy Evans (Liverpool)
Harry Redknapp (W H U) |
 Price: J1,50
Notes:
- W H U used away kits, all blue.
- John Scales
makes his LFC debut
- Tony Cottee was sent off after 54 minutes for a lunge on Rob Jones
|
|
Cottee
dismissal mars Hammers day
Tony Cottee was sensationally sent off at Anfield in the first game since his
return to West Ham but his battling team-mates ended Liverpool's winning start to the
season after they had chances to pull off a shock victory.
Cottee, who came back to Upton Park in a swap deal that took David Burrows to
Everton, was shown the red card by referee Paul Danson nine minutes into the second-half
for a hot-headed retaliatory lunge at Liverpool's England full-back Rob Jones.
Incensed at the referee's refusal to award him a free-kick for Jones' challenge
just seconds earlier, Cottee went clattering into the defender as he tried to carry the
ball away to start another Liverpool attack.
Cottee, obviously contrite, turned to go towards Jones who was flat out in agony
but was eventually persuaded to leave the pitch by Liverpool's first team coach Ronnie
Moran and other members of the home side's bench.
With West Ham having produced an enterprising first-half performance, in which
Cottee and Martin Allen were always lively raiders, Cottee's dismissal seemed a signal at
last for Liverpool to build on three previous victories.
But although West Ham goalkeeper Ludek Miklosko twice kept out fierce long-range
blasts by Norwegian left back Stig Inge Bjornebye and was beaten by a John Barnes rocket
that came back off a post, Liverpool could not find the finish to add to the 11 goals they
had scored against Crystal Palace, Arsenal and Southampton.
Young goal ace Robbie Fowler also clipped the bar in another moment of anxiety for
the Hammers but Harry Redknapp's side had a string of opportunities to score at the other
end.
Allen and Matthew Rush were guilty of wasting close-range chances before Tim
Breacker sent a glancing header just wide from John Moncur's corner.
In the last 15 minutes, the depleted Hammers settled for deep defence as Liverpool
poured forward but they almost grabbed a breakaway winner after Jan Molby's goalbound shot
was blocked by Steve Potts.
In a lightning breakaway, Matthew Rush raced down the right and put over a low
cross which Moncur hit first time, forcing a diving save by goalkeeper David James.
In the eight minutes that remained, Liverpool threw everything at the reinforced
West Ham defence with 3.2 million pound centre back John Scales joining in the attack on
his debut. But with the other expensive signing Phil Babb left on the substitutes bench,
it finished up a day of anti-climax for the home fans in a near 31,000 crowd.
Copyright - British Soccer Week |
Manchester United 2 - 0
Liverpool
| Saturday 17 September 1994 15:00
FA Carling Premier League |
| |
 |
|
| "Manchester United" |
Liverpool |
| 2 - 0 (0-0) |
| |
| GOAL |
| Kanchelskis 71, McClair 73 |
|
| |
 |
1 Peter Schmeichel
12 David May
3 Denis Irwin
4 Steve Bruce (c)
5 Lee Sharpe
6 Gary Pallister
7 Eric Cantona
8 Paul Ince
14 Andrei Kanchelskis
10 Mark Hughes
11 Ryan Giggs
Subs:
25 Kevin Pilkington
19 Nicky Butt
9 Bryan McClair |
 |
1 David James
20 Stig Inge Bjornebye
2 Rob Jones
25 Neil Ruddock
12 John Scales
10 John Barnes
17 Steve McManaman
14 Jan Molby
15 Jamie Redknapp
23 Robbie Fowler
9 Ian Rush (c)
Subs:
13 Michael Stensgaard
6 Phil Babb
7 Nigel Clough |
| |
| SUBSTITUTIONS |
| Hughes (McClair 59) |
Molby (Babb 70) |
| |
| OFFICIALS & BOOKINGS |
| Referee: Kelvin Morton |
| Booked: |
Booked: |
| VENUE |
MANAGERS |
Old Trafford (capacity 45,351)
Attendance: 43,740 |
Alex Ferguson (Manchester U)
Roy Evans (Liverpool) |
 Price: J1,50
Notes:
- Phil Babb makes
his LFC debut
|
|
Ferguson wins the battle of the managers
Phil Babb walked into an Old Trafford nightmare on his Liverpool debut. Britain's
most expensive defender was wiped out by two Manchester United goals within two minutes of
his arrival.
Roy Evans threw on his 3.75 million pound capture to seal up a precious point
against their fiercest rivals.
Instead, the ploy blew up in his face as Andrei Kanchelskis and substitute Brian
McClair plunged the Merseysiders to their first defeat of the season.
To make the pill all the more bitter for Liverpool to swallow, they were undone by
their other 3 million pound defender John Scales, whose 73rd minute headed backpass was
hugely ambitious.
Kanchelskis always had the pace to get there ahead of goalkeeper David James and
Neil Ruddock had little hope of swinging the wing-heeled Ukranian winger's lob off the
line. Instead it ballooned into the top of the net.
Before they could regroup, McClair had traded passes with Eric Cantona on the right
side and skipped through to bury his right foot shot deep and low into the far corner.
To be fair to Evans, his decision to tighten up by replacing Jan Molby with Phil
Babb came as United flowered, Alex Ferguson's own reshuffle of McClair for Mark Hughes on
59 minutes producing their best play.
Paul Ince cracked a 20-yard volley inches wide, Ryan Giggs looped a header over the
bar from Cantona's superb chip, the Frenchman forced James full-length and then had a
header saved from a McClair centre.
Cantona had been subdued and United looked off-colour. Liverpool had dominated much
of the first half and can feel aggrieved they had nothing to show.
United have missed Paul Parker at right-back, but never as much as in this game
where his stand-in David May, rarely got close to Steve McManaman.
The England Under-21 international nagged away at the United right flank like a
sore tooth. It was only Schmeichel's reflexes which prevented the damage from becoming
more painful. His awkward save from Stig Bjornebye in the first few minutes was the first
of many which further enhanced his reputation.
He blocked from Ruddock, plucked down a Scales header, and then flew to his right
to palm away a superb 18th minute drive from McManaman. Jamie Redknapp beat him early in
the second half, but the shot cracked against the bar and he frustrated Robbie Fowler with
one last save in the 55th minute.
It was significant that United still managed to create the more clear-cut chances,
James turning aside Kanchelskis' rising shot and then dashing out to pressure Lee Sharpe
into hooking his shot over. The best showed United's ability to turn desperate defence
into awesome offence after 31 minutes, Bruce cutting out McManaman, Hughes hoisting the
clearance into the path of Kanchelskis and Cantona meeting the low cross with a scuffed
shot which still forced James full length to claw it wide.
Roy Evans admitted he blew it.
Ferguson tried to cancel out Molby's influence by tossing McClair into the action;
Evans countered by withdrawing the Dane and sending on Babb.
Evans said: "Alex's was a good move and mine was a bad one. That's the way
this game goes. Sometimes you get a pat on the back, and others you get a kick up the
backside."
Ferguson consoled his rival: "I thought he had judged it right, that's the
move I would have made!"
Copyright - British Soccer Week |
Liverpool 2 - 0 Burnley
| Wednesday 21 September 1994 19:45
League / Coca-Cola Cup 2nd Round 1st Leg |
| |
|
 |
| Liverpool |
Burnley |
| 2 - 0 (1-0) |
| |
| GOAL |
| 2Scales 42, Fowler 84 |
|
| |
|
1 David James
20 Stig Inge Bjornebye
2 Rob Jones
25 Neil Ruddock
12 John Scales
10 John Barnes
17 Steve McManaman
10 Jan Molby
15 Jamie Redknapp
23 Robbie Fowler
9 Ian Rush (c)
Subs:
13 Michael Stensgaard
6 Phil Babb
7 Nigel Clough |
|
1 Marlon Beresford
- Gary Parkinson
- Chris Vinnicombe
- Steve Davis
- Mark Winstanley
- David Eyres
- Alan Harper
- Gerry Harrison
- Adrian Heath
- Liam Robinson
- Ted McMinn
Subs:
- John Deary
- Tony Philliskirk |
| |
| SUBSTITUTIONS |
| |
Harrison (Deary ?)
Robinson (Philliskirk ?) |
| |
| OFFICIALS & BOOKINGS |
| Referee: Roger Dilkes |
| Booked: |
Booked: |
| VENUE |
MANAGERS |
Anfield (capacity 44,000)
Attendance: 23,359 |
Roy Evans (Liverpool)
Jimmy Mullen (Burnley) |
 Price: J1,50
Notes:
- Burnley used away kits, all yellow.
- John Scales scores his
first goal for LFC
|
|
Reds
in driving seat
John Scales' first half header and a strike by Robbie Fowler six minutes from time
gave Liverpool the advantage over first division Burnley.
But the visitors defended stoutly and attacked with passion, and Liverpool boss Roy
Evans will not be underestimating the task his side will face at Turf Moor.
The opening goal came after 42 finely balanced minutes, Steve McManaman's corner
finding Jamie Redknapp, whose high cross was headed powerfully home by 3 million pound
former Wimbledon centre half Scales to give him his first goal for his new club.
But their lead for the second leg looked like being a slender one until Jamie
Redknapp and Stig Inge Bjornebye combined to set Fowler up for a precise low drive that
flew just inside the post after 84 minutes.
Liverpool looked businesslike in the first half, carving out some useful chances. A
deft through ball by John Barnes to Ian Rush after seven minutes saw the Welsh
international striker sprint to the by-line before pulling the ball back for Fowler, who
was denied by a fine last ditch challenge from Steve Davis.
Jan Molby fired wide with 'keeper Marlon Beresford stranded out of his goal after
clearing from a right flank raid by Steve McManaman and Rob Jones, and Molby's next shot
was thwarted by a good save from Beresford after 19 minutes.
Scales was unlucky to see a close range snap-shot bounce off Mark Winstanley's
foot, and a slick 40th minute link-up between Molby and Rush saw Beresford go down bravely
to save at the feet of McManaman.
But Liverpool had it far from all their own with Burnley matching them for
enterprise, pace and endeavour.
The first division outfit carved out the game's first real chance after five
minutes when Gerry Harrison played a one-two with David Eyres and curled a shot a couple
of yards wide.
Ex-Everton striker Adrian Heath headed over the bar from an Eyres free kick after
17 minutes and soon after Harrison's 20-yard drive was beaten down by 'keeper David James.
On the half hour Heath flicked on Ted McMinn's right wing centre but James rescued
Liverpool with an instinctive one-handed parry.
Alan Harper almost snatched an equaliser with a low angled shot that just beat the
far post six minutes after the break, following a careless defensive clearance.
Liverpool were finding chances harder to come by after the break, falling for
Burnley's offside trap in a number of promising situations.
Copyright - British Soccer Week |
Newcastle United - Liverpool
1 - 1
| Saturday 24 September 1994 FA
Carling Premier League |
| |
 |
|
|
| "Newcastle
United" |
1 - 1 |
Liverpool |
| |
( -0) |
|
| |
| GOAL |
| |
|
Rush 70 |
| |
1 Pavel Srnicek
-
27 Philippe Albert
15 Darren Peacock
-
11 Scott Sellars
8 Peter Beardsley
7 Robert Lee
5 Ruel Fox
-
9 Andy Cole
Subs:
-
- |
|
1 David James
20 Stig Inge Bjornebye
2 Rob Jones
25 Neil Ruddock
12 John Scales
6 Phil Babb
17 Steve McManaman
14 Jan Molby
10 John Barnes
23 Robbie Fowler
9 Ian Rush (c)
Subs:
13 Michael Stensgaard
7 Nigel Clough
15 Jamie Redknapp |
| |
| SUBSTITUTIONS |
| |
|
Rush (Clough 88) |
| |
| OFFICIALS & BOOKINGS |
| Referee: Philip Don |
Booked:
Sent Off: Albert 82 |
|
Booked: |
| VENUE |
|
MANAGERS |
St James' Park (capacity 34,390)
Attendance: 34,435 |
|
Kevin Keegan
(Newcastle U)
Roy Evans (Liverpool) |
Notes:
- Philippe Albert was sent off in the 82nd minute for getting his second
yellow after a challenge on Ruddock. |
|
Reds
hold pacemakers to a draw
A dreadful error by keeper Pavel Srnicek cost 10-man Newcastle their 100 per cent
Premiership record.
Robert Lee looked to have made it seven wins out of seven with a sensational strike
five minutes into the second period after the Anfield side had dominated the opening 45
minutes. But Srnicek then let Ian Rush's speculative 30-yarder slip through his hands and
over the line.
And things got even worse for the St James' Park side when Belgian international
Philippe Albert, cautioned early on, was dismissed eight minutes from time for his second
bookable offence.
Anything less than a point would have been unfair on Liverpool, who dispelled
pre-game expectations that Phil Babb would be asked to do a man-marking job on Peter
Beardsley when the 3.6 million pound man lined up as one of three centre-backs.
With Rob Jones and Stig Bjornebye pushing up, Liverpool made a composed start. Neil
Ruddock headed at Srnicek and then Steve McManaman, found in space by Rush, clipped an
angled effort which flicked off the bar.
Newcastle were struggling to make any inroads against the Anfield defence and their
cause was not helped when Barry Venison was forced off after aggravating his hamstring
problem, to be replaced by Steve Howey.
In the 29th minute, the home side finally put together the sort of move that had
earned them eight wins in a row.
Good interplay ended with Andy Cole feeding Scott Sellars, whose floated effort
left James for dead only to hit the top of the bar.
But Liverpool, ever dangerous on the break, then went close twice more, with
McManaman the man on the end of both chances. Freed by John Barnes, he should have done
better tan allow Srnicek to parry but he was closer in the 33rd minute. Rush's dummy
opened the way for McManaman to advance to the edge of the box and when his shot slipped
through Srnicek's aims it seemed on course to loop into the net before the post
intervened.
They might have been fortunate to still be on terms, but Newcastle began the second
period looking more like their familiar selves.
Jones and Scales made vital interceptions to halt Cole's progress but the opener
came from Lee, the Magpies' most prolific source this season, in the 50th minute.
Beardsley and Ruel Fox were involved before Lee took up the ball and entered the
box. There seemed little danger but Lee spotted a gap at James' top left corner and
hammered the ball into it to claim his ninth of the season.
Liverpool refused to give up, Scales blocked by a desperate Darren Peacock and
Srnicek denying Rush with his fingertips.
But 20 minutes from time, the Czech was a forlorn figure. Rush, found by Barnes,
tried a hopeful shot from 30 yards and although Srnicek had the ball covered, he again let
it through his arms.
Once more it hit the woodwork, but this time the underside of the bar and the ball
dropped softly over the line.
With time running out, Albert, booked for an early foul on McManaman, kicked out at
Ruddock, and after treatment he rose to find referee Phil Don brandishing yellow and red
cards.
Even when there was time for both sides to come near to taking the points, Robbie
Fowler shooting at Srnicek and James just holding onto Lee's effort.
Newcastle manager Kevin Keegan said his side's draw with Liverpool had been "a
great advert for the Premiership".
Keegan admitted a sense of disappointment at the loss of his side's 100 per cent
start to the season after an error by keeper Pavel Srnicek allowed Ian Rush to cancel out
Robert Lee's opener.
But the St James' Park manager was clearly not distraught. "It was a very good
game and if we're going to lose our record I'd have wanted it to be against a team that
plays football the right way," said Keegan.
"Liverpool have been rejuvenated under Roy Evans and I thought a draw was a
fair result. They played very well but we had chances as well."
Keegan would not be drawn on the 82nd minute dismissal of Belgian international
Philippe Albert for a second bookable foul. "It's not a matter of what I think,"
he added.
But he was sympathetic towards Srnicek. "If a keeper makes a mistake everyone
remembers it, even if he's had a good game before that," said Keegan.
"It had shades of the goal David Seaman let in against Leeds a few weeks ago
but it's a difficult position."
Liverpool boss Roy Evans was rightly pleased with his team's determined display.
"When we lost the goal I have to admit I was feeling it was a little bit of deja vu
after Manchester United," he said.
"But the biggest credit I can pay to the players was that they rolled their
sleeves up and dug deeper. We certainly deserved something and I'm not too sure we didn't
deserve all three points - although maybe I'm biased."
Copyright - British Soccer Week |
Liverpool - Sheffield
Wednesday 4 - 1
| Saturday 22 October 1994 FA
Carling Premier League |
| |
|
|
 |
| Liverpool |
4 - 1 |
"Sheffield
W" |
| |
(0-0) |
|
| |
| GOAL |
| Rush 51, McManaman 54, 86, Walker 66
og |
|
|
| |
Team: 1. David
James, 20. Stig Inge Bjornebye, 2. Rob Jones, 4. Steve Nicol, 25. Neil Ruddock, 6. Phil
Babb, 10. John Barnes, 17. Steve McManaman 14. Jan Molby, 9. Ian Rush (c), 23. Robbie
Fowler.
Subs: 13.
Michael Stensgaard, 7. Nigel Clough, 15. Jamie Redknapp. |
|
Team: 13. Kevin
Pressman, 17. Des Walker,
Subs: |
| |
| SUBSTITUTIONS |
| Fowler (Redknapp 76) |
|
|
| |
| OFFICIALS & BOOKINGS |
| Referee: Gary Willard |
| Booked: |
|
Booked: |
| VENUE |
|
MANAGERS |
Anfield (capacity 44,000)
Attendance: 31,493 |
|
Roy Evans (Liverpool)
Trevor Francis (Sheffield W) |
 Price: J1,50
|
|
Mac's
the man
Steve McManaman ended a two-year goal drought at Anfield with a hat-trick as
Liverpool fought back from a half-time deficit to beat Sheffield Wednesday.
McManaman started his romp in exhilarating fashion after 54 minutes, swaying in to
the centre from the left flank on a superb, teasing run before unleashing a magnificent
that left 'keeper Kevin Pressman helpless.
Twelve minutes later McManaman's luck was in, when his shot took a cruel deflection
off defender Des Walker to loop high over the unfortunate 'keeper and into the net.
[originally it was given to Macca but later changed into an own goal by Des Walker].
And after 86 minutes, Ian Rush slipped the ball out to Phil Babb on the left and he
pulled the ball back low for the advancing McManaman to sweep home.
Sheffield Wednesday's Ian Nolan had rifled his side into the lead after 33 minutes
when he cropped up unmarked on the left to smash in an angled drive after Mark Bright's
header fell invitingly to him.
Neil Ruddock tried desperately to clear off the line but could only help the ball
home.
But Rush slotted home Liverpool's equaliser after 51 minutes after Pressman could
only parry Stig Inge Bjornebye's shot into his path.
Rush had almost given Liverpool the lead after 26 minutes, exchanging passes with
McManaman before seeing his fierce shot well parried by Pressman. The Welsh striker
collected the rebound but this time the agile 'keeper dived to hold on to his accurate low
drive.
Pressman performed more heroics at the start of the second half, after McManaman's
cross found Rob Jones whose chip was headed off the line. The 'keeper blocked Bjornebye's
shot and recovered to save McManaman's follow-up effort before Molby's shot was finally
deflected for a corner.
Liverpool goalkeeper David James did well to tip a dipping long range effort over
his bar from Graham Hyde in the first half, but should have been given no chance as Bright
squandered three fine scoring opportunities.
John Sheridan was the other culprit, as the visitors wasted opportunities that
could have made the scoreline much more respectable for them.
McManaman cheerfully confirmed that he was claiming his hat-trick.
There was some controversy about the second of the midfielder's three goals, which
took a cruel deflection off Des Walker. Wednesday boss Trevor Francis expressed the view
that it was an own goal.
But McManaman said: "I'm claiming the hat trick without a doubt - you've got
to! It's not often that I get the goals."
Of his spectacular first effort he said: "I just kept on running, saw the gap
and hit it. At the end I offered the ball to the linesman but the referee came up to me
and gave me the ball."
Liverpool boss Roy Evans said: "McManaman has been outstanding in many ways
this season. He is creating that amount of chances in each game and it was nice to see him
putting them away. He was very positive today, in the second half especially. I'll credit
him with all three goals."
But despite the scoreline Evans had some reservations about the performance and the
amount of chances Wednesday were able to create. "I've got to praise my own players
for their effort but to be fair to Sheffield Wednesday I don't think the 4-1 scoreline did
them any favours. It was closer than that."
It was a view endorsed by Francis who said: "Today we had as much possession
as them. We had 11 shots at goal in the first half and only two were on target. That tells
us our approach work is good but our finishing isn't good enough. Goals determine the
outcome of games. We were 1-0 at half-time and in the second half we had five excellent
chances - Mark Bright had a hat-trick of chances. If you don't take those you are going to
get problems - 4-1 looks like a hammering but I have to say I thought we played well. The
players know we've got to score a far greater ratio of goals than we are doing."
Copyright - British Soccer Week |
Burnley 1 - 4 Liverpool
Liverpool 3 - 2 Aston Villa
| Saturday 8 October 1994 FA
Carling Premier League |
| |
|
 |
| Liverpool |
Aston Villa |
| 3 - 2 (2-1) |
| |
| GOAL |
| Ruddock 20, Fowler 26, 57 |
Staunton,
Whittingham |
| |
|
1 David James
20 Stig Inge Bjornebye
2 Rob Jones
25 Neil Ruddock
12 John Scales
6 Phil Babb
17 Steve McManaman
14 Jan Molby
10 John Barnes
23 Robbie Fowler
22 Ian Rush (c)
Subs:
13 Michael Stensgaard
7 Nigel Clough
15 Jamie Redknapp |
 |
13 Mark Bosnich
16 Ugo Ehiogu
3 Steve Staunton
-
-
-
4 Garry Parker
11 Andy Townsend
9 Dean Saunders
18 Dwight Yorke
22 Guy Whittingham
Subs:
- |
| |
| SUBSTITUTIONS |
| Rush (Redknapp 79) |
|
| |
| OFFICIALS & BOOKINGS |
| Referee: Keith Burge |
| Booked: |
Booked: |
| VENUE |
MANAGERS |
Anfield (capacity 44,000)
Attendance: 32,158 |
Roy Evans (Liverpool)
Ron Atkinson (Aston V) |
Price: J1,50
Notes:
- League position: 3rd with 17 points from 8 games |
|
Resurgent
Reds
Robbie Fowler gave watching England coach Terry Venables a timely reminder of his
prowess with a golden double at Anfield.
Fowler grabbed the limelight from his in-form Liverpool team-mate Steve McManaman,
to send Villa crashing to a fourth consecutive Premiership defeat.
Defender Neil Ruddock also took the opportunity to impress by putting Roy Evans'
men on the path to victory.
McManaman, meanwhile, did his call up chances no harm by again showing he is back
to the form he produced when breaking into the team under Graeme Souness.
McManaman freed Rob Jones down the right in the first minute before collecting the
right-back's cross, only to see his shot blocked for a corner by Paul McGrath.
But Liverpool's bright start nearly paid dividends as Villa 'keeper Mark Bosnich,
returning after three games out with a knee injury, showed some early jitters by failing
to cut out the resulting corner.
The Australian international was a relieved man as Ugo Ehiogu blocked on the line
from Ian Rush's half volley.
Bosnich was then troubled by a tame header from Rush, but found his form minutes
later with a smart save to deny Fowler.
But rampant Liverpool were not to be denied the breakthrough, though when it came
in the 21st minute they had to rely on the intervention of the linesman, who ruled that
Bosnich had controlled an Andy Townsend back pass with his hands.
Rush tapped the free kick sideways to Ruddock whose cannonball shot burst through
the massed ranks of the Villa defenders for his first goal of the season.
Fowler increased the advantage six minutes later with the first of his two stunning
strikes, scoring from the edge of the area with a shot that was no less ferocious than
Ruddock's.
Villa looked set for a hiding, but after Dean Saunders headed badly over and then
saw claims for a penalty turned down the visitors snatched a goal seven minutes before the
break.
Garry Parker found Guy Whittingham clear in the area and the former Portsmouth man
beat David James with a low shot.
Dwight Yorke prodded a half chance over the bar soon after the interval after Jones
had seen his clearance roll just past the post before Liverpool struck again after 58
minutes.
Fowler's quick thinking was again decisive as he took advantage by beating a slow
Bosnich with a crisp shot into the corner of the net.
Saunders gamely tried to drag Villa back and saw one stinging shot saved by the
fingertips of James before skimming the bar with another effort.
Republic Of Ireland international Phil Babb went close for Liverpool before Fowler
and McManaman also had opportunities to cap their displays.
McManaman ended a lightning break down the left by cutting inside and curling a
shot just past the post. Then Fowler was only inches away from his hat-trick.
Villa gave the scoreline a lop-sided look when Steve Staunton netted against his
former club, rolling the ball home after Whittingham's pressure on James had created the
opening.
Disappointed Aston Villa manager Ron Atkinson complained about Liverpool's first
goal.
Atkinson believed that 'keeper Mark Bosnich controlled Andy Townsend's back pass with his
chest, not his hands, so no free kick should have been awarded.
He said: "The referee was 10 yards away and the linesman was 50 yards away
with his flag up and it goes on his decision. I thought he controlled it with his chest.
And I'd like to see a replay of a penalty I thought we might have had in the first half. I
thought at half-time we could still pinch the game after we had weathered their early
storm and got ourselves back into the match just before the break. But I was not very
happy when we went 3-1 down because I felt some of my players accepted the fact that we
were not going to win. I always thought there was going to be goals for us and for an away
performance we were in a lot of situations where I would have expected us to score."
Liverpool boss Roy Evans said he did not fully see the Bosnich incident, but added:
"I don't give the decisions. It looked the way he went down as if he was going to use
his hands, but to be honest I didn't see it."
Two-goal hero Fowler said: "We knew Terry Venables was here but it did not
make me play any different. I just tried my best as I have in every other game."
Asked about his nine-goal start to the campaign, Fowler said: "I didn't know
how many goals I had - I don't count them."
Copyright - British Soccer Week |
Blackburn Rovers - Liverpool
3 - 2
| Saturday 15 October 1994 FA
Carling Premier League |
| |
 |
|
|
| "Blackburn
Rovers" |
3 - 2 |
Liverpool |
| |
(0-1) |
|
| |
| GOAL |
| Atkins 52 Sutton 57, 72 |
|
Fowler 27, Barnes 59 |
| |
Team: 1. Tim
Flowers, 2. Tony Gale, 5. Colin Hendry, 6. Graeme Le Saux, 20. Henning Berg, 24. Paul
Warhurst, 7. Stuart Ripley, 11. Jason Wilcox, 22. Mark Atkins, 16. Chris Sutton, 9. Alan
Shirer.
Subs: 13.
Bobby Mimms, 25. Ian Pearce 17. Robbie Slater. |
|
Team: 1. David James,
20. Stig Inge Bjornebye, 2. Rob Jones, 25. Neil Ruddock, 12. John Scales, 6. Phil Babb,
17. Steve McManaman, 14. Jan Molby, 10. John Barnes, 23. Robbie Fowler, 9. Ian Rush (c).
Subs: 13. Michael Stensgaard, 7. Nigel Clough, 15. Jamie Redknapp. |
| |
| SUBSTITUTIONS |
| |
|
Bjornebye (Redknapp 80) |
| |
| OFFICIALS & BOOKINGS |
| Referee: Brian Hill
(Kettering, Northants) |
| Booked: |
|
Booked: |
| VENUE |
|
MANAGERS |
Ewood Park (capacity 20,092)
Attendance: 30,263 |
|
Kenny Dalglish
(Blackburn R)
Roy Evans (Liverpool) |
|
|
Reds
and Rovers clash a classic
Two pieces of classic predatory finishing by Chris Sutton put a smile on Kenny
Dalglish's face as the Blackburn boss celebrated his third successive win over his former
side.
Sutton's double-strike, taking his total to 12 since Dalglish splashed out a
British record 5 million pounds for his services, enabled the Ewood Park side to keep up
the pressure on Newcastle in the battle for the Premiership.
But they were pressed all the way by Roy Evans' exciting Anfield side, who took the
lead against the run of play through Robbie Fowler but then matched Rovers chance for
chance in a thrilling encounter.
It needed a virtuoso display of unselfish attacking by Sutton's strike partner Alan
Shearer to haul Blackburn back into the match as he set up goals for Mark Atkins and then
Sutton.
But John Barnes then unleashed a truly awesome strike to pull the Reds back on
terms, only for Sutton to take advantage of a slack moment at the back to claim all three
points and extend Blackburn's 100% home Premiership record.
Shearer and Sutton started off in the mood to show exactly why they had cost Kenny
Dalglish 8.3 million pounds and to cast doubt upon the 9.1 million pounds spent on the
Liverpool defensive trio of Neil Ruddock, John Scales and Phil Babb.
A fierce cross-shot from Shearer whistled across the face of goal and Sutton nearly
capitalised on great work from his partner only to lose control.
An inventive free-kick saw Ian Rush move onto Ruddock's pass to bring the best out
of Tim Flowers but that was a rare excursion forward for the visitors.
Jason Wilcox wasted a superb opening after being found by Sutton's crafted pass,
Shearer was denied by the legs of James and then a Tony Gale header was cleared off the
line by Rob Jones, before Liverpool went in front in the 30th minute.
Jan Molby took a short free-kick to Steve McManaman, the winger found Robbie Fowler
in space and when the teenager's shot deflected off Gale, Flowers could only help the ball
on its way.
McManaman nearly grabbed a second with a fine run and shot and Blackburn - and
Shearer in particular - were growing increasingly unhappy at the officials' decisions.
But that mood disappeared with two goals in five minutes at the start of the second
period.
The first came in the 52nd minute, when Liverpool failed to deal with Wilcox's deep
cross. Stuart Ripley's shot was blocked, but Shearer reacted quickly and pulled the ball
back for Mark Atkins to crash home from close range.
And then Rovers went in front. Ripley's throw found Shearer on the right and he
again got to the deadball line before pulling back. Sutton, sliding in ahead of Babb,
poked towards goal, James half-blocked, but, as the ball tricked towards the line, Sutton
made sure.
Yet Liverpool, incredibly, were on terms almost instantly, courtesy of a piece of
sheer brilliance by John Barnes. Stig Bjornebye got free on the left, flighted over the
perfect cross and Barnes, 12 yards out, took off to thunder a spectacular overhead kick
into the bottom corner.
Fowler, fed by Jones, then missed a great chance to put Liverpool ahead again and
they were made to pay by Sutton, bulldozing his way through Ruddock's challenge before
drilling home as James came off his line.
Shearer and then Fowler were denied by the respective keepers as the excitement
continued to the last minute but Blackburn held on, the roar which greeted the final
whistle showing the importance of the encounter.
Kenny Dalglish was in a buoyant mood: "Both sets of players and fans made it a
game to remember," said Dalglish. "And the good thing is that we got the three
points. Chris did very well indeed. His work and his general overall performance was
superb and I suppose the goals made it even better."
The Blackburn manager admitted his side had been pressed all the way by the
visitors. "They played very well in the first half but then it was good to see Mark
Atkins score the first equaliser for us. We haven't got too many from midfield even though
the front two have got a few so that was a good boost for us."
Liverpool manager Roy Evans seemed not to know whether to laugh or cry: "It's
a mixture of frustration and disappointment," said Evans. "After we went ahead
the game was there for us to take it but we didn't do what we should have done. We should
have pressed forward and tried to take advantage of the situation. Not doing that has cost
us the game."
Evans added: "We really didn't push ourselves forward enough to capitalise and
because of that they got the equaliser. I can't complain about the performance or the
effort because everybody worked really hard and in fact the effort was brilliant. But I
was just disappointed at one or two things that we did wrong and the goals we conceded as
a result."
One moment which will live long in the memory of all who were at Ewood was the
stunning overhead goal from John Barnes.
Evans said: "It's just a shame that a goal as good as that was scored by
somebody who ends up on the losing side. It's the sort of goal that as soon as it went in
you thought it could win goal of the season. I am sure that people will be talking about
it after they watch it on the TV."
Copyright - British Soccer Week |
Liverpool - Wimbledon 3
- 0
| Saturday 22 October 1994 FA
Carling Premier League |
| |
|
|
 |
| Liverpool |
3 - 0 |
"Wimbledon" |
| |
(2-0) |
|
| |
| GOAL |
| McManaman 21, Fowler 35, Barnes 64 |
|
|
| |
Team: 1. David
James, 12. John Scales, 6. Phil Babb, 20. Stig Inge Bjornebye, 2. Rob Jones, 25. Neil
Ruddock, 17. Steve McManaman 15. Jamie Redknapp, 10. John Barnes, 23. Robbie Fowler, 9.
Ian Rush (c).
Subs: 13.
Michael Stensgaard, 7. Nigel Clough, 24. Lee Jones. |
|
Team:
Subs: |
| |
| SUBSTITUTIONS |
| Rush (Clough 83), Fowler (L Jones 83) |
|
|
| |
| OFFICIALS & BOOKINGS |
| Referee: Peter Jones |
| Booked: |
|
Booked: |
| VENUE |
|
MANAGERS |
Anfield (capacity 44,000)
Attendance: 31,139 |
|
Roy Evans (Liverpool)
Joe Kinnear (Wimbledon) |
 Price: J1,50
|
|
|
Liverpool - Stoke City
2 - 1
Ipswich Town - Liverpool
1 - 3
| Saturday 29 October 1994 FA
Carling Premier League |
| |
 |
|
|
| "Ipswich
Town" |
1 - 3 |
Liverpool |
| |
(0-1) |
|
| |
| GOAL |
| Paz |
|
Barnes 39, Fowler 56, 59 |
| |
1 Craig Forrest
-
-
-
-
2 Mick Stockwell
-
-
-
26 Adrian Paz
9 Bontcho Guentchev
Subs:
-
-
- |
|
1 David James
12 John Scales
6 Phil Babb
20 Stig Inge Bjornebye
2 Rob Jones
25 Neil Ruddock
17 Steve McManaman
15 Jamie Redknapp
10 John Barnes
23 Robbie Fowler
9 Ian Rush (c)
Subs:
13 Michael Stensgaard
7 Nigel Clough
14 Jan Molby |
| |
| SUBSTITUTIONS |
| |
|
|
| |
| OFFICIALS & BOOKINGS |
| Referee: Paul Durkin |
| Booked: |
|
Booked: |
| VENUE |
|
MANAGERS |
Portman Road (capacity 22,500)
Attendance: 22,513 |
|
John Lyall (Ipswich T)
Roy Evans (Liverpool) |
 Price: J1,50
|
|
Fowler
on fire
Robbie Fowler's quick-fire second half double confirmed struggling Ipswich's sixth
consecutive defeat after a John Barnes special put Liverpool in the driving seat at
Portman Road.
England comeback man Barnes delivered a superb 25-yard shot six minutes before
half-time after Liverpool took a grip on their hosts' surprisingly sprightly opening.
And Fowler, the young striker who may soon succeed Barnes in the full international
line-up, wrapped up the points with two goals in three minutes just before the hour mark.
Ipswich had tested the Merseysiders' 9 million pound three-man central defence
early on with the lively but lightweight combination of Bulgarian Bontcho Guentchev and
Uruguayan Adrian Paz.
But it was not until Liverpool had coasted three goals ahead that Paz was rewarded
with his first goal for the Suffolk club, a well struck low drive from Mick Stockwell's
perceptive through pass in the 65th minute.
Ipswich, without their former Liverpool veteran John Wark - their only scorer in
the previous four matches - made a fight of it but Stockwell drove his shot straight at
'keeper David James when he had the chance to further reduce the deficit.
However, Roy Evans' team had been comfortably in command from the 18th minute when
a Rob Jones drive came back off the post.
It was the prelude to a battering spell by Liverpool and the Ipswich goal was
fortunate enough to survive near misses by Fowler, Ian Rush and the lively Steve
McManaman.
Barnes' blast, after a link-up between Jamie Redknapp and Rush, broke the deadlock
and then Fowler took his goal tally for the season to 13 with a glorious one-two between
the 57th and 60th minutes.
McManaman's run and Rush's shot, beaten out by goalkeeper Craig Forrest, led to his
first ... a simple tap-in.
Then Fowler sprinted through the middle after Stig Bjornebye beat Steve McManaman
to flight a splendid through-ball which Fowler firmly despatched into the top corner.
Paz's strike six minutes later revived a brave Ipswich effort, but Liverpool
regrouped to retain the advantage.
The situation at the bottom of the Premier League is now looking decidedly insecure
for John Lyall's team who have dodged relegation by the skin of their teeth for the last
two seasons.
Liverpool manager Roy Evans revealed that striker Fowler will sign a new four-year
contract.
But although Evans praised Fowler's "priceless" ability to score
"goals out of nothing", he was scathing about his defence, which almost let
Ipswich back into the game.
"The system of three central defenders is one that I like, but sometimes today
the players made it look as if it has come from a different planet. I know people might
say I'm being over-critical, but we could have won by six goals today and instead we got
very sloppy in the end. A 3-1 win away from home is always good, but we should have
finished off Ipswich when we were three up. That's what we have got to do in games like
this if we want to chase the championship or qualify for places in Europe."
Ipswich player-coach Wark said: "McManaman is on fire at the moment and it
would have been a test for anybody, not just young Tony Vaughan on his home debut. We've
got to try a few different things to get ourselves out of this run, but it is too early to
talk about a crisis. There are still 30-odd games to go and it is not yet November. Little
Adrian Paz did a great job for us today and deserved his first goal for the club."
Copyright - British Soccer Week |
Queens Park Rangers -
Liverpool 2 - 1
| Monday 31 October 1994 20:00 FA
Carling Premier League |
| |
 |
|
|
| "Queens
Park R" |
2 - 1 |
Liverpool |
| |
(1-0) |
|
| |
| GOAL |
| Sinclair 29, Ferdinand |
|
Barnes 65 |
| |
-
2 David Bardsley
3 Clive Wilson
-
-
25 Steve Hodge
14 Simon Barker
11 Trevor Sinclair
-
20 Kevin Gallen
9 Les Ferdinand
Subs:
- |
|
1 David James
12 John Scales
6 Phil Babb
20 Stig Inge Bjornebye
2 Rob Jones
25 Neil Ruddock
17 Steve McManaman
15 Jamie Redknapp
10 John Barnes
23 Robbie Fowler
9 Ian Rush (c)
Subs:
13 Michael Stensgaard
7 Nigel Clough
14 Jan Molby |
| |
| SUBSTITUTIONS |
| |
|
Babb (Molby 65) |
| |
| OFFICIALS & BOOKINGS |
| Referee: Terry Holbrook |
| Booked: |
|
Booked: |
| VENUE |
|
MANAGERS |
Loftus Road (capacity 18,500)
Attendance: 18,295 |
|
Gerry Francis (Q P R)
Roy Evans (Liverpool) |
 Price: J1,50
|
|
Rangers red-hot
Les Ferdinand, back from a three match suspension, handed out a halloween night
shock with a late QPR winner which provided Liverpool with only their second defeat in 10
games.
Ferdinand struck five minutes from time, springing Liverpool's off-side trap to
steer Clive Wilson's long ball beyond goalkeeper David James.
The Mighty Reds looked certain to clinch the win after John Barnes crashed a
marvellous equaliser to Trevor Sinclair's 29th minute opener for Rangers.
Sinclair despatched an unmarked header just before the half-hour to rock Liverpool
back on their heels just as they were beginning to take a strong grip on the game.
They strung together a red necklace of precision passes to probe at the Rangers
defence but a long ball on the line led to their undoing.
David Bardsley fell in and crossed into the box where Liverpool's three essential
defenders all left the job of marking Sinclair to each other and he gratefully used the
space to head powerfully home.
Both defences creaked alarmingly in a match that started 18 minutes late but soon
developed into a thriller.
Phil Babb had a nightmare first half for Liverpool, twice blundering to let in
Kevin Gallen, who fired the first chance over and set up the second for Ferdinand, who
squeezed his shot just wide.
Three minutes after Sinclair's goal, Neil Ruddock had to clear off Liverpool's line
to prevent Ferdinand scoring.
And Liverpool's uncertainty in defence spread to goalkeeper James, who fumbled a
long shot by Simon Barker and then flapped wildly at Bardsley's cross before Sinclair shot
just wide.
Liverpool, however, began to take control again in the second half and Rangers had
a narrow escape when they allowed Barnes to float into space and send a thunderous 30 yard
drive against the crossbar in the 39th minute.
Barnes had been driven back deep in his own half by the hustling of Rangers' new
midfielder Steve Hodge but when he was allowed to find room the England star was a real
menace. And in the 56th minute he beautifully put away the equaliser after his sharp
one-two with Rush.
Liverpool then abandoned their three man central defence, calling off Babb and
sending on Jan Molby in an orthodox 4-4-2 formation designed to push on for victory.
The elusive Steve McManaman went agonisingly close to snatching the winner but,
just when Rangers looked happy to collect a point, Ferdinand gave them an incredible bonus
to punish more slap-dash work in the Liverpool defence.
Copyright - British Soccer Week |
Liverpool - Nottingham Forest
1 - 0
| Saturday 5 November 1994 FA
Carling Premier League |
| |
|
|
 |
| Liverpool |
1 - 0 |
"Nottingham
Forest" |
| |
(1-0) |
|
| |
| GOAL |
| Fowler 14 |
|
|
| |
Team: 1. David
James, 12. John Scales, 6. Phil Babb, 20. Stig Inge Bjornebye, 2. Rob Jones, 25. Neil
Ruddock, 17. Steve McManaman, 15. Jamie Redknapp, 10. John Barnes, 23. Robbie Fowler, 9.
Ian Rush (c).
Subs: 13.
Michael Stensgaard, 7. Nigel Clough, 14. Jan Molby. |
|
Team: 1. Mark Crossley,
5. Steve Chettle, 11. Steve Stone,
Subs: |
| |
| SUBSTITUTIONS |
| Scales (Molby 29) |
|
|
| |
| OFFICIALS & BOOKINGS |
| Referee: Joe Worrall |
| Booked: |
|
Booked: |
| VENUE |
|
MANAGERS |
Anfield (capacity 44,000)
Attendance: 33,329 |
|
Roy Evans (Liverpool)
Frank Clark (Nottingham F) |
Notes:
- Liverpool FC Man-of-the-Match: Ian Rush |
|
Young
Reds rule
Robbie Fowler celebrated his 50th game in a Liverpool shirt with the goal that
felled Forest and condemned Frank Clark's side to their second successive defeat.
The 19-year-old was on hand to turn Jamie Redknapp's 14th minute shot past Mark
Crossley for his 14th goal of the season, which put the Anfield side back on course for a
real tilt at the title after their surprise 2-1 defeat at Queens Park Rangers.
Although the goal was against the run of play at the time, the home fans should
have been cheering an easy victory by the final whistle as Liverpool took total charge
with the normally lethal Fowler spurning two gift-wrapped chances.
Liverpool boss Roy Evans resisted the temptation to alter his defensive system in
the wake of the Loftus Road defeat. Phil Babb was retained in a five-man back division
and, in the early stages, this looked like being a mistake.
Forest, with Dutch star Bryan Roy having to work overtime in the continued absence
of Stan Collymore, had the ball in the net in the second minute when he stabbed home Jason
Lee's cross but a linesman's flag ruled the effort out.
Lee and David Phillips both then tested David James before Steve McManaman finally
stirred the home side into action with a 13th minute run and shot just wide from the edge
of the box.
A minute later, Liverpool were ahead. Stuart Pearce put Mark Crossley under
pressure with his back pass but that did not excuse the keeper hitting his clearance
straight at Jamie Redknapp. The midfielder controlled and shot but his effort, although
not on target, would surely have not beaten Crossley had Fowler not altered its direction.
Forest were still lively, Lee twice finishing disappointingly, although things did
appear to be going their way when Jan Molby replaced the struggling John Scales in the
Liverpool defence.
Molby made a vital clearance when Lars Bohinen crossed low and although Redknapp
did test Crossley from a distance either side of the break, a woeful clearance by Jan
Molby straight to Lee, should have resulted in the equaliser seconds after the interval,
the Forest man chipping straight into James' hands.
Fowler's persistence resulted in McManaman blasting over and Ian Rush was then wide
before the goalscorer spurned the easiest of chances.
Molby exchanged passes with John Barnes and crashed a shot against Crossley's left
hand upright. The ball rebounded to Fowler's feet but when the striker attempted to put
the ball into a gaping net, he instead shot wide.
Forest nearly made Liverpool pay when Babb was forced into a desperate clearance
after a Fowler advance.
Liverpool should have made sure of the points three minutes from time. Redknapp's
cross from the right found Fowler all alone with only Crossley to beat but the youngster
snatches at the chance, allowing the keeper to block.
Liverpool manager Roy Evans admitted: "It was probably our most important game
so far. We had a hiccup against Rangers - and we hoped it was only going to be a hiccup
and not a disaster - so I was pleased with the reaction. We started slowly and they were
the better team before the goal, but I couldn't fault the effort either defensively or in
attack - although it wasn't a vintage performance."
The winning goal was claimed by Robbie Fowler - his 14th of the season - after his
shin diverted Jamie Redknapp's shot past Mark Crossley. "Jamie tried to claim it and
started to celebrate, but then he looked around and saw I was as well," said Fowler.
"It came off my leg and somebody said it might have been going wide."
Fowler added: "I only had three touches in the game and two of them were bad
misses so at least I got something right and that was an important win."
Forest boss Frank Clark had no doubt that Liverpool deserved the points. He said:
"They played better than we did. We started well but the last thing you want to do at
Anfield is concede an early goal. It's hard to say whether it had more effect on them or
us but it was an uphill struggle after that. We didn't show enough quality in the final
third of the pitch. We had opportunities to go and punish them and create things but we
just didn't make the best of them."
Copyright - British Soccer Week |
Liverpool 3 - 1 Chelsea
Everton - Liverpool 2 -
0
| Monday 21 November 1994 FA
Carling Premier League |
| |
 |
|
|
| "Everton" |
2 - 0 |
Liverpool |
| |
( -0) |
|
| |
| GOAL |
| Ferguson, Rideout |
|
|
| |
Team: 3. Andy
Hinchcliffe, 14. John Ebbrell, 18. Joe Parkinson, 9. Duncan Ferguson,
Subs: 15.
Paul Rideout. |
|
Team: 1. David James,
20. Stig Inge Bjornebye, 2. Rob Jones, 25. Neil Ruddock, 12. John Scales, 6. Phil Babb,
17. Steve McManaman, 14. Jan Molby, 10. John Barnes, 23. Robbie Fowler, 9. Ian Rush (c).
Subs: 13. Michael Stensgaard, 7. Nigel Clough, 15. Jamie Redknapp. |
| |
| SUBSTITUTIONS |
| ? (Rideout ?) |
|
Bjornebye (Redknapp 64) |
| |
| OFFICIALS & BOOKINGS |
| Referee: Dermot
Gallagher |
| Booked: |
|
Booked: |
| VENUE |
|
MANAGERS |
Goodison Park (capacity 38,500)
Attendance: 39,866 |
|
Joe Royle (Everton)
Roy Evans (Liverpool) |
 Price: J1,50
|
|
Toffees win derby
Duncan Ferguson launched Joe Royle's brave new Everton world in the most wonderful
way imaginable, victory in the 151st Merseyside League derby.
The 4 million pound Rangers bad boy, who may be facing yet another court
appearance, could not have timed the first goal of his two-month loan spell more
perfectly. He then set up a last-minute second for substitute Paul Rideout to clinch only
Everton's second win in 17 games.
It hoists them off the bottom of the Premiership for the first time above Leicester
and Ipswich. Daniel Amokachi at last got his act together with a strong run at the heart
of the Liverpool defence.
His low shot took a deflection off Neil Ruddock and a sprawling David James just
only managed to tip it round his left-hand post. But from Andy Hinchcliffe's inswinging
corner, lanky Ferguson headed home at the near post.
He added to his cause in the last few moments, challenging James for Hinchcliffe's
high cross and pressurising the goalkeeper into releasing the ball to the unmarked Rideout
for the clincher.
The value of victory can be measured by the fact that Royle's six predecessors won
only seven and lost 20 of the previous 42 League derbies.
Liverpool headed back across Stanley Park feeling hard done by; their vociferous
claims for an 82nd-minute penalty turned down when it seemed Rideout had stopped a Ruddock
shot with his hand.
But the Everton substitute could have already put the game beyond their reach.
John Scales' mistake gave John Ebbrell the chance to put Rideout away on the right
but cracked his shot low and hard against the base of the far post.
Then Rob Jones came sweeping in from the right to drive a great chance clear across
the face of the goal as the game finished much more entertainingly than it had started.
Liverpool's new England boy Steve McManaman curled a delightful shot wide of the
far post in the seventh minute.
Then James sprawled to his left at the other end when Joe Parkinson's shot skidded
off the heel of Ruddock.
But a busy beginning gave way to a frantic first half, only the measured passing of
John Barnes and Jan Molby briefly lifting them above the frenzy.
Unfortunately they were rarely in a position to supply the final pass, the missing
Liverpool ingredient.
Copyright - British Soccer Week |
Liverpool 1 - 1 Tottenham
Hotspur
| Saturday 26 November 1994 FA
Carling Premier League |
| |
|
 |
| Liverpool |
Tottenham Hotspur |
| 1 - 1 (1-0) |
| |
| GOAL |
| Fowler 39 p |
Ruddock 77 og |
| |
|
1 David James
12 John Scales
6 Phil Babb
20 Stig Inge Bjornebye
2 Rob Jones
25 Neil Ruddock
17 Steve McManaman
15 Jamie Redknapp
10 John Barnes
23 Robbie Fowler
22 Ian Rush (c)
Subs:
13 Michael Stensgaard
16 Michael Thomas
24 Lee Jones |
 |
13 Ian Walker
2 Dean Austin
5 Colin Calderwood
23 Sol Campbell
6 Gary Mabbutt
4 Gheorghe Popescu
9 Darren Anderton
15 David Howells
7 Nick Barmby
18 Jurgen Klinsmann
10 Teddy Sheringham
Subs:
8 Ilie Dumitrescu |
| |
| SUBSTITUTIONS |
| Barnes (Thomas 56) |
Anderton (Dumitrescu 46) |
| |
| OFFICIALS & BOOKINGS |
| Referee: Steve Lodge
(Barnsley) Linesmen: I Blanchard (Yellow Flag), A Street (Red Flag) |
| Booked: |
Booked: |
| VENUE |
MANAGERS |
Anfield (capacity 44,000)
Attendance: 35,007 |
Roy Evans (Liverpool)
Gerry Francis (Tottenham H) |
 Price: J1,50
Notes:
- Neil Ruddock scored an own goal
- Mascot: Alan Curtis (Dublin)
|
|
Ruddock goal gives Spurs a share
Battling Tottenham gave new manager Gerry Francis more cause for satisfaction by
denying Liverpool three points with a late equaliser at Anfield.
Spurs, boosted by their possible FA Cup reprieve, shrugged off a controversial
first-half penalty to grab a much needed point.
Liverpool's teenage top scorer Robbie Fowler netted from the spot but Spurs hit
back with an equaliser 12 minutes from time through a Neil Ruddock own goal.
It gave Francis his second draw in four days after seeing his White Hart Lane
career start with a 4-3 defeat by Aston Villa.
But Francis' work on the training ground with his side's ramshackle defence is
clearly paying quick dividends as they confidently dealt with everything Liverpool threw
at them.
But it took heroics from keeper Ian Walker to deny Liverpool the victory in front
of their biggest crowd of the season that would have closed the gap on the leaders.
Left back Sol Campbell had more success than most defenders against the running of
Steve McManaman but ironically it was this confrontation that bought the home side their
controversial opener.
As McManaman raced onto Rob Jones' inside pass he tumbled under Campbell's
challenge and referee Stephen Lodge had no hesitation in pointing to the spot.
Fowler, who had been having one of his quietest games of the season, made no
mistake as he sent Walker the wrong way and buried the penalty low into the corner.
It gave Fowler his 15th league goal of the season and 17th in all competitions of
the campaign.
Until the breakthrough Liverpool rarely threatened with Gary Mabbutt excelling at
the heart of the defence, twice making late interceptions to thwart Ian Rush.
John Barnes drove a long-range effort inches wide, McManaman struck the post from
an acute angle and Jones should have done better when he shot straight at Walker.
Walker also superbly plucked a Jamie Redknapp cross before going on to almost
single-handedly deny Liverpool after the break.
The keeper easily dealt with long-range efforts from McManaman and Redknapp before
denying Stig Bjornebye after seeing his shot very late.
Michael Thomas - making his first appearance for nearly two months - and Jones were
also denied while Fowler should have done better when a Colin Calderwood interception
rolled into his path.
But Spurs also had chances with Nick Barmby producing two weak efforts in the first
half while Teddy Sheringham also sent a shot skidding just wide minutes before the break.
Forced to soak up the pressure in the second half Spurs had to rely on quick breaks
with Jurgen Klinsmann shooting straight at David James from one such counter-attack.
Klinsmann thought he should have had a 69th minute penalty when he escaped the
attention of Phil Babb but James did enough to hold him up and as the German shaped to
shoot he collided with Babb.
But nine minutes later the Londoners got the equaliser their efforts deserved with
Campbell, who gave away the penalty, heavily involved.
The youngster sent over a hopeful low cross from the left that no Spurs player was
close to but it rebounded off Ruddock's shin to give James no chance.
James had to react smartly to save from Klinsmann moments later, Fowler shot wide
with three minutes left but Spurs hung on to gain a morale-boosting draw.
Copyright - British Soccer Week |
Blackburn Rovers - Liverpool
1 - 3
| Wednesday 30 November 1994 19:45
League / Coca-Cola Cup 4th Round |
| |
|
|
|
| "Blackburn
Rovers" |
1 - 3 |
Liverpool |
| |
( -1) |
|
| |
| GOAL |
| |
|
Rush 19, 51, 73 |
| |
| |
|
1 David James
20 Stig Inge Bjornebye
2 Rob Jones
25 Neil Ruddock
12 John Scales
6 Phil Babb
16 Michael Thomas
17 Steve McManaman
15 Jamie Redknapp
23 Robbie Fowler
9 Ian Rush (c)
Subs:
27 Mark Prudhoe
7 Nigel Clough
24 Lee Jones |
| |
| SUBSTITUTIONS |
| |
|
|
| |
| OFFICIALS & BOOKINGS |
| Referee: Roger Dikers
(Mossley) Linesman: G Sooner (Sheffield, Red Flag), K Thompson
(Liversedge, Yellow Flag) |
| Booked: |
|
Booked: |
| VENUE |
|
MANAGERS |
Ewood Park (capacity 20,092)
Attendance: 30,115 |
|
Kenny Dalglish
(Blackburn R)
Roy Evans (Liverpool) |
 Price: J1,50
|
|
Red
Rush rocks Rovers
A hat-trick from skipper Ian Rush sent Premiership leaders Blackburn crashing out
of the Coca-Cola Cup as Liverpool claimed their berth in the quarter-finals.
Rush, making his 600th appearance for Anfield side, sent them through to the last
eight with a first-half screamer which broke a seven-match scoring drought. He grabbed two
more after the break to kill off Kenny Dalglish's side.
Liverpool 'keeper David James led a charmed life against the Alan Shearer and Chris
Sutton double act until the very last minute when he was finally beaten by Sutton's
header.
Blackburn, with six successive wins behind them, began in the manner of
championship leaders, putting the Liverpool back-line under pressure right from the start.
Tim Sherwood thumped goalwards from 25 yards, James making an acrobatic tip over,
and the 'keeper then raced from his line to block Shearer after a slip by Neil Ruddock.
In the 11th minute, however, James was merely a spectator when Sutton knocked a
Graeme Le Saux cross back towards Stuart Ripley, whose looping header came back off the
bar.
But it was the Blackburn defence that was breached against the run of play in the
19th minute.
There seemed little danger when Sherwood's mistake gave Robbie Fowler possession on
the Liverpool left, but when the teenager moved the ball inside, Rush let fly,
left-footed, from the edge of the box and the ball screamed past Tim Flowers' groping
right hand.
A superb link-up between Rob Jones and Steve McManaman stretched Blackburn again
and Flowers was relieved to fall on Fowler's far post header, but that was only the cue
for Shearer and Sutton to go close again in the 32nd minute, James just managing to paw
away Sutton's header.
Five minutes before the break Fowler, fed by Jamie Redknapp, tricked Henning Berg
before forcing a fine low stop from Flowers, but Rovers were then denied by James once
more, Paul Warhurst only prevented from scoring by the 'keeper's brave block after Shearer
had slipped him through.
If anything, the passion and excitement increased after the interval. James saved
from Shearer, Rob Jones was booked for bringing down Le Saux, and a drive by Michael
Thomas, in for flu victim John Barnes, shaved the upright.
But 12 minutes after half-time, Rush made another telling contribution. John Scales
headed forward from half-way, Jones, still up after a Liverpool attack, helped the ball on
and Rush raced past Berg before firing under the advancing Flowers.
Colin Hendry denied McManaman a third goal twice in the space of a minute, first
clearing off the line and then blocking a fierce strike, while Sutton was only inches away
from reducing arrears from Ripley's cross.
Ruddock and Shearer were both booked for squaring up to each other after the
striker was brought down, but Rush ended any possible doubt in the 73rd minute.
Stig Bjornebye crossed from deep on the Liverpool left, Le saux, looking for
Flowers to claim the ball headed up into the air, and Rush poked home from close-range to
complete hit hat-trick.
With all eyes on referee Roger Dilkes, Sutton headed his 17th of the season from
Ripley's right-wing cross, but this was a night when the scoring exploits of Rush, not the
8.3 million pound strikeforce, took the headlines.
Liverpool goal-ace and skipper Rush said: "I've gone a few without a goal and
to get a hat-trick on my 600th game is a great honour. The first goal certainly would not
be far away from the best ever and that gave me confidence as well as the rest of the team
because before that Blackburn had us under pressure. The goal settled us down. For the
second I just had to hit the target and the third was an intercepted back-pass - that's
more like one of my goals!"
For Liverpool manager Roy Evans the victory was sweet indeed. Of Rush he said in
admiration: "What can you say, the guy's been brilliant. He's been through a lean
spell for him but that was a fantastic hat-trick."
Evans added: "I thought our character today was magnificent. We had to defend
quite a bit but when we got the ball down we were excellent as well. It was a brilliant
team performance. There's not many times since I took over here that I've said I'm
completely satisfied but I have to be tonight."
For Blackburn manager and former Liverpool idol Dalglish the defeat was the end of
a six-match winning run and also the finish of a run of four successive victories over the
Anfield side.
Dalglish said: "I think we played better than when we beat them 3-2 in the
league and objectively we deserved more from the game than we got. We didn't do anything
wrong but unfortunately we didn't have the luck but I'm going to take a positive attitude
because we deserve to be positive after playing like that."
Of Rush, his former strike partner in his Anfield days, Dalglish added: "A lot
of people have been saying he's a bad player this season but this will bring them to their
senses. His record speaks for itself and always will do and if Alan Shearer and Chris
Sutton are looking to somebody to emulate they couldn't find a better guy to copy."
Copyright - British Soccer Week |
Coventry City - Liverpool
1 - 1
| Saturday 3 December 1994 15:00 FA
Carling Premier League |
| |
 |
|
|
| "Coventry
City" |
1 - 1 |
Liverpool |
| |
(0-1) |
|
| |
| GOAL |
| Flynn |
|
Rush 2 |
| |
1
Steve Ogrizovic
-
2 Brian Borrows
-
22 Garry Gillespie
-
15 Paul Cook
7 Sean Flynn
-
-
-
Subs:
-
-
- |
|
1 David James
12 John Scales
6 Phil Babb
22 Steve Harkness
20 Stig Inge Bjornebye
25 Neil Ruddock
16 Michael Thomas
17 Steve McManaman
15 Jamie Redknapp
23 Robbie Fowler
9 Ian Rush (c)
Subs:
26 Mark Prudhoe
7 Nigel Clough
11 Mark Walters |
| |
| SUBSTITUTIONS |
| |
|
Bjornebye (Walters 78) |
| |
| OFFICIALS & BOOKINGS |
| Referee: Keith Burge |
| Booked: |
|
Booked: |
| VENUE |
|
MANAGERS |
Highfield Road (capacity 22,489)
Attendance: 21,029 |
|
Ron Atkinson (Coventry C)
Roy Evans (Liverpool) |
 Price: J1,50
|
|
Sky
Blues match Reds
Battling Coventry fought back for a deserved point after Ian Rush, Liverpool's
hat-trick hero at Blackburn in midweek, had given his side the best of starts with a goal
in the second minute.
But Liverpool's Highfield Road bogey struck again. They last won on the ground in
November 1990 and, once Sean Flynn had grabbed Coventry's second half equaliser, there
were chances for both sides to score the winner.
Liverpool were shaky at the back in the opening moments of the game, but they had
the best possible settler when Robbie Fowler fastened onto a clearance to send in his
senior strike partner Rush.
The Welsh international coolly drew goalkeeper Steve Ogrizovic off his line before
slotting in his 10th goal of the season.
Stig Bjornebye missed a great chance after 21 minutes to increase the lead.
Coventry's defender Brian Borrows missed Steve Harkness' centre and the ball rebounded
from Cobi Jones to Bjornebye but his close-range shot was brilliantly saved by the
Coventry goalkeeper.
Coventry almost scored a fluke equaliser before half-time when Flynn charged at the
Liverpool goalkeeper David James, whose fly-kick struck the Coventry man and cannoned back
only inches from goal.
Coventry stepped up the pace in the second half and Liverpool's defence looked even
more fragile.
After a succession of corner kicks, Paul Cook slung over a free-kick and Flynn
burst out of the goal-mouth pack to bullet home a close-range header.
Robbie Fowler went agonisingly close with a header shortly after and then Flynn's
persistence won him the ball on the by-line, but his low cross ran through the goalmouth
without a player getting a touch.
Copyright - British Soccer Week |
Liverpool - Crystal Palace
0 - 0
| Sunday 11 December 1994 16:00 FA
Carling Premier League |
| |
|
|
 |
| Liverpool |
0 - 0 |
"Crystal
Palace" |
| |
(0-0) |
|
| |
| GOAL |
| |
|
|
| |
Team: 1. David
James, 20. Stig Inge Bjornebye, 25. Neil Ruddock, 12. John Scales, 6. Phil Babb, 22. Steve
Harkness, 7. Nigel Clough, 16. Michael Thomas, 15. Jamie Redknapp, 10. John Barnes, 23.
Robbie Fowler.
Subs: 26.
Mark Prudhoe, 21. Dominic Matteo, 11. Mark Walters. |
|
Team:
Subs: |
| |
| SUBSTITUTIONS |
| Bjornebye (Walters 45) |
|
|
| |
| OFFICIALS & BOOKINGS |
| Referee: K Morton |
| Booked: |
|
Booked: |
| VENUE |
|
MANAGERS |
Anfield (capacity 44,000)
Attendance: 30,972 |
|
Roy Evans (Liverpool)
Alan Smith (Crystal P) |
 Price: J1,50
Notes:
- League position: 4th with 32 points from 18 games
|
|
Palace
pleased with a point
Crystal Palace left windswept Anfield with their ninth clean sheet of the season
and their self respect fully restored.
Four months after they were thrashed 6-1 by Liverpool on their Premiership
comeback, the Londoners put the record straight with a solid, industrious defensive
display.
Liverpool, now unbeaten at home in 11 games this season, moved back above
Nottingham Forest into fourth position. But another lost opportunity leaves them 10 points
behind leaders Blackburn and looking less like championship challengers by the week.
The loss of Steve McManaman, out until the New Year after damaging his knee
ligaments in Ian Rush's midweek testimonial, is a heavy blow, removing much of the
imagination and variety from Liverpool's attack.
Nigel Clough came in for his first league start of the season, with Rush on Welsh
duty, but lacked the pace and adventure to repair a family reputation poisoned by his
father's Hillsborough comments.
The belated arrival of left-winger Mark Walters and the release of John Barnes from
his defensive shackles had Palace rocking in the second half.
But they held out for the final proof that August's result gave a false impression.
To be fair, Alan Smith's young Endsleigh League champions have long shown the
benefits of hard work and organisation, conceding just 15 goals in the 21 games since
then.
But this was an important watershed for a club that has Liverpool etched deep in
their collective memory. Apart from this season, the Londoners suffered an incredible 9-0
basing at Anfield five years ago.
Even without Welshman Chris Coleman, they made life difficult for the home side and
restricted them to just two shots on target in the first half.
Jamie Redknapp's effort lacked power and Nigel Martyn was well placed to allow
Robbie Fowler's thumping 35th minute drive to nestle into his stomach.
Too many of Liverpool's midfield sat deep, though when Barnes stormed forward he
looked as effective as anyone, cracking a 25-yard shot across the face of goal.
The introduction of Walters at the start of the second half and a switch to three
at the back produced an immediate improvement.
Fowler, set for an England B cap against the Republic Of Ireland at Anfield on
Tuesday, could have broken the deadlock in the first five minutes from the restart, but he
missed his shot after beating Dean Gordon and then glanced wide from Michael Thomas'
cross.
Martyn stretched to hold a Barnes header, Thomas fired wide and Barnes, released to
roam, dipped a 25-yarder just over the bar as the game came to life.
But pushing forward created opportunities for Palace and Phil Babb charged in to
clear his lines from Chris Armstrong after the big striker exploited confusion between
David James and John Scales.
Bobby Bowry headed off the line from Barnes as Palace creaked, Darren Pitcher threw
himself in front of Thomas' shot and Humphrey was booked for a foul on Walters.
But there was an air of resignation long before Clough mustered his first shot of
the game, a low drive wide in the 82nd minute, although Walters nearly snatched victory
with a swinging shot four minutes later that Martyn parried to safety.
Smith hailed his brave young Palace side: "That's a measure of how far we've
come since August 20. It was important that we came out of this game with some credibility
and showed how much we've improved. I would have liked to have created a few more chances
and won the game. But I'm delighted with the result. That means we've conceded only 13
goals in the last 17 league games which is fantastic. Without detracting from Liverpool's
performance in August, I must have still been on my summer holidays. This time I had a
week to prepare and knew exactly what I wanted to do. The success of our tactical plan
will give us added confidence. I have a young team and they have to start believing in
themselves. We are in the Premiership and we aim to stay there."
Liverpool boss Roy Evans admitted that his side's championship chances are receding
rapidly: "It's not in our hands - we have to win three games and the others have to
lose three. There is a gap and we have to string a run together if we can. We haven't been
beaten much but we haven't picked up enough points to say we're on a good run." He
added: "It was as hard a game as we expected and you have to give them credit for
making it difficult. The few chances we had didn't go in - we hadn't the pace to get round
the back of them."
Copyright - British Soccer Week |
Chelsea 0 - 0 Liverpool
| Sunday 18 December 1994 16:00 FA
Carling Premier League |
| |
 |
|
| Chelsea |
Liverpool |
| 0 - 0 (0-0) |
| |
| GOAL |
| |
|
| |
 |
1 Dmitri Kharine
18 Eddie Newton
6 Frank Sinclair
5 Erland Johnsen
3 Scott Minto
21 David Rocastle
17 Nigel Spackman
10 Gavin Peacock
20 Glenn Hoddle
11 Dennis Wise
8 Paul Furlong
Subs:
13 Kevin Hitchcock
22 Anthony Barness
9 Mark Stein |
|
1 David James
12 John Scales
6 Phil Babb
20 Stig Inge Bjornebye
25 Neil Ruddock
11 Mark Walters
16 Michael Thomas
15 Jamie Redknapp
10 John Barnes
23 Robbie Fowler
22 Ian Rush (c)
Subs:
27 Mark Prudhoe
22 Steve Harkness
7 Nigel Clough |
| |
| SUBSTITUTIONS |
Rocastle (Stein 70)
Hoddle (Barness 77) |
|
| |
| OFFICIALS & BOOKINGS |
| Referee: Dermot
Gallagher (Banbury) |
| Booked: Sinclair 31 |
Booked: |
| VENUE |
MANAGERS |
Stamford Bridge (capacity 37,665)
Attendance: 27,050 |
Glenn Hoddle (Chelsea)
Roy Evans (Liverpool) |
 Price: J2,00
|
|
Glenn
slates pitch
Even Glenn Hoddle's presence could not inspire Chelsea to victory, as Liverpool
held on for a point in a grim struggle at Stamford Bridge.
Hoddle named himself in Chelsea's side for the first time this season and 1.5
million pound striker Mark Stein made his first appearance since last May's FA Cup Final
as substitute, but Chelsea's inconsistent form remains a problem.
The Londoners have now won only two of their last 11 League and Cup games and badly
needed to restore some consistency before their European Cup-Winners' Cup quarter-final
against Brugge in the New Year.
They also face a difficult seasonal programme with games against Manchester United
and London rivals Wimbledon and QPR.
Liverpool, who looked a better team for long periods of a largely featureless game,
will regard this as two points thrown away in their attempt to stay in touch with the
Premiership's title contenders.
Hoddle last started a game for his side on March 30 last year, but Achilles tendon
problems have kept him out ever since. But the player-manager decided to bring himself
back into the team after last Saturday's 3-0 hammering at Norwich.
His presence made little difference in the early stages as Liverpool imposed their
passing style on the game - Mark Walters going close with an angled drive.
But then a mistake by John Barnes allowed Paul Furlong to set up Dennis Wise for a
stinging shot that Liverpool 'keeper David James could only touch onto a post.
It should have been the signal for a Chelsea assault, but instead Liverpool went
close with Michael Thomas forced keeper Dmitri Kharine into action.
Hoddle then set up a chance for Furlong, but again James was in the way - and the
Liverpool keeper was equally capable in keeping out a second effort from Furlong, and from
Gavin Peacock.
Both defences dominated the game, with chances few and far between.
Neil Ruddock forced Kharine into a neat save and then the Chelsea 'keeper was well
positioned to deal with a low drive from Robbie Fowler.
Furlong should have broken the deadlock in the 63rd minute when Peacock's flick put
him clear, but his fierce shot was beaten away by James.
That was virtually the last clear scoring chance and although the consistently
impressive Wise flicked a glancing header wide and then dipped a shot over, the game
looked increasingly unlikely to produce a goal.
Hoddle was fiercely critical of the Stamford Bridge pitch: "I'm desperate to
get the pitch bigger. It is at its minimum size now. This was decided three years ago by
the architects and I've got to change it. It has made it more difficult for us with such a
small pitch. The players have been saying it all season. We have lost three yards on width
and two yards on length and we need to do something about it."
On the match itself, Hoddle said: "It was very frantic. There was not a lot of
cohesion. I came back because I felt we needed experience against Liverpool's system. They
can run you ragged if you haven't got people out there to talk to each other. Fitness-wise
it was always a gamble - I'll have to go to bed for four days now!"
Liverpool manager Roy Evans said: "I felt this was probably two points
dropped. We had a lot of the play but never looked like scoring a goal. That is the way it
has been for us all season.”
Copyright - British Soccer Week |
Leicester City - Liverpool
1 - 2
| Monday 26 December 1994 11:30 FA
Carling Premier League |
| |
 |
|
|
| "Leicester
City" |
1 - 2 |
Liverpool |
| |
(0-0) |
|
| |
| GOAL |
| Roberts |
|
Fowler 67 p., Rush 77 |
| |
-
2 Simon Grayson
-
-
-
17 Steve Thompson
21 Lee Philpott
8 Mark Blake
10 Mark Draper
-
9 Iwan Roberts
Subs:
-
-
- |
|
1 David James
12 John Scales
6 Phil Babb
20 Stig Inge Bjornebye
2 Rob Jones
25 Neil Ruddock
17 Steve McManaman
15 Jamie Redknapp
10 John Barnes
23 Robbie Fowler
9 Ian Rush (c)
Subs:
27 Mark Prudhoe
11 Mark Walters
16 Michael Thomas |
| |
| SUBSTITUTIONS |
| |
|
|
| |
| OFFICIALS & BOOKINGS |
| Referee: Gerald Ashby |
Booked: Grayson
Sent Off: Grayson 82 |
|
Booked: |
| VENUE |
|
MANAGERS |
Filbert Street (capacity 22,517)
Attendance: 21,393 |
|
Mark McGhee (Leicester C)
Roy Evans (Liverpool) |
 Price: J1,00
Notes:
- David James saved a penalty from Steve Thompson in the 63rd minute
- Simon Grayson was sent off in the 82nd minute
|
|
Keeper
in fine form for Reds
Liverpool keeper David James saved a penalty and pulled off a brilliant injury-time
save to earn the Merseysiders their first Boxing Day win in five years.
James dived to his right to beat out Steve Thompson's 63rd minute spot-kick, after
John Barnes had tripped Lee Philpott inside the box, and then right at the end spread
himself to keep out a point-blank effort from Mark Blake.
James' penalty save was crucial, as four minutes later Liverpool took the lead
through Robbie Fowler's hotly-disputed penalty, after Mike Whitlow was adjudged to have
pushed John Scales inside the box.
The Reds moved 2-0 ahead on 77 minutes, when Fowler and Barnes combined to carve
open the Filberts rearguard for Ian Rush to slide in and beat Kevin Poole at the near
post.
Five minutes later Leicester had Simon Grayson sent off for his second bookable
offence.
However, three minutes from time Leicester gave themselves hope of a draw when Mark
Draper hoisted a free kick into the area and sub Iwan Roberts rose unchallenged to head
home beyond James' advance.
Liverpool held out, though, to end a disappointing run, which had seen them score
only twice in their five previous games.
Leicester, missing the injured Julian Joachim and David Lowe, offered little threat
in attack.
Liverpool manager Roy Evans praised James: "For 85 minutes we did well, but
might have thrown it all away in the last five. David James did exceptionally well for us
in making the three fine saves. The last one was a little bit special. Overall, I think we
deserved to win. It's hard to play against teams who sit back and wait for you to come at
them, but we were patient and got our just rewards in the end."
Leicester boss Mark McGhee described the defeat as a game of two penalties:
"It all hinged on two moments - they scored a penalty and we didn't. I have
absolutely no doubt that if we had scored from the penalty, we would have got something
from this match. When I arrived here, I said we needed 31 points for safety. We got a
point against Blackburn, so I think we can do it."
Copyright - British Soccer Week |
Liverpool 2 - 0 Manchester City
| Wednesday 28 December 1994 19:45
FA Carling Premier League |
| |
|
 |
| Liverpool |
Manchester City |
| 2 - 0 (0-0) |
| |
| GOAL |
| Pelan 55 og, Fowler 82 |
|
| |
|
1 David James
12 John Scales
6 Phil Babb
20 Stig Inge Bjornebye
2 Rob Jones
25 Neil Ruddock
17 Steve McManaman
15 Jamie Redknapp
10 John Barnes
23 Robbie Fowler
9 Ian Rush (c)
Subs:
27 Mark Prudhoe
11 Mark Walters
16 Michael Thomas |
 |
25 Andy Dibble
18 Ian Brightwell
15 Alan Kernaghan
3 Terry Phelan
21 Steve Lomas
16 Nicky Summerbee
11 Peter Beagrie
10 Garry Flitcroft
4 Maurizio Gaudino
28 Uwe Rosler
8 Paul Walsh
Subs:
6 Michel Vonk |
| |
| SUBSTITUTIONS |
| |
Gaudino (Vonk 68) |
| |
| OFFICIALS & BOOKINGS |
| Referee: Robbie Hart |
| Booked: Ruddock |
Booked: Brightwell, Lomas |
| VENUE |
MANAGERS |
Anfield (capacity 44,000)
Attendance: 38,122 |
Roy Evans (Liverpool)
Brian Horton (Manchester C) |
 Price: J1,50
Notes:
- Robbie Fowler missed a penalty on 80'
- Andy Dibble saved Fowler's pen after Dibble had fouled Rush.
|
|
Liverpool move up
Liverpool climbed above Newcastle into third in the Premiership courtesy of an own
goal by Manchester City's Republic Of Ireland international defender Terry Phelan and a
superb late strike by Robbie Fowler.
The young Liverpool striker had seemed out of sorts for most of the night, having a
tame 80th-minute penalty kick well saved by City keeper Andy Dibble, who had brought down
Ian Rush.
But two minutes later the inspired Steve McManaman crossed to Fowler who controlled
it with one touch on the edge of the box and unleashed a blistering left_foot drive that
gave the 'keeper no chance.
Liverpool had driven forward almost constantly with City rarely able to break out
and build a meaningful counter-attack.
But, with poor finishing often letting down their promising attacks and 'keeper
Dibble in determined mood, it took World Cup full-back Phelan's blunder under pressure to
finally break the deadlock after 55 minutes.
Phil Babb crossed from the left for Liverpool, Alan Kernaghan allowed it to pass
over his head and, with Fowler lurking at his shoulder, the luckless Phelan headed beyond
the desperate dive of his stunned 'keeper.
Liverpool had been full of urgency in the first half, with McManaman at the heart
of their most impressive attacking moves, but they struggled to find the target.
Jamie Redknapp's powerful 25-yard drive after four minutes stung the hands of the
well-positioned Dibble, but that was the only save the 'keeper had to make before the
interval.
Steve Lomas was booked for a late challenge on McManaman after 10 minutes, and was
lucky to escape with a lecture for a similar offence 10 minutes later.
In between, McManaman had twice made typical dangerous runs into the City box,
pulling a low shot just wide and curling a high effort just beyond the far post.
After 21 minutes McManaman almost capitalised when Dibble over-ran a John Barnes
through ball into his box, but Lomas was on hand to clear and moments later Rush flashed a
shot just wide.
City's only first-half threat came from Paul Walsh, who fired over after three
minutes and then shook off a sliding tackle in the box from Neil Ruddock deep in injury
time only to see 'keeper David James close him down and block.
After the break, Liverpool tried to up the tempo and McManaman twice fired straight
at Dibble.
After 57 minutes McManaman brought a fine save out of the 'keeper and five minutes
later he surged brilliantly into the heart of the City defence only to see his final
effort deflected narrowly wide.
The irrepressible youngster again broke forward to fire from the edge of the box
after 67 minutes, but Dibble read it and got down to smother.
Copyright - British Soccer Week |
Leeds United - Liverpool
0 - 2
| Saturday 31 December 1994 FA
Carling Premier League |
| |
 |
|
|
| "Leeds
United" |
0 - 2 |
Liverpool |
| |
(0-1) |
|
| |
| GOAL |
| |
|
Redknapp 18, Fowler 76 |
| |
1 John Lukic
2 Gary Kelly
12 John Pemberton
15 Nigel Worthington
27 Lucas Radebe
-
-
-
-
26 Phil Masinga
14 David White
Subs:
3 Tony Dorigo
10 Gary McAllister |
|
1 David James
12 John Scales
6 Phil Babb
20 Stig Inge Bjornebye
2 Rob Jones
25 Neil Ruddock
17 Steve McManaman
15 Jamie Redknapp
10 John Barnes
23 Robbie Fowler
9 Ian Rush (c)
Subs:
27 Mark Prudhoe
11 Mark Walters
16 Michael Thomas |
| |
| SUBSTITUTIONS |
Worthington (Dorigo ?)
White (McAllister ?) |
|
|
| |
| OFFICIALS & BOOKINGS |
| Referee: Alan Wilkie |
| Booked: |
|
Booked: |
| VENUE |
|
MANAGERS |
Elland Road (capacity 38,950)
Attendance: 38,563 |
|
Howard Wilkinson (Leeds U)
Roy Evans (Liverpool) |
 Price: J1,50
Notes:
- League position: 3rd with 42 points from 22 games
|
|
Liverpool
- still in the running
Bosom buddies Jamie Redknapp and Robbie Fowler grabbed a goal in each half as
Liverpool continued their 100 per cent record and extended Leeds' growing frustrations.
Redknapp put the Anfield side on the way to their eighth game without defeat with a
stunning free-kick to claim his first Premiership goal of the campaign.
And as Liverpool asserted their supremacy, his England Under-21 team-mate Fowler
grabbed his 20th goal of the season after a shocking mistake by David Wetherall 14 minutes
from time.
Liverpool's win keeps them hot on the heels of the Premiership's top two, but Leeds
fans vented their anger on their team and manager Howard Wilkinson as they trooped off a
dejected second best.
Roy Evans' side could have gone ahead as early as the fifth minute, when they had
strong penalty claims turned down when Wetherall appeared to push Fowler from behind as he
dived to head a Rob Jones cross.
Sloppy play by John Barnes resulted in Gary Kelly testing David James and Phil
Masinga headed wide after Phil Babb allowed him to tun onto Lucas Radebe's deep cross, but
Liverpool took the lead in the 18th minute.
Skipper Ian Rush won possession in the midfield morass and was brought down by
Wetherall 25 yards out.
Redknapp strode up to curl the ball over the wall and, although John Lukic reached
out with his right hand, he was only able to push the ball onto the post and over the
line.
Although Leeds continued to push forward, the Radebe-Masinga combination almost
creating an equaliser when the striker left John Scales for dead before curling past the
post, Liverpool looked increasingly dangerous.
Steve McManaman was causing confusion as he popped up all over the place to torment
the Leeds backline and an error by Radebe nearly let in Rush for a second, Lukic saving
the striker's stinging drive.
Masinga's cross just eluded Wetherall's head, but another fast break by the Anfield
side ended with Rush unable to turn home McManaman's cross.
Fowler nearly got in on the end of a one-two with Rush at the start of the second
period and the dominance of Roy Evans' side made them look ever more likely to add to
their lead.
Leeds' best hope appeared to be the inconsistent handling of James, but their cause
was not helped when Tony Dorigo pulled up with a torn hamstring.
Wilkinson made a double substitution, Nigel Worthington and David White replacing
Dorigo and the out-of-touch Gordon Strachan, but only Gary McAllister seemed to have the
stomach for the fight.
John Pemberton hacked off the line after Stig Bjornebye had chipped past Lukic, but
the relief of the unhappy home fans lasted barely a minute before Fowler sealed victory.
Wetherall's woeful back header dropped straight into the teenager's path and,
although Lukic half-blocked his left-foot effort, the ball tricked off the post and over
the line.
James saved from White as Leeds attempted a late rally, but the boos ringing around
Elland Road at the final whistle told their own story.
By contrast, Liverpool chief Roy Evans was smiling after the victory: "We
couldn't have asked for more than maximum points from the holiday period. The effort and
application we showed was first class and if we keep it there's a good chance of us ending
up as a team. Jamie's goal helped take the pressure off. It gave us confidence, which was
very important, and that was the difference between the two teams."
As for Liverpool's championship chances, Evans said cautiously: "Blackburn and
United are still in the driving seat but we've done ourselves no harm over Christmas.
We're in the sort of position now where if they slip up we can take advantage. But we've
got to keep the pressure on them."
Copyright - British Soccer Week |
Liverpool - Norwich City
4 - 0
| Monday 2 January 1995 FA Carling
Premier League |
| |
|
|
 |
| Liverpool |
4 - 0 |
"Norwich
City" |
| |
(2-0) |
|
| |
| GOAL |
| Scales 14, Fowler 38, 47, Rush 83 |
|
|
| |
Team: 13. David
James, 12. John Scales, 6. Phil Babb, 20. Stig Inge Bjornebye, 2. Rob Jones, 25. Neil
Ruddock, 17. Steve McManaman, 15. Jamie Redknapp, 10. John Barnes, 23. Robbie Fowler, 9.
Ian Rush (c).
Subs: 27. Mark Prudhoe, 11. Mark Walters, 16. Michael Thomas. |
|
Team: 24. Andy
Marshall, 14. Spencer Prior, 20. Darren Eadie, 6. Neil Adams,
Subs: 11. Jeremy Goss, 3. Rob Newman. |
| |
| SUBSTITUTIONS |
| |
|
Eadie (Goss ), Adams (Newman ) |
| |
| OFFICIALS & BOOKINGS |
| Referee: K Cooper |
| Booked: |
|
Booked: |
| VENUE |
|
MANAGERS |
Anfield (capacity 44,000)
Attendance: 34,709 |
|
Roy Evans (Liverpool)
John Deehan (Norwich C) |
 Price: J1,50
|
|
Reds
clip Canaries
Liverpool moved to within one point of second-placed Manchester United after
cruising to victory against toothless Norwich.
Robbie Fowler's two goals took his tally to five in the four holiday games - 22 for
the season - and there was an ominous ease about the way the Merseysiders dominated
proceedings.
Norwich were guilty of slack marking for Liverpool's first goal, John Scales rising
unchallenged at the far post to nod home Stig Inge Bjornebye's left wing corner after 14
minutes.
Then, 23 minutes later, the inexperience of Norwich goalkeeper Andy Marshall found
him out when Ian Rush flicked Steve McManaman's pass on with precision to Fowler, firing
home through the keeper's legs as he tried to cover his near post.
Norwich made a double substitution at half-time, bringing on Darren Eadie and Neil
Adams in place of Jeremy Goss and Rob Newman. But, a minute into the second half, Fowler
put the result beyond doubt.
Liverpool keeper David James hoofed a massive clearance upfield and Fowler had the
pace to sprint clear of the Norwich defence plus the composure to finish with a clinical
low drive.
Fowler turned provider with seven minutes remaining, crossing from the right for
Rush to loop a header over the keeper and high into the net.
Marshall had been lucky to escape with a couple of clearances under pressure early
on. First, he fired Newman's back pass straight to Rush after three minutes but got down
well to save the Welsh international's shot.
Two minutes later, he hammered another clearance at Spencer Prior, who was standing
a couple of yards in front of him in the box, but appeals for a penalty for handball were
turned down by referee Keith Cooper.
John Barnes curled a free kick wide and Marshall twice saved from Rush.
Mike Sheron and Robert Ullathorne fired wide for Norwich in the seventh and eighth
minutes but it was 43 minutes before James had a save to make, getting down well at full
stretch to gather the ball as Ashley Ward fired in a low cross.
Norwich substitute Eadie brought another good save out of the well positioned James
with a flick header in the first few seconds of the second half before Fowler's second
goal put the game beyond the Canaries' reach.
John Deehan said of Liverpool: "I was just glad the final whistle came,
because they didn't look as though they would take their foot off the pedal at any stage.
We met a very good side, but it was a performance from Norwich that was below what we have
expected in the early part of the season. There were too many poor performances in too
many important positions and Liverpool took full advantage of that."
In a classic case of understatement Liverpool manager Roy Evans said: "We've
done ourselves no harm over the festive season. I have just thanked the players that have
played, the substitutes and the staff. Over the eight day period they have put that effort
in. They have looked after themselves in a reasonable fashion and they may even get a day
off tomorrow! The main pat on the back must go to the players. They have kept themselves
in a condition to perform even in the last game of the period, and today we won
comfortably in the end. I have always talked about consistency being a factor and we've
had that over this eight days. We are still only half way through the season, but we've
showed we can do it."
Evans added: "It's not a bad start to the New Year. We've just got to keep our
heads down and keep going."
Copyright - British Soccer Week |
Birmingham City - Liverpool
0 - 0
| Saturday 7 January 1995 15:00 FA
Cup 3rd Round |
| |
 |
|
|
| "Birmingham
City" |
0 - 0 |
Liverpool |
| |
(0-0) |
|
| |
| GOAL |
| |
|
|
| |
| |
|
1 David James
12 John Scales
6 Phil Babb
20 Stig Inge Bjornebye
2 Rob Jones
25 Neil Ruddock
17 Steve McManaman
15 Jamie Redknapp
10 John Barnes
23 Robbie Fowler
9 Ian Rush (c)
Subs:
26 Tony Warner
11 Mark Walters
16 Michael Thomas |
| |
| SUBSTITUTIONS |
| |
|
|
| |
| OFFICIALS & BOOKINGS |
| Referee: |
| Booked: |
|
Booked: |
| VENUE |
|
MANAGERS |
St Andrews (capacity )
Attendance: 25,326 |
|
Barry Fry (Birmingham C)
Roy Evans (Liverpool) |
 Price: J
|
|
Nearly
toppled
Birmingham battered five-times winners Liverpool to the brink of a third
consecutive FA Cup disaster.
But the attack that is fuelling the revivalist fervour of a rebuilt St Andrews
could not conjure the strike that would have dumped out the 1992 winners.
Not that Roy Evans' side will view securing a replay on January 18 as any more than
a temporary reprieve, having lost to both Bolton and Bristol City at Anfield in the third
round in the last two seasons.
Unbeaten for nine games, and boasting a 100% Premiership record over Christmas, the
Merseyside giants were made so uncomfortable by the Endsleigh Division Two leaders that
Neil Ruddock clashed with his own goalkeeper David James in the final, frantic last
moments.
It is easy to see why the Blues crowd is convinced the second city club is on the
verge of returning to the big time, as they made almost all the running.
They put seven past Blackpool to take Barry Fry's unbeaten run to 23 games and were
boosted by the return of Peter Shearer and Ricky Otto from his sickbed.
Although they had lost their previous five encounters with Liverpool, and crashed
out to Kidderminster last season, they clearly relished the chance to turn the tables.
They attacked with exuberance and belief, but also defended powerfully, massing
bodies behind the ball whenever it was lost.
On a bumpy pitch which hindered their natural passing game, Liverpool relied on
swift counters led by Steve McManaman, his early low shot plucked to safety at full
strength by Ian Bennett.
But his full England team-mate Rob Jones looked uneasy against the pace of Steve
Claridge and the trickery of Louie Donowa, while goalkeeper David James had one of those
games which reminded everyone of his fallibility to crosses.
He was lucky again when Otto fired straight at him, when Claridge completely
miscued a volley and, most of all, in the 31st minute when Donowa bamboozled Jones but
drove his angled shot against the outside of the near post.
Then, when Claridge robbed a cocksure John Scales, Kenny Lowe cracked a superb
rising shot from nearly 30 yards which James, back-pedalling, tipped over his bar.
Bennett, who walked away from a car crash on Wednesday, saved from Ian Rush's shot
on the turn and more brilliantly when Scales, Bjornebye and McManaman set up Fowler for a
shot towards the top right hand corner.
But he had hardly anything to do in the second half when Birmingham took full
control, surging forward on a wave of deep-throated encouragement.
But although Otto and Claridge drove in crisp shots, and Donowa continued to
rampage, they could not carve out the clear chance that would have completed Liverpool's
embarrassment.
And in the 88th minute Bennett came to their rescue, diving low to his left to
pounce on a McManaman shot that nearly gave Liverpool a win their performance did not
merit.
Birmingham boss Barry Fry said: "Aren't statistics wonderful? It may come into
their minds if we go 2-0 up early on! But seriously, the tie's not over yet. The last time
I was at Anfield was 30 years ago with Manchester United reserves when Tommy Smith kicked
me all over the place. I hope I can see him up there so I can get my revenge. We thought
we did enough to win here. We just shaded it on chances, though Ian Bennett made a couple
of brilliant saves. But they kept going right to the end and no-one can dispute that we
deserved a replay at Anfield at the least."
Liverpool manager Roy Evans said: "We haven't got through but we've been this
way before. The ball's in our court and it's up to us to make sure we go back to Anfield
and win it this time."
Copyright - British Soccer Week |
Liverpool - Arsenal 1 -
0
| Wednesday 11 January 1995 19:45
League / Coca-Cola Cup 5th Round |
| |
|
|
|
| Liverpool |
1 - 0 |
"Arsenal" |
| |
(0-0) |
|
| |
| GOAL |
| Rush 59 |
|
|
| |
Team: 1. David
James, 12. John Scales, 6. Phil Babb, 20. Stig Inge Bjornebye, 2. Rob Jones, 25. Neil
Ruddock, 17. Steve McManaman, 15. Jamie Redknapp, 10. John Barnes, 23. Robbie Fowler, 9.
Ian Rush (c).
Subs: 13.
Michael Stensgaard, 11. Mark Walters, 16. Michael Thomas. |
|
Team: 1. David Seaman,
2. Lee Dixon, 3. Nigel Winterburn, 5. Andy Linighan, 15. Stefan Schwarz,
Subs: |
| |
| SUBSTITUTIONS |
| Barnes (Thomas 61) |
|
|
| |
| OFFICIALS & BOOKINGS |
| Referee: |
| Booked: |
|
Booked: |
| VENUE |
|
MANAGERS |
Anfield (capacity 44,000)
Attendance: 35,026 |
|
Roy Evans (Liverpool)
George Graham (Arsenal) |
 Price: J1,50
Notes:
- Liverpool FC Man-of-the-Match: Neil Ruddock |
|
Reds
are ready to polish some new silverware
Ian Rush rolled back the years again to score his 13th goal of the season and put
Liverpool through to the semi-finals of the Coca-Cola Cup.
Liverpool's verve and style finally triumphed over the Gunners' resilience and the
veteran Wales striker splendidly finished off a well-practiced free-kick routine just
before the hour.
John Barnes touched the ball aside after John Jensen's foul on Jamie Redknapp had
produced the set-piece on the edge of the box.
And Neil Ruddock's slide-rule pass laid the Arsenal defence as bare as the streaker
who did press-ups on the pitch in the closing minutes.
Rush's perfect finish totally denuded the London team's amazing run of 25 away
cup-ties without defeat.
It also stretched Liverpool's unbeaten sequence to 11 matches, but this was also
the third defeat in four games for George Graham's Highbury side.
Although they never stopped battling, there was no way back for Arsenal after
Rush's strike.
Ian Wright, now without a goal in four games, had desperately thin service and
finished a frustrating night without a serious effort on target.
Liverpool's deserved success prevented a major row over a first-half incident in
which they seemed to be deprived of a clear penalty.
David Seaman gave his defence a scare in the opening minute when he mis-kicked a
back-pass from Steve Bould straight to the lurking Robbie Fowler. The young striker tried
to put Steve McManaman through but the Gunners' goalkeeper recovered his ground to block
the effort.
It inspired Liverpool to an all-out assault, which had the Londoners at
full-stretch and brought bookings for Bould and Stefan Schwarz as they desperately tried
to stem the tide of red shirts around their penalty area.
Lee Dixon hooked off the line in the 18th minute, when it seemed Rush must score at
the far post after McManaman had forced his shot through Seaman's smothering embrace.
By this stage, Wright and Campbell were running up blind alleys trying to feed on
the scraps which were scrambled out of Arsenal's heavily-populated defence and midfield.
The Kop exploded with fury when referee Philip Don ignored a linesman's flag and
waved play on as Dixon appeared to handle the ball on the ground after Scales had driven a
great chance against Seaman's body.
And Arsenal survived again before the break when Rush, six yards out, headed
McManaman's cross downwards, but straight at the grateful Seaman.
Highbury boss Graham admitted: "I have no complaints. This reminded me of the
Liverpool of old - top quality. hey are the team in form at the moment and are capable of
going all the way. They play an excellent system, but even apart from the skill factor,
they have players who work very hard for each other."
Graham received all-out commitment from his defenders as they tried to stem
Liverpool's stylish flow: "We've got to work a lot harder at retaining the ball and
running off it in the opposition's half of the pitch."
Ruddock revealed that the free-kick ploy was only a late addition to the first
team's repertoire: "We practised it for the first time at the training ground today.
Arsenal always like to hold the line against a direct free-kick but it was my job to
collect a short one and play it through for whoever made the run. It worked a treat and
was a great moment for me because I was with Spurs a couple of seasons ago when Arsenal
knocked us out of an FA Cup semi-final and it is lovely to get your own back."
Liverpool boss Roy Evans said: "It is a nice compliment for George to say it
looked like the old Liverpool, but we are trying to build our own image. The foundations
that Bill Shankly laid down are still here, but everything depends on the players working
for each other. I thought we did well because Arsenal have been the best cup side for
maybe the last 10 years. It was frustrating we couldn't turn our chances into goals in the
first-half but I just said to them at half-time to 'carry on as you have been doing'.
We've still got a bit to do to win this competition, but our work at the back is pleasing
me as much as anything. That's five games without a goal against us and I didn't think we
looked like conceding one tonight."
Copyright - British Soccer Week |
Liverpool - Ipswich Town 0 - 1
| Saturday 14 January 1995 15:00 FA
Carling Premier League |
| |
|
|
|
| Liverpool |
0 - 1 |
"Ipswich
Town" |
| |
(0-1) |
|
| |
| GOAL |
| |
|
Tanner |
| |
1 David James
20 Stig Inge Bjornebye
2 Rob Jones
25 Neil Ruddock
12 John Scales
6 Phil Babb
16 Michael Thomas
17 Steve McManaman
15 Jamie Redknapp
23 Robbie Fowler
9 Ian Rush (c)
Subs:
13 Michael Stensgaard
4 Steve Nicol
11 Mark Walters |
|
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
25 Adam Tanner
-
-
-
Subs:
-
-
- |
| |
| SUBSTITUTIONS |
| Bjornebye (Walters 56) |
|
|
| |
| OFFICIALS & BOOKINGS |
| Referee: Roger Gifford |
| Booked: |
|
Booked: |
| VENUE |
|
MANAGERS |
Anfield (capacity 44,000)
Attendance: 32,733 |
|
Roy Evans (Liverpool)
George Burley (Ipswich T) |
 Price: J1,50
|
|
Burley's boys upset Reds
Midfielder Adam Tanner struck a stunning goal to earn Ipswich their first ever-win
at Anfield and deal a devastating blow to Liverpool's Premiership title hopes.
The 21-year-old Tanner thumped home a first-half cracker which sent the Reds to
their first home League defeat of the season despite laying siege to the Ipswich goal for
much of the match.
Canadian 'keeper Craig Forrest - superbly protected by his defence - repelled all
would-be Liverpool rescuers to give George Burley's men their first away win since August
and the perfect response to their FA Cup defeat at Wrexham.
Liverpool were without thigh injury victim John Barnes, but Burley made five
changes - three enforced - from the team humiliated at the Racecourse Ground last week.
Ipswich, befitting a team with nothing other than survival on their minds,
funnelled back to offer a nine-man defensive shield and their take no prisoners approach -
marshalled by the former Liverpool stalwart John Wark - did little to endear them to the
Anfield crowd.
David Linighan, Steve Sedgley and Gavin Johnson all announced their presence with
crunching and illegal challenges, but with Steve McManaman in sparkling form, this did not
seem likely to have much relevance to the destination of the points.
One jinking run from the winger left the retreating Ipswich men trailing in his
wake before a shot which was dragged wide from 20 yards.
And when McManaman returned to the right his influence was even greater. Cutting
inside and shooting with his left, McManaman forced Forrest - back after injury - into the
first of a series of fine stops.
Then the wideman twice created great openings for England team-mate Rob Jones, both
of which were foiled by Forrest.
But out of nothing, Ipswich broke from their defensive shell to take the lead on
the half-hour. Sedgley played the ball in from the left and Tanner continued his
eye-catching introduction to the big-time by cracking home left-footed - only the second
goal David James had conceded in nine matches.
On his Ipswich debut a fortnight earlier, the midfielder scored in the 4-1 win over
Leicester. Last week he conceded the penalty which gave Wrexham the shock of the third
round of the FA Cup but he will remember his third game for more satisfying reasons.
McManaman and then Stig Bjornebye were then denied by the in-form Forrest and a
fast break led by Uruguayan striker Adrian Paz nearly embarrassed Neil Ruddock, whose
interception sent the ball into the side-netting with James wrong-footed.
Forrest kept the Portman Road side ahead by denying Jones for a third time after
excellent link play between McManaman and Michael Thomas, who was in for Barnes, and the
worries on the Liverpool bench were shown when Mark Walters replaced Bjornebye in the 57th
minute.
Liverpool's possession was tantamount to a monopoly, but despite the effort and the
exhortations of the crowd they rarely got through to worry Forrest.
Walters had one shot turned into the side-netting and Fowler just failed to reach a
McManaman cross as Liverpool tried in vain to salvage a point.
At the death, Walters just failed to turn the ball home at the far post, but this
was Tanner's - and Ipswich's - day.
"I was here numerous times as a player and never got a win, so to come back
and win as a manager is very pleasing for me," said Burley. "The commitment and
attitude of the players was first-class. We were unrecognisable from the team we were last
week."
Burley explained: "It was all down to hard work. I told the players what we
had to do, we did it for 90 minutes and we deserved three points."
For Evans there was little hiding the huge disappointment of his side's display. He
said: "All the pluses that there have been in the unbeaten run weren't there today.
What we've done well is to pass the ball, move it and get behind the opposition. But we
didn't pass it well from start to finish today. We still ended up with a few chances but
we didn't play as well as we can. They had a bit of luck but good luck to them. I always
felt it just wasn't going to be for us."
Copyright - British Soccer Week |
Liverpool 1 - 1 Birmingham City
| Wednesday 18 January 1995 19:45
FA Cup 3rd Round Replay |
| |
|
|
| Liverpool |
Birmingham City |
| 1 - 1 (1-0) |
| extra time (2-0 on pealty, 1-1, 1-1, 1-1,
1-0) |
| GOAL |
| Redknapp 21 |
Otto 69 |
| |
|
1 David James
20 Stig Inge Bjornebye
2 Rob Jones
25 Neil Ruddock
12 John Scales
6 Phil Babb
16 Michael Thomas
17 Steve McManaman
15 Jamie Redknapp
23 Robbie Fowler
9 Ian Rush (c)
Subs:
13 Michael Stensgaard
7 Nigel Clough
11 Mark Walters |
 |
- Ian Bennett
-
-
- Steve McGavin
-
- Liam Daish
- Gary Cooper
- Louie Donowa
-
- Mark Ward
- Ricky Otto
Subs:
- |
| |
| SUBSTITUTIONS |
| |
|
| |
| OFFICIALS & BOOKINGS |
| Referee: |
| Booked: |
Booked: |
| VENUE |
MANAGERS |
Anfield (capacity 44,000)
Attendance: 36,275 |
Roy Evans (Liverpool)
Barry Fry (Birmingham C) |
 Price: J1,50
Notes:
- Liverpool won 2-0 on penalties.
- Scorers: Redknapp and Bjornebye.
|
|
Birmingham bow to pressure
Penalty blunderers Birmingham threw away the chance of FA Cup glory and allowed
Liverpool to kill off their third round jinx.
The Endsleigh Division Two leaders took the five-times winners to a penalty
shoot-out and raised Anfield's fears of a third consecutive third round replay defeat,
following the disasters against Bolton and Bristol City.
But Barry Fry's men could not find the net in four attempts and Liverpool finally
squeezed a nervous pass from this B-test to set up another examination - away to Burnley.
Liverpool led through Jamie Redknapp's first Anfield goal of the season after 21
minutes, and if the England B midfielder had taken the chance to improve his poor scoring
record, the game would have been well over by the hour.
But Birmingham battled back and their new hero, million pound signing Ricky Otto,
sparked jubilant celebration among the 8000 travelling fans with his superbly taken 69th
minute equaliser.
They survived extra-time and a disallowed Ian Rush record-equalling goal to force
the lottery of a shoot-out which produced more than its usual drama.
Former Everton player Mark Ward shot wide, but Neil Ruddock's effort was saved by
Ian Bennett.
But Steve McGavin allowed David James to save, Liam Daish blasted high over and
Gary Cooper hammered his spot-kick against the bar.
So Redknapp's drive under Bennett's bar and Stig Inge Bjornebye's cool shot into
the corner saw the 1992 winners safely into the last 32 for the first time in three years.
They should have won far more comfortably. But the Midlands underdogs snapped and
harried Liverpool heels, with both Rush and Fowler complaining about too little protection
from referee Jimmy Parker.
Liverpool's 10 million pound defence had a busy time too as Birmingham searched for
openings that Otto and Louie Donowa could exploit with their pace.
The towering height of the watching Kevin Francis, set to complete his on-off
800,000 pound transfer from Stockport, would have offered Birmingham another option.
Instead, the stalemate of St Andrews' seemed set to endure on Merseyside until
Redknapp's thunderbolt from nowhere in the 21st minute.
Taking a pass from Fowler some 30 yards out wide on the right, there seemed little
danger until he let rip with his right foot, the ball rattling the far upright, smacking
down and in off the right shoulder of goalkeeper Ian Bennett.
Unless ruled an own goal by the FA adjudicators, it was the England B midfielder's
fourth goal of the season, matching last season's tally.
Copyright - British Soccer Week |
Liverpool - Everton 0 -
0
| Tuesday 24 January 1995 FA
Carling Premier League |
| |
|
|
|
| Liverpool |
0 - 0 |
"Everton" |
| |
(0-0) |
|
| |
| GOAL |
| |
|
|
| |
Team: 13. David
James, 12. John Scales, 6. Phil Babb, 20. Stig Inge Bjornebye, 2. Rob Jones, 25. Neil
Ruddock, 17. Steve McManaman, 15. Jamie Redknapp, 10. John Barnes, 23. Robbie Fowler, 9.
Ian Rush (c).
Subs: 13. Michael Stensgaard, 11. Mark Walters, 16. Michael Thomas. |
|
Team:
Subs: |
| |
| SUBSTITUTIONS |
| |
|
|
| |
| OFFICIALS & BOOKINGS |
| Referee: Brian Hill
(Kettering, Northants) Linesman: R J Olivier (Yellow Flag), J A Sheffield
(Red Flag) |
| Booked: |
|
Booked: |
| VENUE |
|
MANAGERS |
Anfield (capacity 44,000)
Attendance: 39,505 |
|
Roy Evans (Liverpool)
Joe Royle (Everton) |
|
|
Merseyside Derby not a classic
Everton gained a vital point in their battle against relegation after a
fiercely-fought but largely excitement-free Merseyside Derby.
Anfield's biggest crowd of the season, 39,505, roared on both sides. But a
procession of offside decisions and a tempo which was simply too fast for any real
football to be played turned the game into a huge anti-climax.
While Liverpool - now without a win in four games - trooped off with their
flickering championship hopes having faded even further, Joe Royle's men were delighted to
have avoided defeat.
And the Goodison outfit could have earned their first Anfield victory in a decade
late on when Duncan Ferguson's header was kept out by David James.
The commitment of both sides - especially Everton - was clear from the outset but
the frantic nature of the opening correctly booed ill for the remainder of the contest.
David Unsworth was relieved when his headed clearance from Stig Bjornebye's cross
rolled outside the post with Neville Southall out of his goal, but for all the passion of
red and blue, yellow was the predominant colour.
Referee Brian Hill produced his card four times in the first half, all for the
visitors, who were determined to give Liverpool in general, and Steve McManaman in
particular, not an inch of room.
Dave Watson, Joe Parkinson, David Burrows and Unsworth were the men to fall foul of
Mr Hill but the referee's activity could not hide the redundancy of both goalkeepers, with
the two sets of strikers caught off-side far too frequently.
Southall needed the help of Watson to block when Robbie Fowler had Liverpool's
first shot on the half-hour - Parkinson and Matthew Jackson had earlier blazed over for
Everton - but the first save did not come until seven minutes from the break.
Watson's long clearance saw Ferguson get beyond the home backline and the Scot
controlled the high, bouncing ball well to turn and shoot, with David James holding
comfortably.
In injury time, Jamie Redknapp's corner flicked off Watson as far as John Scales,
who volleyed low and left-footed, with Southall blocking and Everton scrambling clear.
Barry Horne began the second period with a run and right-foot shot at James before
Burrows was perhaps fortunate to escape a second booking in his first derby since
returning to Merseyside when he brought down Fowler.
Ian Rush, who had recovered from a rib injury, wasted an opportunity to add to his
derby-record 25 goals when he miskicked from a Scales cross and Phil Babb joined the list
of transgressors when he was cautioned on the hour.
The Irishman then nearly made amends, breaking down the left and crossing only for
Rob Jones to drag his shot across goal.
Everton took this as their cue to look for a winner.
Horne was just off-target from the edge of the box after Jamie Redknapp slipped in
front of him and an acrobatic Paul Rideout volley nestled in James' arms.
With Everton growing in confidence, Ferguson could have taken the points with a
firm downward header from Jackson's cross which James was grateful to hold at the second
attempt.
The Scot - who now begins a three-match ban - then drove narrowly over on the run
but the final whistle brought a chorus of boos from the disgruntled home fans.
Liverpool boss Roy Evans launched a verbal assault on referee Brian Hill after this
ill-tempered Merseyside Derby: "I just think the referee didn't do his job. We tried
to play the attacking brand of football and fluency is a big part. But every time we went
past our player was brought down. They had four booked in the first half but the referee
didn't continue that in the second and we didn't get the protection we deserved."
Evans added: "I don't like seeing people sent off but if they are stopping us
playing by bringing us down, we can't get the fluency that is part of our game. Every time
we got it past their back four we were fouled. It just spoiled it for the fans."
Everton boss Joe Royle not surprisingly took a different view, saying: "That
was a good point."
"We can and will play a lot better but defensively we were top notch and
Neville Southall didn't have a save to make."
Royle added: "It was a fervent game and I was disappointed that all the
bookings were one way in the first half because although I can't disagree with them I
thought there should have been some balancing out at some stage."
As for the battling qualities shown by his team Royle said: "We've got to have
that, we've got to take it for granted. I've seen plenty of teams come here and lie down
in the past. We certainly weren't going to do that and big Duncan Ferguson might have
nicked it at the end." |
Burnley - Liverpool 0 -
0
| Saturday 28 January 1995 15:00 FA
Cup 4th Round |
| |
|
|
|
| "Burnley" |
0 - 0 |
Liverpool |
| |
(0-0) |
|
| |
| GOAL |
| |
|
|
| |
| |
|
1 David James
12 John Scales
6 Phil Babb
2 Rob Jones
21 Dominic Matteo
25 Neil Ruddock
17 Steve McManaman
15 Jamie Redknapp
10 John Barnes
23 Robbie Fowler
9 Ian Rush (c)
Subs:
13 Michael Stensgaard
11 Mark Walters
16 Michael Thomas |
| |
| SUBSTITUTIONS |
| |
|
|
| |
| OFFICIALS & BOOKINGS |
| Referee: |
| Booked: |
|
Booked: |
| VENUE |
|
MANAGERS |
Turf Moor (capacity )
Attendance: 20,551 |
|
Jimmy Mullen (Burnley)
Roy Evans (Liverpool) |
 Price: J1,50
|
|
Hardworking Clarets earn an Anfield replay
Lucky Liverpool face another awkward Anfield replay after scrapping their way to a
goalless draw at Turf Moor.
The Premiership side will be glad for another crack at their first division
opponents, despite their miserable experiences at home in the FA Cup in recent years.
Liverpool were dumped out of the competition by Bolton, then Bristol City at home
following draws against their lower division opposition.
And even this season they needed penalties to get through an Anfield replay in the
last round following a goalless draw at second division Birmingham.
But Liverpool will be confident they have now put that recent jinx behind them as
they attempt to maintain their double attack on two cup fronts following their continued
involvement in the Coca-Cola Cup.
They knew they had been in a real fight after leaving a rain-sodden Turf Moor, even
though goalkeeper David James had only two saves to make all day.
They came at the start and end of a pulsating encounter which unfairly saw six
players booked - four of them from battling Burnley.
James tipped over a stinging David Eyres drive as early as the third minute. Then
with just four minutes left, the keeper was relieved to see Burnley's Steve Davis power a
close-range header right into his midriff.
But, in between, the Liverpool goal enjoyed several fortunate escapes, chiefly
caused by some lack-lustre and careless clearances by their defence.
On loan striker Andy Saville nearly punished one clearance only for Phil Babb to
deflect it inches wide of his own goal.
Neil Ruddock also made several last gasp interceptions, with one denying an
opportunity to Liam Robinson, which Burnley's best player would certainly have tucked
away.
Liverpool did create several chances for themselves, only for Steve McManaman to
have an off day with his finishing.
The England prospect headed one chance early wide, then from the best move of the
match as John Barnes and Ian Rush split the defence, McManaman directed his shot at keeper
Wayne Russell's feet.
Rush had just one opportunity of finally equalling Denis Law's record FA Cup tally
of 41 goals.
But after latching onto Davis' badly timed header, which skimmed towards his own
goal, the Welsh international again found the feet of Russell.
But Burnley, watched by over 20,000 fans - their biggest crowd of the season -
deserved their chance of another pay day and the possibility of joining Bristol City and
Bolton in the annals of Anfield history.
Liverpool manager Roy Evans declared: "I thought it was a total non-event. The
only good thing for us is that we are still in the hat. We had our times, but we never
really frightened them much. We needed a kick-start today, but there was nobody there to
kick-start us. The game never really got started. They had some scrambles in our area and
we had some possession and got behind them without doing too much."
Liverpool have now scored just twice in the last six games, but Evans said:
"At least we are still getting in there. We were just lack-lustre all round."
Burnley boss Jimmy Mullen said: "I thought it was a fair result. I am pleased
with our performance - I thought it was to our credit."
Burnley were beaten 2-0 at Anfield earlier in the season in a Coca-Cola Cup tie,
but Mullen said: "I thought that scoreline flattered them. We played well up at their
place and we had a couple of early chances. It's a daunting prospect going there for the
replay, but we're still in with a chance."
Copyright - British Soccer Week |
Nottingham Forest - Liverpool
1 - 1
| Saturday 4 February 1995 15:00 FA
Carling Premier League |
| |
|
|
|
| "Nottingham
Forest" |
1 - 1 |
Liverpool |
| |
( -0) |
|
| |
| GOAL |
| |
|
Fowler 90 |
| |
Team: 1. Mark
Crossley, 4. Colin Cooper (c), 11. Steve Stone,
Subs: |
|
Team: 13. David James,
12. John Scales, 6. Phil Babb, 2. Rob Jones, 21. Dominic Matteo, 25. Neil Ruddock,
17. Steve McManaman, 15. Jamie Redknapp, 10. John Barnes, 23. Robbie Fowler, 9. Ian Rush
(c).
Subs: 13. Michael Stensgaard, 11. Mark Walters, 16. Michael Thomas. |
| |
| SUBSTITUTIONS |
| |
|
Redknapp (Thomas 73),Matteo (Walters
84) |
| |
| OFFICIALS & BOOKINGS |
| Referee: Gary Willard |
| Booked: |
|
Booked:
Sent Off: Babb 52 |
| VENUE |
|
MANAGERS |
City Ground (capacity 28,214)
Attendance: 25,418 |
|
Frank Clark (Nottingham F)
Roy Evans (Liverpool) |
 Price: J
Notes:
- Babb was sent off for a foul on Forest midfielder Steve Stone
|
|
Reds
earn their point
Robbie Fowler rediscovered his goal scoring touch to snatch an injury time
equaliser for Liverpool at the City Ground.
It was no more than the Merseysiders deserved after dominating the second half
despite having defender Phil Babb sent off in the 52nd minute for a foul on Forest
midfielder Steve Stone.
It was an intriguing contest between two sides seeking European places next season
and Forest struck first though Stan Collymore.
The burly striker netted his 15th goal of the season from close range after Dutch
international defender Bryan Roy had prodded the ball past Liverpool keeper David James.
Forest had enough first-half chances to put the game beyond Liverpool's reach and
were made to pay for their poor finishing after the break.
Liverpool came to life following Babb's dismissal and Forest keeper Mark Crossley
twice had to fling himself full-length to deny Fowler an equaliser.
However, Fowler made no mistake with his third opportunity, sliding a shot past the
despairing Crossley after substitute Michael Thomas and Steve McManaman had combined to
create the opening.
Liverpool boss Roy Evans was critical of his side after their draw with Nottingham
Forest: "I was pleased with our performance for the last 35 minutes but it mystifies
me why we couldn't play like that for the entire 90 minutes. In the first half we let
Forest have too much of the ball and they punished us with a goal. But the sending off of
Phil gave us the kick up the backside we needed. It's unfortunate that it took an incident
like that to get us going though."
Forest captain Colin Cooper said: "We're disappointed to have let it slip at
such a late stage but we played some great football at times and must take encouragement
from that."
Copyright - British Soccer Week |
Liverpool 1 - 0 Burnley
| Tuesday 7 February 1995 FA Cup
4th Round Replay |
| |
|
|
| Liverpool |
Burnley |
| 1 - 0 (1-0) |
| |
| GOAL |
| Barnes 44 |
|
| |
 |
1 David James
20 Stig Inge Bjornebye
2 Rob Jones
25 Neil Ruddock
12 John Scales
6 Phil Babb
16 Michael Thomas
17 Steve McManaman
10 John Barnes
23 Robbie Fowler
9 Ian Rush (c)
Subs:
13 Michael Stensgaard
7 Nigel Clough
11 Mark Walters |
|
- Marlon Beresford
-
- Alan Harper
-
-
-
-
-
-
- John Mullin
- Liam Robinson
Subs:
- Ted McMinn |
| |
| SUBSTITUTIONS |
| |
|
| |
| OFFICIALS & BOOKINGS |
| Referee: Morton |
Booked:
Sent Off: Ruddock 81 |
Booked: Harper
Sent Off: McMinn |
| VENUE |
MANAGERS |
Anfield (capacity 44,000)
Attendance: 32,109 |
Roy Evans (Liverpool)
Jimmy Mullen (Burnley) |
 Price: J1,50
Notes:
- Burnley used away kits, all yellow.
- Ruddock was sent off for a professional foul on Liam Robinson after a dreadful
back-pass from Rob Jones
- Substitute Ted McMinn was red-carded for swearing at a linesman
|
|
Barnes
banishes B-team jinx
Neil Ruddock became the second Liverpool player dismissed in four days as a
first-half header from John Barnes earned the Anfield side a fifth round tie with
Wimbledon.
Ruddock received his marching orders from referee Kelvin Morton eight minutes from
time for a professional foul on Liam Robinson after a dreadful back-pass from Rob Jones.
Burnley's disappointment at not joining the ranks of Anfield's FA Cup "killer
B's" against an unconvincing Liverpool side boiled over after the final whistle.
Substitute Ted McMinn was red- carded for swearing at a linesman.
The Reds had not won a tie in the FA Cup, in open play, since lifting the trophy
against Sunderland in 1992 and embarrassing exits to Bolton and Bristol City made it a
nervous night before Ruddock joined Phil Babb at Nottingham Forest on the list of those
dismissed.
And with chances going begging before and after Barnes grabbed his sixth goal of
the campaign just before the interval, Anfield was left willing Mr Morton to blow the
final whistle long before time was up.
Flu robbed Liverpool of Jamie Redknapp, Michael Thomas filling in, and it became
clear that the home side were going to need his battling qualities when former Everton man
Alan Harper was booked inside the first two minutes for upending Jones.
Harper fired at David James from 20 yards, then tyro John Mullin headed over from
Gary Parkinson's free-kick.
After that, though, the gap between the Burnley strikers and midfield grew
ever-wider, although Liverpool's profligacy and tendency to try to walk the ball in could
have cost them.
Ian Rush's haste to equal Denis Law's FA Cup record of 41 goals betrayed him when
he ran offside to meet a Robbie Fowler cross and then Steve McManaman raced onto Fowler's
ball forward only to drag wide.
In the 27th minute McManaman's persistence on the left should have brought the
opener, Rush escaping attention to get a free header from inside the six-yard box.
But as Anfield rose to acclaim the milestone the ball drifted across the face of
goal and out for a goal-kick.
John Scales headed at Marlon Beresford as Liverpool pressed on, but just as Burnley
looked to have reached the interval on terms, Barnes struck.
McManaman seemed to waste a shooting opportunity, but earned a corner, Stig
Bjornebye swung the ball in and Burnley's woeful marking cost them dear as Barnes headed
powerfully home from eight yards.
Mullin drove at James' legs after the interval and McManaman could have made
Burnley pay in the 54th minute. Thomas' pass freed him on half-way and he danced past a
back-pedalling Burnley rearguard and into the box, let fly and clipped the outside of the
post.
Rush, released by Ruddock, found Fowler, who shot powerfully, but always well wide
and the England Under-21 striker then should have converted McManaman's pass.
That inability to make the most of their opportunities might have proved costly
when Robinson's cross-cum-shot nearly deceived James and McMinn was sent on to try and
spark an equaliser.
Then came Ruddock's dismissal. Robinson, in the Bristol City side that forced
Graeme Souness' departure 13 months ago, was hauled down by Ruddock as he advanced onto
Jones' poor ball, the referee having no option but to send the defender off.
The incident served to incite passions further and while Anfield greeted Mr
Morton's blast with relief, McMinn only reacted with abuse to earn himself the second red
card of the night.
Anfield boss Roy Evans had no complaints about Ruddock's dismissal; "It's one
of those things. It was unfortunate because it was an innocuous foul, but their player was
going towards goal and the rules state he must go."
Evans was pleased with Barnes' goal, but less happy with Liverpool's stuttering
overall display.
"It was a great goal, but it didn't fit the game to be honest. We had enough
of the ball to win as many games as you like, but didn't do it," said Evans.
Burnley manager Jimmy Mullen was unhappy that Ruddock's foul had deprived Robinson
of a chance to score.
"The rules say the player must be automatically sent off, but it denies you a
goal. Robinson would've scored - I'd bet my house on that. We knew it was going to be an
enormous task. But I thought we took the game to Liverpool, even if that meant leaving
ourselves open, and I can't fault our endeavour."
Of McMinn's dismissal, Mullin said: "I gather he was sent off, but it wasn't
until I was in the dressing room that I found out. Until I know what happened I don't want
to make any comment."
Copyright - British Soccer Week |
Liverpool - Queens Park
Rangers 1 - 1
| Saturday 11 February 1995 FA
Carling Premier League |
| |
|
|
|
| Liverpool |
1 - 1 |
"Queens
Park R" |
| |
(0-1) |
|
| |
| GOAL |
| Scales 71 |
|
Gallen |
| |
1 David James
20 Stig Inge Bjornebye
2 Rob Jones
25 Neil Ruddock
12 John Scales
6 Phil Babb
16 Michael Thomas
17 Steve McManaman
10 John Barnes
23 Robbie Fowler
9 Ian Rush (c)
Subs:
13 Michael Stensgaard
11 Mark Walters
15 Jamie Redknapp |
|
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
20 Kevin Gallen
9 Les Ferdinand
Subs:
-
-
- |
| |
| SUBSTITUTIONS |
Bjornebye (Walters 51)
Thomas (Redknapp 66) |
|
|
| |
| OFFICIALS & BOOKINGS |
| Referee: Dermot
Gallagher |
| Booked: |
|
Booked: |
| VENUE |
|
MANAGERS |
Anfield (capacity 44,000)
Attendance: 35,996 |
|
Roy Evans (Liverpool)
Ray Wilkins (Q P R) |
|
|
Lost
Liverpool give Evans testing time
In the days ahead, Roy Evans faces a new challenge at least the equal of the one he
took on when he succeeded Graeme Souness as Liverpool manager little more than a year ago.
For much of this season, he has been rightly credited with putting the team back on
the right track. The 1-1 draw with Queens Park Rangers at Anfield provided confirmation
that they have lost their way again.
Rangers, under their recently appointed manager Ray Wilkins, are sticking to the
well-established Loftus Road principles. They were much the better team in the first half
- net, tidy, inventive and with the formidable striking partnership of Les Ferdinand and
bright teenage prospect Kevin Gallen always threatening.
They should have had more than one goal, gifted to them after six minutes by David
James when the giant goalkeeper failed to cope with a low 20-yarder from Gallen hit more
in hope than anything else.
Despite being only one point clear of the bottom four, Rangers have games in hand
and, on this evidence, are capable of climbing the table.
Liverpool, in contrast, don't look capable of much at the moment. They have
produced only a few flashes this year of the form that made us think the great revival was
under way.
This Wednesday night they are at home to Crystal Palace in the first leg of the
Coca-Cola Cup semi-final. On Sunday they entertain Wimbledon in the fifth round of the FA
Cup. They then travel to Selhurst Park for the second leg against Palace.
Evans has to sort them out again to keep them in contention. Another performance
like that in the first half against QPR will not do.
In midweek he was critical of the performance in the narrow win over Burnley,
saying his side did not pass with a purpose. Of the first 45 minutes on Saturday, he was
scathing.
There was an improvement in the second half, though. Liverpool roused themselves
and showed they had not run out of steam, claiming a good equaliser from defender John
Scales, sliding the ball in at the far post 19 minutes from the end.
Copyright - The Daily Mail |
Liverpool 1 - 0 Crystal Palace
| Wednesday 15 February 1995 20:00
League / Coca-Cola Cup Semi-Final 1st Leg |
| |
|
 |
| Liverpool |
Crystal Palace |
| 1 - 0 (0-0) |
| |
| GOAL |
| Fowler 90 |
|
| |
|
1 David James
2 Rob Jones
6 Phil Babb
12 John Scales
25 Neil Ruddock
10 John Barnes
11 Mark Walters
15 Jamie Redknapp
17 Steve McManaman
9 Ian Rush (c)
23 Robbie Fowler
Subs:
13 Michael Stensgaard
20 Stig Inge Bjornebye
16 Michael Thomas |
|
- Nigel Martyn
- Darren Patterson
- Dean Gordon
- Gareth Southgate
- Richard Shaw
- Chris Coleman
- John Humphrey
- Darren Pitcher
- Damian Matthew
- Andy Preece
- John Salako
Subs:
-
-
- |
| |
| SUBSTITUTIONS |
| |
|
| |
| OFFICIALS & BOOKINGS |
| Referee: Robbie Hart |
| Booked: |
Booked: |
| VENUE |
MANAGERS |
Anfield (capacity 44,000)
Attendance: 25,480 |
Roy Evans (Liverpool)
Alan Smith (Crystal P) |
 Price: J1,50
Notes:
- Crystal Palace away kits: yellow shirt, black shorts & white socks.
|
|
Last
gap Fowler stuns Palace and gives Liverpool the edge
Robbie Fowler struck two minutes into injury time at Anfield last night to give
Liverpool a slender lead in their Coca-Cola Cup semi- -final against Crystal Palace, just
as the Londoners appeared to have ridden the first-leg storm.
Liverpool forced no fewer than 17 corners but Palace, marshalled by Chris Coleman
and with goalkeeper Nigel Martyn a commanding presence, held firm until the death.
Steve McManaman, not for the first time, got away on the right, Ian Rush allowed
his low cross to run and Fowler connected with his right foot to claim his 24th goal of
the season with a low shot into the corner.
Palace, who made three changes from the side beaten by Coventry on Saturday, began
determined to give nothing away but they should have been ahead in the sixth minute.
Phil Babb's woeful back-pass put John Salako in possession with no cover in front
of David James, but as the former England winger attempted to round the keeper he pushed
the ball too far.
Liverpool took that let-off as the cue to push forward, with Mark Walters seeing a
lot of the ball on the left.
A Walters shot was deflected wide before Jamie Redknapp, played in by Rob Jones,
dragged his 18th minute effort wide of Martyn's goal.
Martyn then denied Rush when the Welshman's back-heeled flick from a Walters corner
was dropping into the net.
But for all Liverpool's possession, they rarely threatened and it was Palace who
were the width of the woodwork from snatching an interval lead.
Salako, picking up the ball on the Palace right, cut inside Neil Ruddock and when
the ball took a slight deflection off Babb, James could only watch as it smacked against a
bar, Dean Gordon failing to get real contact on the rebound.
At the start of the second half the unmarked Andy Preece - in because Chris
Armstrong was suspended and Iain Dowie cup-tied - headed John Humphrey's right-wing cross
wide.
Copyright - The Scotsman - Transcribed by lfchistory.net |
Liverpool 1 - 1 Wimbledon
| Sunday 19 February 1995 FA Cup
5th Round |
| |
|
 |
| Liverpool |
Wimbledon |
| 1 - 1 (1-1) |
| |
| GOAL |
| Fowler 33 |
Clarke 2 |
| |
|
1 David James
20 Stig Inge Bjornebye
2 Rob Jones
25 Neil Ruddock
12 John Scales
10 John Barnes
17 Steve McManaman
11 Mark Walters
15 Jamie Redknapp
23 Robbie Fowler
9 Ian Rush (c)
Subs:
26 Tony Warner
7 Nigel Clough
16 Michael Thomas |
|
1 Hans Segers
37 Kenny Cunningham
16 Alan Kimble
21 Chris Perry
15 Alan Reeves
2 Warren Barton
26 Neal Ardley
8 Robbie Earle
7 Andy Clarke
35 Oyvind Leonhardsen
9 Efan Ekoku
Subs:
-
25 Mick Harford
10 Dean Holdsworth |
| |
| SUBSTITUTIONS |
| |
Ekoku (Harford 80)
Clarke (Holdsworth 80) |
| |
| OFFICIALS & BOOKINGS |
| Referee: Alan Wilkie
(Chesterle-Street) Linesmen: A Bates (Yellow Flag), TA Roberts (Red Flag) |
| Booked: |
Booked: |
| VENUE |
MANAGERS |
Anfield (capacity 44,000)
Attendance: 25,124 |
Roy Evans (Liverpool)
Joe Kinnear (Wimbledon) |
Notes:
- Wimbledon kits: white shirt, black shorts & white socks. |
|
Dons
post Earle hint
Liverpool's double cup ambitions must now survive two Selhurst Park trips in a week
after Wimbledon were robbed of an Anfield victory by the thickness of the paint-work.
With two minutes remaining on the clock, Wimbledon, under the cosh for the vast
majority of the second half, broke away.
And David James was helpless as Robbie Earle unleashed a fierce drive that crashed
off the keeper's right-hand post and back out again.
That would have been cruel on Liverpool who had made the running against foes who
knocked them out of last season's Coca-Cola Cup on penalties.
But the Dons, with disgraced skipper Vinnie Jones left behind in London, produced a
battling response to their 7-1 record league defeat at Aston Villa eight days earlier.
And after travelling to Crystal Palace this week, armed with a one-goal Coca-Cola
Cup first leg semi-final lead, Liverpool must return next week to replay against their
bogey side Wimbledon.
They have now won only one of their last 11 duels with Wimbledon, whose boss Joe
Kinnear's gamble in demoting Dean Holdsworth and Mick Harford to the bench paid off
smartly when Andy Clarke put them ahead.
RECORD
He linked brilliantly with Earle, whose cheeky back-pass allowed Clarke to beat
James at the Kop end.
It meant that Liverpool's return to a flat back four in the absence of banned Phil
Babb lasted just one minute 55 seconds before being breached.
Robbie Fowler equalised for Liverpool, with the 19-year-old's first FA Cup goal and
25th of the season.
While Fowler broke his duck in the competition his partner and captain Ian Rush
failed in his sixth attempt to score the one he needs to equal Denis Law's 41-goal 20th
century FA Cup record.
Copyright - Transcribed by lfchistory.net |
Sheffield Wednesday -
Liverpool 1 - 2
Wimbledon 0 - 2 Liverpool
| Tuesday 28 February 1995 FA Cup
5th Round Replay |
| |
|
|
| Wimbledon |
Liverpool |
| 0 - 2 (0-2) |
| |
| GOAL |
| |
Barnes 10, Rush 38 |
| |
| |
1 Hans Segers
-
2 Warren Barton
16 Alan Kimble
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Subs:
- |
|
1 David James
12 John Scales
6 Phil Babb
20 Stig Inge Bjornebye
2 Rob Jones
25 Neil Ruddock
17 Steve McManaman
15 Jamie Redknapp
10 John Barnes
23 Robbie Fowler
9 Ian Rush (c)
Subs:
26 Tony Warner
11 Mark Walters
16 Michael Thomas |
| |
| SUBSTITUTIONS |
| |
Fowler (Walters 81) |
| |
| OFFICIALS & BOOKINGS |
| Referee: |
| Booked: |
Booked: |
| VENUE |
MANAGERS |
Selhurst Park (capacity 29,215)
Attendance: 12,553 |
Joe Kinnear (Wimbledon)
Roy Evans (Liverpool) |
Notes:
- Wimbledon kits: white shirt, black shorts & white socks. |
|
Barnes
sets tone as vibrant Liverpool leave Wimbledon trailing
IAN RUSH, aged 33 but with a teenager's hunger, continues to drive Liverpool
towards Wembley. In equalling Denis Law's post-War FA Cup record of 41 goals, Rush helped
Liverpool into a home quarter-final with either Tottenham Hotspur or Southampton, who meet
tonight.
After John Barnes had shown the way with a ninth-minute opener, Rush took over with
an impressive display crowned by a typically clinical 37th-minute strike to move alongside
Law, another effortless penalty-box warrior. It was Liverpool's 12th unbeaten cup game of
the season, and the League Cup semi-finalists were rarely troubled by a subdued Wimbledon
side.
Much of Liverpool's creativity this season has emanated from the sinewy runs and
quick-fire wall-passing of Steve McManaman, who Warren Barton was deployed to track and
stifle. Joe Kinnear's understandable ploy failed.
McManaman kept eluding Barton, whose own considerable threat was negated by being
stationed in areas where his right foot was less effective. The left flank is no place for
an England right-back.
Wimbledon are a lesser force with Barton distracted
Wimbledon are a lesser force with Barton distracted, a situation which natually
encouraged Liverpool to venture forward. Within minutes Roy Evans's visitors should have
taken the lead, when Jamie Redknapp's cross was headed over from a promising position by
John Scales.
Wimbledon failed to learn from this early sign of Liverpool's aerial prowess. After
nine minutes, Liverpool went ahead with a goal of stunning simplicity. A foul by Alan
Kimble on Redknapp provided the perfect opportunity. Redknapp, with admirable accuracy,
curled over the right-wing free-kick which Barnes headed powerfully past Hans Segers.
Wimbledon's cutting edge appeared to be blunted when Efan Ekoku, their leading
scorer, limped off after 20 minutes, but his replacement, Dean Holdsworth, soon proved a
lively deputy.
Immediately seizing on a poor Redknapp pass, Holdsworth ran confidently at
Liverpool's defence, his increasingly threatening break curtailed only by Neil Ruddock's
finely-judged piece of pickpocketing.
Far from stalling, the Liverpool bandwagon was simply pausing and picked up
impressive steam in the 37th minute. A meandering move through the middle and towards the
right culminated with McManaman and Barnes linking to release Rush. With a timing and
placement born of years at the highest level, Rush, the master poacher, slid in for his
14th goal of the season.
Early in the second half, Fowler and McManaman squandered chances as Wimbledon
remained on the back foot. Then McManaman dribbled in from the right and skipped along the
byline before cutting the ball back to Fowler, who lost concentration and miscued
embarrassingly.
Fowler, out of sorts last night, possesses immense promise. Importantly, he is
apprenticed to Rush, whose leadership of the line, ability to hold up play, turn defenders
and finish with ruthless efficiency remains a phenomenal example. Fowler could not be at a
better finishing school.
Copyright - The Daily Telegraph |
Liverpool - Newcastle United
2 - 0
| Saturday 4 March 1995 FA Carling
Premier League |
| |
|
|
|
| Liverpool |
2 - 0 |
"Newcastle
United" |
| |
(0-0) |
|
| |
| GOAL |
| Fowler 57, Rush 63 |
|
|
| |
1 David James
2 Rob Jones
25 Neil Ruddock
12 John Scales
6 Phil Babb
17 Steve McManaman
10 John Barnes
11 Mark Walters
15 Jamie Redknapp
23 Robbie Fowler
9 Ian Rush (c)
Subs:
26 Tony Warner
16 Michael Thomas
14 Jan Molby |
|
1 Pavel Srnicek
-
-
15 Darren Peacock
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Subs:
- |
| |
| SUBSTITUTIONS |
| Walters (Thomas 76) |
|
|
| |
| OFFICIALS & BOOKINGS |
| Referee: Peter Jones |
| Booked: |
|
Booked: |
| VENUE |
|
MANAGERS |
Anfield (capacity 44,000)
Attendance: 39,300 |
|
Roy Evans (Liverpool)
Kevin Keegan (Newcastle U) |
 Price: J1,50
Notes:
- League position: 4th with 54 points from 29 games
|
|
Pass
master Barnes ushers in new dawn at Anfield
HOWEVER much Liverpool juggle with statistics the Championship will not be coming
to Anfield - not this season anyway.
If they win their games in hand Liverpool would be six points behind Manchester
United who, like Blackburn, have still to visit Anfield. However, reality suggests there
will be no late challenge from Merseyside to disrupt the two-horse title race.
Liverpool, it must be hoped, grace Wembley in at least one Cup final. They could
even emulate Arsenal and win both the League Cup and FA Cup in the same season, no doubt
doing so with considerably more style than the Gunners.
They are still a player or two short of being champions next season but after their
stunning 2-0 win over Newcastle Peter Beardsley, who helped Liverpool win two titles,
said: "It's back to how it was here."
The dark days of Graeme Souness are gone and Roy Evans has given Liverpool back
their pride, passion and flair. It was all too much for Newcastle whose manager Kevin
Keegan, another former Kop favourite, was less than happy with certain aspects of his
team's display.
Pavel Srnicek put on one of the finest goalkeeping performances of the season
It was terrific entertainment and Newcastle contributed to a memorable afternoon. Pavel
Srnicek put on one of the finest goalkeeping performances of the season to keep the
scoreline respectable but some of Liverpool's football was a throwback to the good old
days.
At the heart of Liverpool's victory was John Barnes. He may not have caught the eye
as Steve McManaman did with his bursts down the wing or Robbie Fowler with his predatorial
instincts but Barnes invariably started his team's attacks with a shrewd 10 or 15-yard
pass.
Evans acknowledges Barnes is his side's best passer and, against Newcastle, the
player who has still to convince at international level showed that doing the simple thing
well can still be the most effective part of a game.
"Having Barnes and Rushie on the pitch is like having two coaches out
there," said Evans. "Barnes's mental attitude is first-class and he sets a great
example to others."
"We were sloppy and second-rate" said Keegan
Perhaps surprisingly, with Ian Rush and Fowler up front and a team geared towards
attacking football, Liverpool have not found goalscoring easy this year. For all his
promise, Jamie Redknapp will not be happy with a return of one goal in 27 games while
McManaman's seven have come in four games, so the winger has failed to hit the target in
22 matches. Both would have scored at Anfield had Srnicek not been a goalkeeper possessed.
"They played so well it could have been a scoreline like Manchester
United's," said Keegan. "I don't like coming back here and putting on a
performance like that. We were sloppy and second-rate."
Srnicek was finally beaten in the 57th minute when Fowler scored after the
goalkeeper had made a superb save from Mark Walters and Redknapp had hit the post as the
ball pinged around the visitors' goalmouth.
Six minutes later Darren Peacock gave the ball away to Fowler who centered for Rush
to apply the finishing touch. "I was pleased with our effort and attitude," said
Evans. "But Srnicek did not deserve to be on the losing side."
Copyright - The Daily Telegraph |
Crystal Palace - Liverpool
0 - 1
| Wednesday 8 March 1995 20:00
League / Coca-Cola Cup Semi-Final 2nd Leg |
| |
|
|
|
| "Crystal
Palace" |
0 - 1 |
Liverpool |
| |
(0-1) |
|
| |
| GOAL |
| |
|
Fowler 27 |
| |
Team:
Subs: |
|
Team: 1. David James,
12. John Scales, 6. Phil Babb, 20. Stig Inge Bjornebye, 2. Rob Jones, 25. Neil Ruddock,
17. Steve McManaman, 15. Jamie Redknapp, 10. John Barnes, 23. Robbie Fowler, 9. Ian Rush
(c).
Subs: 26. Tony Warner, 11. Mark Walters, 16. Michael Thomas. |
| |
| SUBSTITUTIONS |
| |
|
|
| |
| OFFICIALS & BOOKINGS |
| Referee: |
| Booked: |
|
Booked: |
| VENUE |
|
MANAGERS |
Selhurst Park (capacity 29,215)
Attendance: 18,224 |
|
Alan Smith (Crystal P)
Roy Evans (Liverpool) |
 Price: J1,50
Notes:
- Fowler's famous celebration when turning his shirt around displaying his name and
number at the front
|
|
Fowler
on target as Liverpool cruise through
WALK ON, walk on. The old Anfield anthem has sounded muted in recent years, but now
it is rising to a crescendo again. Thanks to Robbie Fowler, the youthful epitome of
Merseyside, it will be heard again at Wembley, once Liverpool's second home, for the first
time in three years.
On April 2, the Liverpool legions will walk on up Wembley Way with more than hope
in their hearts. Last night's supremely efficient performance at Selhurst Park, where
Fowler rubber-stamped Crystal Palace's dismissal from the Coca-Cola Cup, confirmed how far
Liverpool have progressed since Roy Evans took the helm and Fowler started cutting a dash
through opposition defences.
In recent knockout competitions, Liverpool have fallen foul of teams beginning with
B. Not this season: Birmingham, Burnley and Blackburn have been bypassed on the B-roads to
glory and the prospect of facing Bolton Wanderers, who surprised Liverpool in the FA Cup
two seasons ago, will not trouble them unduly.
One thing is for certain, the stylish teams of Evans and Bruce Rioch will lay on a
treat for those who love the passing game.
Palace were deprived of Chris Armstrong and Iain Dowie but even with their premier
strikers they would have struggled, such was Liverpool's control.
Fowler effectively ended the tie with a glorious piece of finishing
Alan Smith, who deserves the utmost credit for what he is trying to achieve with a
young side, deployed Chris Coleman, Palace's best centre- half, up front alongside Andy
Preece: the makeshift partnership ran willingly, both strikers testing David James'
reflexes in the opening exchanges, but a good attitude can rarely eclipse the inate
aptitude of those like Fowler.
The forward, 19, whose late goal in the first leg gave Liverpool a slim lead,
effectively ended the tie with a glorious piece of finishing after 26 minutes. Peeling
away with wonderful timing from Palace's offside- obsessed back line, the teenager charged
down the inside-left channel in pursuit of Steve McManaman's precise through-pass.
Advancing confidently towards Nigel Martyn's goal, Fowler drew the Palace 'keeper
before sliding the ball from left to right for his 27th goal of the season.
Fowler, jigging gleefully over to the visiting corner, ripped his shirt off and
replaced it back to front. Silly, very silly, Graham Kelly would doubtless hum, but why
not? It was a finish worth celebrating with something completely different.
For all the buzzing midfield verve of Gareth Southgate, Smith's increasingly
troubled side could not become attuned to the expansive football of the in-form visitors,
who have now lost only once in 24 outings.
Palace appeared bereft of ideas, a Coleman header and curling John Salako shot
providing the few respites from McManaman's raiding.
Copyright - The Daily Telegraph |
Liverpool 1 - 2 Tottenham
Hotspur
| Saturday 11 March 1995 FA Cup 6th
Round |
| |
|
|
| Liverpool |
Tottenham Hotspur |
| 1 - 2 (1-1) |
| |
| GOAL |
| Fowler 38 |
Sheringham, Klinsmann |
| |
|
1 David James
2 Rob Jones
25 Neil Ruddock
12 John Scales
6 Phil Babb
17 Steve McManaman
10 John Barnes
11 Mark Walters
15 Jamie Redknapp
23 Robbie Fowler
9 Ian Rush (c)
Subs:
26 Tony Warner
20 Stig Inge Bjornebye
16 Michael Thomas |
|
-
-
6 Gary Mabbutt (c)
-
-
-
15 David Howells
-
-
10 Teddy Sheringham
18 Jurgen Klinsmann
Subs:
- |
| |
| SUBSTITUTIONS |
Walters (Bjornebye 72)
Barnes (Thomas 72) |
|
| |
| OFFICIALS & BOOKINGS |
| Referee: |
| Booked: |
Booked: |
| VENUE |
MANAGERS |
Anfield (capacity 44,000)
Attendance: 39,592 |
Roy Evans (Liverpool)
Gerry Francis (Tottenham H) |
|
|
Tottenham's
Wembley crusade gathers momentum
After sacking Ossie Ardiles, Sugar hired someone he cannot intimidate. Francis is a
reflective character, with an admirable understanding of the texture and traditions of the
game.
He finds emotional release in studying the bloodlines of racing pigeons, rather
than boardroom blood-letting, and a thriving antiques business guarantees financial
independence from football.
Francis has shaken Sugar's hand on a deal securing his presence at White Hart Lane
until the summer, but rejects the encumbrance of a contract which, given the game's
contempt for legal convention, merely imposes an unwanted moral dilemma.
Liverpool set the tone of a fascinating first half
"If you haven't got a contract you can't break one," he rationalised.
"I understand the situation. I'm used to having no money to spend. I'm unfortunate,
in that I didn't come into the job at the best time, and I've just got to get on with
it."
His satisfaction at the style and setting of victory was palpable. The former
England captain made his debut as a player at Liverpool, whose team embody his belief in
intelligent, experienced players subjugating themselves to the cause.
Liverpool set the tone of a fascinating first half. The pace was relentless, the
passion a reaffirmation of the emotional intensity of Cup combat. Subtle cushioned passes
were executed in a blur of perpetual motion, and players thrived in unusual guises.
Darren Anderton, once a waif consigned to the wing, marked his growing maturity in
central midfield, where his energy and appreciation of space complemented the holding role
occupied by David Howells.
His talent for reading a game, employed in front of an orthodox back four, was
overlooked by Ardiles, who failed also to recognise the enduring excellence of Gary
Mabbutt. The captain, whose tackling was clean and precise, shackled Ian Rush completely.
Mark Walters, one of the few survivors of the flawed regime of Graeme Souness, is a
one-man lottery
Spurs had trained in the morning. They determined to deny Liverpool space in which
to play, yet still found themselves behind.
Mark Walters, one of the few survivors of the flawed regime of Graeme Souness, is a
one-man lottery. So random are his thought processes that one suspects even he cannot
predict what he will do when the ball arrives at his feet.
Suddenly, surging from just inside the Tottenham half, he skipped past two
challenges, drew three defenders away from the near post, and fashioned a cross which
Robbie Fowler headed high into the net.
Cue pandemonium. Anfield, a brighter, less oppressive place under the stewardship
of Roy Evans, renewed the old anthems. Tottenham had been reminded of the futility of
relying on fate.
The half had entered the first of seven minutes of unjustifiable injury time when
Howells threaded a typically perceptive pass to Klinsmann, who squared the ball to Teddy
Sheringham.
Liverpool were never the same again
Many strikers, seized by the urgency of the situation, would have taken deliberate
aim and sent the shot soaring towards the blue and white balloons which danced above the
heads of travelling fans, penned in the Anfield Road end. Sheringham was rather more
measured. His 25-yard effort, caressed with the inside of his right boot, curled around
goalkeeper David James, and in off the post.
Liverpool were never the same again. Tottenham, underlining the importance of the
conditioning work introduced by Francis, had greater physical resilience, more mental
strength.
"The fitter you are the longer you keep your ability, your skill, your
concentration," stressed Francis. Klinsmann, he added with a smile, was one of the
three fittest players under his tutelage.
So when Anderton returned a John Scales clearance to the German, with the
assistance of a deft Sheringham flick, something more than instinct, however finely honed,
was at work.
An angled right-foot shot secured his 23rd goal of a talismanic season, and
subjected him to the full force of the FA Cup. As he cantered around, in an ecstatic daze,
he was embraced by his manager, who confided: "I said 'Jolly well done' in my best
German." Klinsmann admitted: "I felt really emotional. This is why I am here,
what people talk of in Europe when they talk of the FA Cup. It is very special."
Those of a sensitive disposition are already bracing themselves for the latest
aural abomination committed on the club's behalf by Chas & Dave. Tottenham may well be
on their way to Wembley, but Alan's legs are not at all trembly.
"The last time we were there was for the FA commision which took 12 points
away from us, put us out of the FA Cup and fined us Ј500,000," Sugar mused. "It
would be nice to go back there for a different reason. . . "
Copyright - The Daily Telegraph |
Liverpool - Coventry City
2 - 3
| Tuesday 14 March 1995 FA Carling
Premier League |
| |
|
|
|
| Liverpool |
2 - 3 |
"Coventry
City" |
| |
(0-2) |
|
| |
| GOAL |
| Molby 76 p., Burrows
90 og |
|
Ndlovu 3 goals |
| |
1 David James
25 Neil Ruddock
20 Stig Inge Bjornebye
2 Rob Jones
12 John Scales
16 Michael Thomas
17 Steve McManaman
14 Jan Molby
15 Jamie Redknapp
23 Robbie Fowler
9 Ian Rush (c)
Subs:
26 Tony Warner
5 Mark Wright
11 Mark Walters |
|
1
-
29 David Burrows
-
-
-
15 Paul Cook
-
9 Peter Ndlovu
-
19 Dion Dublin
Subs:
- |
| |
| SUBSTITUTIONS |
| Bjornebye (Walters 62) |
|
|
| |
| OFFICIALS & BOOKINGS |
| Referee: Mike Reed |
| Booked: |
|
Booked: |
| VENUE |
|
MANAGERS |
Anfield (capacity 44,000)
Attendance: 27,183 |
|
Roy Evans (Liverpool)
Ron Atkinson (Coventry C) |
 Price: J1,50
|
|
Ndlovu
exposes Liverpool's flaws
RON Atkinson's spectacular transformation of Coventry City rose to ever greater
heights last night when a superb hat-trick by Peter Ndlovu earned them a tremendous
victory over Liverpool.
A Jan Molby penalty and a last-minute own goal by David Burrows were more than Roy
Evans's team deserved.
Although most of the early running was made by a Liverpool, Coventry gave ample
warning that they had every intention of extending Atkinson's unbeaten record since taking
over from Phil Neal. Paul Cook had brought a marvellous reaction save from David James
before Ndlovu beat the Liverpool goalkeeper for the first time midway through the first
half.
Mike Marsh, a former Anfield favourite, set up Dion Dublin in front of goal but he
miskicked before his blushes were spared as Ndlovu nipped in behind him to drive the ball
home.
Coventry took a firmer grip on the game after Dublin got the better of John Scales
in an aerial duel near the halfway line and Marsh, taking his nicely weighted pass in full
stride, flicked the ball past the advancing James.
When the goalkeeper's outstretched hands made contact with Marsh's ankles, the
nippy striker needed no invitation to plunge headlong on to the turf and Ndlovu gratefully
dispatched the penalty.
The mood of the match was changed after the break with a second penalty when Fowler
was pushed going for a cross from Mark Walters.
The Kop at last burst into life as Molby - making his first appearance since
November - drove in the spot-kick. It proved a false dawn for Liverpool for, five minutes
from time, Ndlovu completed his hat-trick.
Liverpool were flattered by a late goal as Molby's free-kick was diverted in by the
head of Burrows.
Copyright- The Daily Telegraph |
Liverpool - Manchester United
2 - 0
| Sunday 19 March 1995 FA Carling
Premier League |
| |
|
|
|
| Liverpool |
2 - 0 |
"Manchester
United" |
| |
(1-0) |
|
| |
| GOAL |
| Redknapp 25, Bruce 85 og |
|
|
| |
Team: 13. David
James, 12. John Scales, 6. Phil Babb, 20. Stig Inge Bjornebye, 5. Mark Wright, 25.
Neil Ruddock, 17. Steve McManaman, 15. Jamie Redknapp, 10. John Barnes, 23. Robbie Fowler,
9. Ian Rush (c).
Subs: 26. Tony Warner, 11. Mark Walters, 16. Michael Thomas. |
|
Team: 1. Peter
Schmeichel, 4. Steve Bruce (c),
Subs: |
| |
| SUBSTITUTIONS |
| Barnes (Thomas 61), Rush (Walters 88) |
|
|
| |
| OFFICIALS & BOOKINGS |
| Referee: Gerald Ashby
(Worcester) Linesman: M R Warren (Yellow Flag), B A Wiggington (Red Flag) |
| Booked: |
|
Booked: |
| VENUE |
|
MANAGERS |
Anfield (capacity 44,000)
Attendance: 38,906 |
|
Roy Evans (Liverpool)
Alex Ferguson (Manchester U) |
 Price: J1,50
|
|
United
suffer double setback as Liverpool hand old boy title reins
LIVERPOOL did their former manager, Kenny Dalglish, a huge favour yesterday by
beating Manchester United to leave Blackburn six points clear at the top of the
Premiership with eight games left.
The day could hardly have gone worse for United and their manager, Alex Ferguson,
who will be without captain Steve Bruce for four matches, including the FA Cup semi-final,
after the defender was booked for a foul on Jamie Redknapp, the scorer of the 25th-minute
opening goal.
The caution takes Bruce over 41 points which means an appearance before a Football
Association disciplinary committee who recently suspended Ian Wright for four games after
he reached the same total.
To rub salt into Bruce's wounds, he deflected Steve McManaman's 85th-minute shot
past Peter Schmeichel for the goal that put the outcome beyond doubt.
Ferguson hates losing to anyone but losing to Liverpool would have put the United
manager in the darkest of moods last night. "We didn't deserve any more than we
got," said Ferguson. "We did not play to the form we can and did not pass the
ball well. We needed to win this one."
Almost as big a talking point as the result was the omission of Ј7 million Andy
Cole
Blackburn, who end their League programme at Anfield, are now 4/11 favourites to
win the title and are helped by the fact that opponents will still raise their game more
against United than Rovers. Liverpool were proof of that yesterday.
Liverpool would much rather their former favourite Dalglish win the title with
Blackburn than see United complete a hat-trick of championships. The home fans even
chanted "Dalglish" as proof of their championship allegiance.
Almost as big a talking point as the result was the omission of Ј7 million Andy
Cole. Ferguson said the striker picked up a slight thigh strain in training on Saturday
and was not 100 per cent fit, although he was on the substitutes' bench.
Perhaps it was a tactical ploy with Ferguson protecting Cole from the public
reality of his decision. As Liverpool play three central defenders, maybe Ferguson thought
it best to play only one striker - Mark Hughes - and give United extra bite in midfield
with Brian McClair operating just behind the Welshman.
If this was the case it did not work. Paul Ince and Roy Keane - who may replace
Bruce in the centre of defence when he is suspended - never got a grip in the middle of
the park, where Redknapp and John Barnes dominated the first half.
Cole, who scored four times for Newcastle against Liverpool last season, replaced
Lee Sharpe at half-time as Ferguson effectively admitted Plan A was not working and
reverted to a more orthodox 4-4-2.
The striker did not play like someone not fully fit - in fairness he suffered from
a lack of service from his flank players -but few will be convinced that his initial
omission was due to an injury.
The main problem for Roy Evans was how to replace the suspended Rob Jones at
right-back because he has no natural replacement.
The Liverpool manager brought in Mark Wright - "we call him Lord Lucan,"
said Evans - for his first start in almost a year and moved John Scales to the right side
of defence.
The former Wimbledon defender adapted well to a role he has not played since his
early days with the Dons and kept a tight grip on Ryan Giggs, whose crossing still lets
him down at crucial times.
Liverpool had not lost three consecutive homes games since 1963 and they were not
about to let United have the pleasure of inflicting this piece of history upon them.
There had been few chances before Redknapp's superbly-taken opener. Ince missed his
tackle on Ian Rush and the ball ran to Redknapp. The midfielder skipped past Denis Irwin
and shot through Gary Pallister's legs and past Schmeichel from 15 yards.
Schmeichel produced a brilliant save in the 36th minute to push McManaman's shot
for a corner while Stig Inge Bjornebye was only inches wide with a shot.
United rarely threatened David James. The nearest they came to scoring was in the
55th minute when Mark Hughes headed the ball back to Giggs, whose shot flew just too high.
Hughes then had a snap shot saved.
With five minutes remaining Michael Thomas centred from the right and McManaman's
shot hit the hapless Bruce and wrong-footed Schmeichel.
Three points for Liverpool but in many respects an even bigger victory for
Blackburn.
Copyright - The Daily Telegraph |
Tottenham Hotspur - Liverpool
0 - 0
| Wednesday 22 March 1995 19:45 FA
Carling Premier League |
| |
|
|
|
| "Tottenham
Hotspur" |
0 - 0 |
Liverpool |
| |
(0-0) |
|
| |
| GOAL |
| |
|
|
| |
Team: 18. Jurgen
Klinsmann,
Subs: |
|
Team: 13. David James,
25. Neil Ruddock, 12. John Scales, 6. Phil Babb, 20. Stig Inge Bjornebye, 2. Rob
Jones, 16. Michael Thomas, 17. Steve McManaman, 11. Mark Walters, 15. Jamie Redknapp, 23.
Robbie Fowler.
Subs: 13. Michael Stensgaard, 5. Mark Wright, 7. Nigel Clough. |
| |
| SUBSTITUTIONS |
| |
|
Walters (Clough 78) |
| |
| OFFICIALS & BOOKINGS |
| Referee: Paul Danson |
| Booked: |
|
Booked: |
| VENUE |
|
MANAGERS |
White Hart Lane (32,786)
Attendance: 31,988 |
|
Gerry Francis (Tottenham H)
Roy Evans (Liverpool) |
Notes:
- David James saved a penalty from Jurgen Klinsmann |
|
|
Bolton Wanderers 1 - 2 Liverpool
| Sunday 4 April 1995 17:00 League
/ Coca-Cola Cup Final |
| London |
 |
|
| Bolton Wanderers |
Liverpool |
| 1 - 2 (0-1) |
| |
| GOAL |
| Thompson 69 |
McManaman 37, 68 |
| |
 |
1 Keith Branagan
2 Scott Green
3 Jimmy Phillips
4 Jason McAteer
5 Mark Seagraves
6 Alan Stubbs
7 David Lee
8 Richard Sneekes
9 Mixu Paatelainen
10 John McGinlay
11 Alan Thompson
Subs:
13 Aidan Davison
12 Guрni Bergsson
15 Mark Patterson |
|
1 David James
12 John Scales
6 Phil Babb
20 Stig Inge Bjornebye
2 Rob Jones
25 Neil Ruddock
17 Steve McManaman
15 Jamie Redknapp
10 John Barnes
23 Robbie Fowler
9 Ian Rush (c)
Subs:
28 Alec Chamberlain
11 Mark Walters
16 Michael Thomas |
| |
| SUBSTITUTIONS |
| Green (Bergsson 68) |
|
| |
| OFFICIALS & BOOKINGS |
| Referee: Philip Don |
| Booked: Thompson |
Booked: Jones, Babb,
Bjornebye |
| VENUE |
MANAGERS |
Wembley (capacity )
Attendance: 75,595 |
Roy Evans (Liverpool)
Bruce Rioch (Bolton W) |
 Price: J4,00
|
|
McManaman
conjures up Cup win
Steve McManaman returned to cast a spell over Wembley with two wonderful solo goals
against Bolton in the Coca-Cola Cup final. Five days after sharing in England's
frustration against Uruguay, the 23-year-old midfielder conjured two moments of the
missing fantasy football to bring Liverpool their record fifth triumph in the competition.
Three years ago the fresh-faced Scouser starred in the FA Cup win against
Sunderland, and he shattered the romantic notions of another Endsleigh side to reopen an
Anfield trophy cabinet which has been gathering dust in the interim. Bruce Rioch's
renowned cup fighters were never overawed or outplayed but by the time Alan Thompson
graced a classic encounter with a goal to cheer the thousands of Lancashire fans,
McManaman had done his worst.
The 23-year-old has a wonderful touch on the ball but a return of just one goal in
more than five months shows how much he needs to sharpen his cutting edge. He could not
have chosen a better time to wield the whetstone. Bolton will have nightmares about his
first in the 37th minute as he ran onto John Barnes' pass, drifted outside of the elegant
Alan Stubbs and then jinked inside full-back Scott Green. His sidefooted shot was not the
most powerful but the unbalanced Keith Branagan could not get a real touch as it scurried
across him and towards the far corner.
But there was no denying the quality of his second in the 68th minute as he cut in
from the left, rounding Green,swinging inside Jason McAteer and then drifting in front of
Mark Seagraves before curling a low right foot shot beyond Branagan's left hand. Thompson
hooked in an instantaneous reply, but Liverpool clung on to give five-times winner Ian
Rush the honour of hoisting his the League Cup into the Wembley air for the first time as
skipper. It was also a debut triumph for manager Roy Evans and a vindication of his
loyalty to most of the players he inherited from the mean-spirited reign of Graeme
Souness.
For all that it was Liverpool's 30th Wembley appearance in as many years, for most
of Evans' young side it was as novel an experience as for Bolton in their first major
final since 1958.
Whether from nerves or simple respect for the underdogs' impressive giantkilling
pedigree, the
Premiership side took it cautiously in contrast to the barnstorming build-up the Football
League laid on before the kick-off. They were wary of the pace of David Lee on the right
and an early breakout which allowed him to escape the close attention of Stig Bjornebye
showed why, while Phil Babb was booked cutting short his run in the 20th minute. The
former Blackburn schools apprentice might have scored on the half hour when Jason McAteer
chipped him clear and he won the race to the ball with goalkeeper David James. But his
soaring angled lob from 30 yards sailed inches the wrong side of the crossbar ontothe
netting.
But the threat comes from many areas of this Bolton side, whose scalp collection
began with Liverpool's in the FA Cup two years ago and has grown impressively since, with
Ipswich, West Ham and Norwich falling on the road to Wembley.Only a world class save from
James denied Alan Thompson in the 34th minute when he swivelled onto Jimmy Phillips' throw
and unwound a dipping 25-yard volley that the Liverpool goalkeeper tipped onto his bar
with his 'wrong' right hand.
But just when Bolton were beginning to enjoy themselves, Liverpool pounced and one
feared the worst for the Endsleigh reps. But in front of the 70-year-old Burnden Park
legend Nat Lofthouse and his old adversaries Tom Finney and Sir Stanley Matthews, they
staged a fightback that had their fans on the edge of their seats. Rob Jones was booked
for a foul on Thompson and James ventured out of his area disastrously, John McGinlay
keeping the ball from him and swinging it in for Mixu Paatelainen to volley a yard wide.
Moments later McAteer's brilliant pass put Thompson in on the right but he pulled
his left-foot shot across the face of the goal with James struggling. But once again
Liverpool's class asserted itself, with Bjornebye stretching onto Ian Rush's return pass
in the 52nd minute for an eight-yard right footer that spun onto the base of the far post.
Then Mark Seagraves dived in ahead of Rush onto Bjornebye's low cross and was thankful for
Branagan for saving him from a spectacular own goal. It was an ominous build-up to
McManaman's second strike. But even after that Bolton refused to lay down and fully
deserved to get back into the game.
Neil Ruddock's headed clearance was hoisted back in by substitute Gudni Bergsson,
Paatelainen flicked it on and Thompson swivelled to hook in the lifeline goal. Bolton,
surely good enough to get into the Premiership at last next season, threw everything into
the search for an equaliser and Bjornebye was booked for a foul on the livewire Lee. But
Liverpool know better than any team how to protect a lead and though it was nervous stuff
at times they held on to restart their silverware collection.
MACMANAN, MCATEER, SEAGRAVES
Copyright - The Press Association |
Liverpool - Southampton
3 - 1
| Wednesday 5 April 1995 FA Carling
Premier League |
| |
|
|
|
| Liverpool |
3 - 1 |
"Southampton" |
| |
(1-1) |
|
| |
| GOAL |
| Rush 28, 53, Fowler 70 p. |
|
Hall |
| |
1 David James
12 John Scales
6 Phil Babb
20 Stig Inge Bjornebye
2 Rob Jones
25 Neil Ruddock
17 Steve McManaman
15 Jamie Redknapp
10 John Barnes
23 Robbie Fowler
9 Ian Rush (c)
Subs:
23 Alec Chamberlain
11 Mark Walters
16 Michael Thomas |
|
1
Bruce Grobbelaar
-
-
5 Richard Hall
-
-
28 Paul Tisdale
-
-
-
7 Matthew Le Tissier
Subs:
-
-
- |
| |
| SUBSTITUTIONS |
| Bjornebye (Walters 62') |
|
|
| |
| OFFICIALS & BOOKINGS |
| Referee: Steve Lodge |
| Booked: |
|
Booked: |
| VENUE |
|
MANAGERS |
Anfield (capacity 44,000)
Attendance: 29,881 |
|
Roy Evans (Liverpool)
Alan Ball (Southampton) |
Notes:
- Bjornebye broke his leg in a freakish accident: "I was stretching for a
cross, my studs were caught in the ground and I was stuck with my weight going
forward." |
|
Rush
still has that sparkle
Ian Rush maintained that certain sparkle tonight when he condemned Saints to
defeat. The Welsh International picked up his first trophy as Liverpool captain on Sunday
by lifting the Coca-Cola Cup and may have been excused for being a little tired and
emotional after the Wembley win over Bolton. Instead he was again an inspirational figure,
scoring two goals to drag Alan Ball's side further into the relegation mire.
Robbie Fowler got the other from the penalty spot after Saints had threatened to
spoil the Anfield party. Bruce Grobbelaar made his first appearance at the ground after
moving on a free transfer to The Dell in the summer. The Kop gave him a reception reserved
for one of their heroes -- and Grobbelaar responded by bowing and blowing kisses -- but
his old pal Rush soon wiped the smile from his face.
Liverpool paraded the cup before the match, only for Richard Hall to cut short the
celebrations by rifling the ball into the corner after goalkeeper David James had flapped
at a corner from Matthew Le Tissier. Grobbelaar gave Saints a scare when a clearance
rebounded off Rush. He raced on only to find the side net from an acute angle.
The warning signs were there, however, and Rush equalised when he was given time
and space to head in Jamie Redknapp's corner. Grobbelaar then pulled off a fine save to
foil Robbie Fowler after a long clearance from James split the Saints defence, while
Redknapp scorned a glorious chance of giving Liverpool the lead when he rounded Grobbelaar
only to blast the shot against the bar.
But Saints pressed the self destruct button by conceding two soft goals. Rush tried
a speculative shot from 25 yards which took a deflection off Hall and left Grobbelaar
stranded, then Fowler scored his 29th of the season from the spot after Paul Tisdale
floored Mark Walters. The only blackspot for Liverpool was an injury to Stig Bjornebye,
who was carried off after stretching for a Redknapp cross.
Copyright - Press Association |
Liverpool - Leeds United
0 - 1
| Sunday 9 April 1995 15:00 FA
Carling Premier League |
| |
|
|
|
| Liverpool |
0 - 1 |
"Leeds
United" |
| |
(0-1) |
|
| |
| GOAL |
| |
|
Deane |
| |
1 David James
2 Rob Jones
25 Neil Ruddock
12 John Scales
6 Phil Babb
17 Steve McManaman
10 John Barnes
11 Mark Walters
15 Jamie Redknapp
23 Robbie Fowler
9 Ian Rush (c)
Subs:
23 Alec Chamberlain
19 Mark Kennedy
16 Michael Thomas |
|
1 John Lukic
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
9 Brian Deane
-
-
Subs:
-
-
- |
| |
| SUBSTITUTIONS |
| Walters (Kennedy 72) |
|
|
| |
| OFFICIALS & BOOKINGS |
| Referee: Keith Burge |
| Booked: |
|
Booked: |
| VENUE |
|
MANAGERS |
Anfield (capacity 44,000)
Attendance: 37,454 |
|
Roy Evans (Liverpool)
Howard Wilkinson (Leeds U) |
 Price: J,1,50
Notes:
- Mark Kennedy
makes his LFC debut
|
|
Hungry
Leeds good bet for a place in Europe
LIVERPOOL are possibly the only team in the Premiership with nothing to play for -
and it showed yesterday as they were out-thought and out-fought by a hungrier Leeds United
side who look a good bet to claim one of the remaining UEFA Cup places.
A week after playing a potentially decisive role in the destiny of the
championship, holding Manchester United to a draw at Old Trafford, Howard Wilkinson's men
claimed the scalp of last Sunday's Coca-Cola Cup winners, thanks to a 30th-minute goal by
Brian Deane.
The Leeds striker, who has been eclipsed recently by the stunning form of Ghanaian
import Tony Yeboah, reacted swiftly to guide the ball into the net after a shot from Gary
Speed had rebounded off an upright.
Until then, Liverpool, whose Wembley victory over Bolton Wanderers had fulfilled
the objective of qualifying for Europe, had looked the more threatening. Afterwards Leeds,
with their captain Gary McAllister the dominant force in an often-crowded midfield, looked
in control.
"It was pleasing to come to a place like Anfield and be so composed and
comfortable," said Howard Wilkinson, the Leeds manager, who can look forward
confidently to taking some reward from an initially frustrating season.
It needed two outstanding saves from John Lukic to ensure Leeds' victory
It appears as though he has made "Europe" a banned word in the dressing
room, judging by the way he parried questions on that subject in the Anfield press room.
"There are too many ifs and buts," he said, pointing to the television screen
relaying the surprising sequence of events in the FA Cup semi-final at Villa Park.
It needed two outstanding saves from John Lukic to ensure Leeds' first victory at
Anfield for 23 years. The first denied Robbie Fowler, who had collected a weak palmed
clearance by the Leeds goalkeeper only to see Lukic recover and tip his fierce drive over
the bar.
The second crucial save, hardly discernible to most of the 37,454 crowd, prevented
Mark Kennedy, Liverpool's recent Ј2 million recruit from Millwall, celebrating his debut
as a second-half substitute with a spectacular goal. Kennedy, whose sizzling shot from 25
yards was touched on to the crossbar, did enough in the 19 minutes he was allocated to
suggest he will prove a good investment.
"He looked very capable out there," said Liverpool manager Roy Evans, who
believed the scoreline did not reflect the balance of chances. He also felt frustrated by
referee Keith Burge's failure to award a penalty when Mark Walters was upended by Carlton
Palmer.
But Leeds, although hanging on grimly in the closing stages, had their chances to
win more comfortably. Deane failed to score from a cross to the near post by Rod Wallace
just before the interval, and Gary Speed and Palmer were both just off target in the
second half.
They were also unlucky when McAllister combined well with Yeboah before flicking
the ball over David James from 25 yards, only to see it strike the crossbar.
Copyright - The Daily Telegraph |
Arsenal 0 - 1 Liverpool
| Wednesday 12 April 1995 19:45 FA
Carling Premier League |
| |
|
|
| "Arsenal" |
Liverpool |
| 0 - 1 (0-0) |
| |
| GOAL |
| |
Fowler 90 |
| |
 |
1 David Seaman
6 Tony Adams
12 Steve Bould
14 Martin Keown
3 Nigel Winterburn
15 Stefan Schwarz
18 David Hillier
11 Eddie McGoldrick
10 Paul Merson
8 Ian Wright
32 Glenn Helder
Subs:
-
23 Ray Parlour
16 John Hartson |
 |
1 David James
4 Steve Nicol
25 Neil Ruddock
12 John Scales
6 Phil Babb
16 Michael Thomas
17 Steve McManaman
15 Jamie Redknapp
10 John Barnes
19 Mark Kennedy
23 Robbie Fowler
Subs:
28 Alec Chamberlain
5 Mark Wright
11 Mark Walters |
| |
| SUBSTITUTIONS |
Helder (Hartson 72)
Merson (Parlour 78) |
R Jones (Wright 46)
Scales (Walters 57) |
| |
| OFFICIALS & BOOKINGS |
| Referee: Martin Bodenham |
| Booked: Adams, Bould |
Booked: Ruddock, Fowler |
| VENUE |
MANAGERS |
Highbury (capacity 39,000)
Attendance: 38,036 |
Stewart Houston (Arsenal)
Roy Evans (Liverpool) |
 Price: J
|
|
Fowler's
shot cracks defensive Arsenal
ARSENAL still cannot concentrate on next week's European Cup-Winners' Cup
semi-final second leg in Italy. They have two more Premiership matches before then and
Robbie Fowler's last-minute goal means they must win at least one of them to banish the
possibility of relegation.
That will not happen unless they are far sharper in attack. Liverpool held them
comfortably even after losing two defenders with injuries and could twice have won the
game in the last few minutes, through Fowler and Steve McManaman, before the two players
combined to do just that. It was Arsenal's sixth defeat in their last seven league games.
Arsenal's 3-0 drubbing at Anfield in August - when Fowler updated the record books
with a hat-trick in four minutes - was an early indication that this would not be the
championship season that some had predicted. By the time they were evicted from the
Coca-Cola Cup on the same ground in January, George Graham was on the slide as well as his
team.
Stewart Houston attempted to freshen up a jaded side last night by introducing
David Hillier, Martin Keown and Eddie McGoldrick for Stephen Morrow, John Hartson and the
indisposed Lee Dixon, using a back-line of five to match Liverpool's and pushing Paul
Merson up with Ian Wright. Weight of numbers therefore favoured the defences.
Glenn Helder found John Scales a formidable covering defender
A lob and a header on to the top of the net from Wright and Keown respectively, and
a shot by Merson that David James held, were the only moments to excite another good-sized
Highbury crowd. Glenn Helder, who had taken Norwich apart in the last home League match,
found John Scales a formidable covering defender when he occasionally managed to wriggle
past Rob Jones, and McGoldrick's opportunites to attack down the right were limited by
having the Ј2 million teenager Mark Kennedy to worry about.
Kennedy hugged the left touchline on his full debut, and he wasted a good
opportunity when played in by Fowler, shooting carelessly wide, but also played in some
crosses precise enough to keep Arsenal's three central defenders on their toes. It was
just as well for the home side that there was no Ian Rush to steal in on them, a back
injury sustained in Sunday's home defeat by Leeds having kept him out.
Injuries to Jones and then Scales forced Liverpool to reorganise without any
significant weakening of their defensive solidity. The England right-back was replaced at
half-time by Mark Wright, making a rare appearance, and 13 minutes later Scales made way
for Mark Walters.
Michael Thomas became the third right-back they had used, his presence inevitably
recalling memories of the famous goal that won Arsenal the championship on Merseyside in
1991.
The tension generated this time by Arsenal's very different League position led to
niggling stalemate rather than any great drama. Adams and Bould both went into referee
Martin Bodenham's book for fouls, to be followed by Fowler and Ruddock, who hauled down
Merson as he threatened to go clear.
Scales had done the same thing earlier without punishment and the crowd's growing
displeasure increased when the popular Helder was chosen to make way for John Hartson.
David Seaman immediately had to make his first real save of the evening, from Fowler's
rising drive.
Copyright - The Daily Telegraph |
Manchester City 2 - 1 Liverpool
Liverpool - Leicester City
2 - 0
| Sunday 17 April 1995 FA Carling
Premier League |
| |
|
|
|
| Liverpool |
2 - 0 |
"Leicester
City" |
| |
(0-0) |
|
| |
| GOAL |
| Fowler 75, Rush 80 |
|
|
| |
Team: 13. David
James, 22. Steve Harkness, 5. Mark Wright, 25. Neil Ruddock, 16. Michael Thomas, 17. Steve
McManaman, 10. John Barnes, 15. Jamie Redknapp, 19. Mark Kennedy, 23. Robbie Fowler, 9.
Ian Rush (c).
Subs: 28. Alec Chamberlain, 7. Nigel Clough, 8. Paul Stewart. |
|
Team: 33. Kevin Poole,
3. Mike Whitlow,
Subs: |
| |
| SUBSTITUTIONS |
| Kennedy (Clough 69) |
|
|
| |
| OFFICIALS & BOOKINGS |
| Referee: Graham Poll |
| Booked: |
|
Booked:
Sent Off: Whitlow 70 |
| VENUE |
|
MANAGERS |
Anfield (capacity 44,000)
Attendance: 36,012 |
|
Roy Evans (Liverpool)
Mark McGhee (Leicester C) |
 Price: J1,50
Notes:
- Leicester defender Mike Whitlow was sent off for a second bookable offence after
70 minutes
|
|
'RAF'
Rumble Leicester
Robbie Fowler, voted Young Player of the Year by his fellow professionals, grabbed
his 31st goal of the season -- and 25th in the Premiership -- to end relegated Leicester's
brave resistance at Anfield.
Leicester had kept Liverpool out for 75 minutes when Fowler received a John Barnes
pass just outside the Leicester box, turned and fired a precise, low drive beyond keeper
Kevin Poole's desperate dive. Six minutes later, goalscorer Fowler turned goalmaker,
playing a deft through ball for Ian Rush. The Welsh international, who had gone close
three times in the second half, advanced and calmly tucked the ball away.
Leicester, saluted with the Last Post by a lone bugler in a dismal first half, had
looked likely to collect a meaningless away point until defender Mike Whitlow was sent off
for a second bookable offence after 70 minutes.
The late flurry gave a 36,000 crowd something to cheer about from a fixture which,
until then, had looked every inch the irrelevant end of season affair it was. Poole
distinguished himself with an early double save from Barnes and Steve McManaman, then held
on well to a Jamie Redknapp free kick and a Mark Wright shot. Redknapp and Michael Thomas
also had shots blocked by defenders in a dangerous looking attack.
But Leicester midfielder Mark Draper, said to be high on Roy Evans' summer shopping
list, missed a great chance to impress the Liverpool boss after 17 minutes when a mix-up
between Neil Ruddock and keeper David James presented him with the ball. He should have
buried the chance but Ruddock was able to stretch out a boot and deflect it wide.
Copyright - Press Association |
Norwich City - Liverpool
1 - 2
Wimbledon - Liverpool 0
- 0
| Tuesday 2 May 1995 19:45 FA
Carling Premier League |
| |
|
|
|
| "Wimbledon" |
0 - 0 |
Liverpool |
| |
(0-0) |
|
| |
| GOAL |
| |
|
|
| |
Team:
Subs: |
|
Team: 13. David James,
25. Neil Ruddock, 12. John Scales, 22. Steve Harkness, 10. John Barnes, 11. Mark
Walters, 16. Michael Thomas, 17. Steve McManaman, 15. Jamie Redknapp, 23. Robbie Fowler,
9. Ian Rush (c).
Subs: 26. Tony Warner, 21. Dominic Matteo, 7. Nigel Clough. |
| |
| SUBSTITUTIONS |
| |
|
Ruddock (Matteo 64) |
| |
| OFFICIALS & BOOKINGS |
| Referee: Terry Holbrook |
| Booked: |
|
Booked: |
| VENUE |
|
MANAGERS |
Selhurst Park (capacity )
Attendance: 12,041 |
|
Joe Kinnear (Wimbledon)
Roy Evans (Liverpool) |
 Price: J1,50
|
|
Ruddock
out
Liverpool edged closer towards their highest league finish since Kenny Dalglish's
final season four years ago with a point at Wimbledon. But with a European berth booked
already through their Coca-Cola Cup final win, the night's main concern for Roy Evans'
team was the second-half injury sustained by Neil Ruddock. The England centre-half limped
out of the action holding his hamstring, raising doubts over his place in next month's
four-nations tournament. Liverpool came seeking their season's fourth victory at Selhurst
Park, the scene of their exhilarating 6-1 thrashing of Crystal Palace last August and
where they have since won cup games against both Palace and the Dons.
Their bit players were again out in force, although former England centre-half Mark
Wright stepped down, allegedly suffering from a virus, to allow Ruddock back in after
suspension.With Rob Jones, Stig Bjornebye and Phil Babb out injured, Liverpool reverted to
a flat back four. They certainly looked a defender short when Alan Kimble's centre from
left-back after two minutes found Jon Goodman unmarked but the striker headed over.
Goodman was unlucky when, receiving Marcus Gayle's flick-on off Vinnie Jones' long throw,
he turned and short inches wide from six yards out.
Copyright - The Press Association |
Aston Villa - Liverpool
2 - 0
West Ham United - Liverpool
3 - 0
Liverpool - Blackburn Rovers
2 - 1
| Sunday 14 May 1995 FA Carling
Premier League |
| |
|
|
|
| Liverpool |
2 - 1 |
"Blackburn
Rovers" |
| |
(0- ) |
|
| |
| GOAL |
| Barnes 64, Redknapp 90 |
|
Shearer |
| |
1 David James
12 John Scales
6 Phil Babb
22 Steve Harkness
15 Jamie Redknapp
10 John Barnes
7 Nigel Clough
16 Michael Thomas
17 Steve McManaman
19 Mark Kennedy
23 Robbie Fowler
Subs:
26 Tony Warner
21 Dominic Matteo
11 Mark Walters |
|
1 Tim Flowers
3 Jeff Kenna
4 Tim Sherwood (c)
5 Colin Hendry
20 Henning Berg
25 Ian Pearce
6 Graeme Le Soux
7 Stuart Ripley
23 David Batty
9 Alan Shearer
16 Chris Sutton
Subs:
13 Bobby Mimms
11 Mike Newell
17 Robbie Slater |
| |
| SUBSTITUTIONS |
| Scales (Matteo 82) |
|
|
| |
| OFFICIALS & BOOKINGS |
| Referee: David Elleray |
| Booked: |
|
Booked: |
| VENUE |
|
MANAGERS |
Anfield (capacity 44,000)
Attendance: 40,014 |
|
Roy Evans (Liverpool)
Kenny Dalglish (Blackburn R) |
 Price: J1,50
Notes:
- Blackburn won the League title despite losing, Man Utd missed out and at the end
both sets of supporters joined in a cheeky rendition of Always Look on the Bright Side of
Life, the song seemingly under copyright to Manchester United.
|
|
The
prodigal son triumphs on his return
Kenny Dalglish returned to Anfield in triumph to lift the Premiership title despite
a last-day slip that left the Blackburn fans with their hearts in their mouths.
Blackburn knew that the championship was theirs if Manchester United failed to win
at West Ham, but the championship race, which has twisted and turned so many times this
season, looked to be making a dramatic diversion.
Everything had seemed rosy for Rovers when Alan Shearer's 37th goal of the season
-- a record-equalling 34th Premiership strike -- gave them an interval lead.
Then John Barnes dragged Liverpool back on terms just after the hour and Jamie
Redknapp's injury-time free-kick might have started a wake.
But as the dispirited Blackburn side returned to the centre circle, news of the
result at Upton Park raced round the ground to spark dances of delight.
The ecstasy -- shared by the Liverpool fans' delight at their greatest rivals'
misfortune -- was seen again at the final whistle as Rovers realised they had completed
the task which seemed impossible when Dalglish took charge less than four years ago.
The Kop stood to applaud the new champions as they raised aloft the trophy that
signalled the end of United's dreams of an unprecedented double double and placed Dalglish
alongside Herbert Chapman and Brian Clough in winning the title with two different teams.
"Dalglish" was the refrain from all around the ground as Blackburn
paraded in triumph. For the moment, Ј28million looked a price worth paying.
The celebratory mood was evident before the start, with both sets of fans cheering
the rival team line-ups and the Kop even shouting their encouragement when David Batty won
the ball in the first minute.
Liverpool, without a whole defence and with Ian Rush also missing, made the more
measured start, but without really penetrating and Shearer might have done better than
glance wide from Stuart Ripley's cross.
When Tim Sherwood was caught in possession in the 11th minute, Steve McManaman
showed he was in the mood to provide a sting in the championship tail by powering to the
dead-ball line, but John Barnes spooned over.
Blackburn were breathing even more anxiously six minutes later. Mark Kennedy swung
in a corner from the left, John Scales rose above the Blackburn defence to head down and
Nigel Clough's shot on the turn from close range beat Tim Flowers, only for Sherwood to
hack off the line.
But if the nerves were beginning to show, Shearer picked the perfect moment to calm
them with a goal which summed up his incredible season.
Henning Berg played the ball forward from right back and Shearer's brilliant
first-time lay-off put Ripley into space.
The winger carried the ball forward before pulling it back into the box just as
Shearer arrived and his emphatic strike from 14 yards hit the bottom corner before David
James could move.
Shearer's joy was shared even on the Kop, who stood to applaud -- and mock Alex
Ferguson's men -- and he might have raised them from their seats again in the 23rd minute,
but instead found the side-netting after being played in by Chris Sutton.
Rumours of a West Ham goal caused more exultation around the ground, repeated when
news of Michael Hughes' strike was relayed through the Anfield bush telegraph, and that
sparked a better period from Liverpool.
Flowers saved from Phil Babb and then produced a top-drawer stop to turn a Michael
Thomas volley over the bar. But Sutton might have sealed the triumph after turning Scales
inside out justbefore the break, James saving excellently.
The graft of Batty and Sherwood allowed Rovers to keep a grip on midfield at the
start of the second period, although knowledge of Brian McClair's equaliser at Upton Park
made for an edgy atmosphere.
Suddenly, in the 64th minute, the mood of the afternoon changed utterly. McManaman
fed Kennedy in space on the left and when the Irishman swept in a low cross, Barnes
caressed the ball into the same corner Shearer had found earlier.
Liverpool visibly grew in confidence and the championship that had seemed destined
for Ewood since they went top in November was slipping from their grasp.
It should have gone further away from them 13 minutes from time. McManaman slipped
inside to Robbie Fowler and as the striker shaped to shoot, Batty whipped his legs from
under him. Referee David Elleray, just yards away, astonishingly saw nothing wrong,
McManaman earning a yellow card for his angry protest, and three minutes later Sutton
should have righted the listing Blackburn ship.
Phil Babb's dreadful backpass let in Shearer and although James blocked, the ball
fell for Sutton, who stroked towards the empty net, but too weakly, giving Scales the
chance to race back and clear.
Another effort by Sutton took a wicked deflection off Barnes before dropping inches
outside the target. James missed the resulting corner, but grabbed Ian Pearce's shot and
then even Shearer showed his fallibility by blasting over from eight yards.
Three minutes into injury time Redknapp's brilliant free-kick, after Hendry had
fouled McManaman, left Rovers momentarily crestfallen.
But it did not matter. After 81 years the championship has a home at Ewood Park.
Copyright - Press Association |
Bolton Wanderers - Liverpool
4 - 1
| Thursday 26 July 1994 19:30
Friendly |
| |
|
|
|
| "Bolton
Wanderers" |
4 - 1 |
Liverpool |
| |
( -0) |
|
| |
| GOAL |
| |
|
Rush 75 |
| |
Team:
Subs: |
|
Team: 1. David James,
Rob Jones, Julian Dicks, Mark Wright, Neil Ruddock, Michael Thomas, Jamie Redknapp, John
Barnes, Steve McManaman, Robbie Fowler, Ian Rush.
Subs: |
| |
| SUBSTITUTIONS |
| |
|
|
| |
| OFFICIALS & BOOKINGS |
| Referee: |
| Booked: |
|
Booked: |
| VENUE |
|
MANAGERS |
Burnden Park (capacity )
Attendance: 7,818 |
|
Bruce Rioch (Bolton W)
Roy Evans (Liverpool) |
 Price: J1,00
|
|
|
Borussia (Monchengladbach, FRG) -
Liverpool 0 - 1
Bayern (Munich, FRG) -
Liverpool 2 - 0
Norway XI - Liverpool
3 - 1
Hamburg S V (Hamburg, F R G) 3 -
1 Liverpool
Hertha B.S.C. (Berlin, F R G) 0 -
3 Liverpool
Wrexham (Wrexham, Wales) -
Liverpool 1 - 3
| Wednesday 10 August 1994 Friendly |
| |
 |
|
|
| "Wrexham" |
1 - 3 |
Liverpool |
| |
( -2) |
|
| |
| GOAL |
| |
|
Fowler 14, 82, McManaman 28 |
| |
Team:
Subs: |
|
Team: 1. David James,
Rob Jones, Stig Inge Bjornebye, Steve Harkness, Neil Ruddock, Michael Thomas, Jamie
Redknapp, John Barnes, Steve McManaman, Robbie Fowler, Ian Rush.
Subs: Jan Molby. |
| |
| SUBSTITUTIONS |
| |
|
? (Molby ?) |
| |
| OFFICIALS & BOOKINGS |
| Referee: |
| Booked: |
|
Booked: |
| VENUE |
|
MANAGERS |
Racecourse Ground (capacity )
Attendance: 8,936 |
|
Brian Flynn (Wrexham)
Roy Evans (Liverpool) |
 Price: J
|
|
|
Dundalk (Dundalk, Ireland) -
Liverpool 1 - 2
| Monday 15 August 1994 19:30
Friendly |
| |
 |
|
|
| "Dundalk" |
1 - 2 |
Liverpool |
| |
( -1) |
|
| |
| GOAL |
| |
|
Fowler 18, Thomas 81 |
| |
Team:
Subs: |
|
Team: 1. David James,
Rob Jones, Stig Inge Bjornebye, Steve Nicol, Neil Ruddock, Jan Molby, Michael Thomas,
Jamie Redknapp, John Barnes, Steve McManaman, Robbie Fowler.
Subs: |
| |
| SUBSTITUTIONS |
| |
|
|
| |
| OFFICIALS & BOOKINGS |
| Referee: |
| Booked: |
|
Booked: |
| VENUE |
|
MANAGERS |
Oriel Park (capacity )
Attendance: 8,000 |
|
Dermot Keely (Dundalk)
Roy Evans (Liverpool) |
 Price: J1,00
|
|
|
Brighton & Hove Albion -
Liverpool 1 - 2
Liverpool 6 - 0 Celtic
(Glasgow, Scotland)
U C D (Dublin, Ireland) 3 - 1
Liverpool
|
Price: J1,50
Price: J1,50
Price: J1,40
Price: J1,50
Price: J
Price: J1,20
Price: J1,50
Price: 
Price: 
Price: 20 Kr
Price: 
Price: J
Price: J1,50
Price: J2,00