 |
| Dean Saunders: Forward |
| Nickname: |
| Date of
Birth: 21/06/1964 |
| Squad:
number: |
| With the Reds:
1991-1992 |
| Height:
5' 10 |
| Weight:
11st 13lbs |
| Bought from:
Derby County |
| Signed for LFC:
Ј2,900,000 - 19.07.1991 |
| Debut: 17th August
1991 v Oldham Athletic (H) D1 win 2-1 (Aged 27) |
| Debut goal:
27.08.1991 |
| 1st team
league games: 42 |
| 1st team
league goals: 11 |
| Total 1st team
games: 61 |
| Total 1st team
goals: 25 |
| Contract expiry:
10.09.1992, transfered to Aston Villa for J2,300,000 |
| International
caps: 75 Wales |
| International
goals: 22 |
| International debut:
1986 vs. Republic of Ireland |
| Characteristics: |
| Former
clubs: Swansea City, Cardiff City (loan), Brighton, Oxford United, Derby County,
Aston Villa, Benfica, Galatasary, Nottingham Forest, Sheffield United, Bradford City,
Blackburn Rovers |
| Birth
Place: Swansea, South Wales |
| Honours: 1 FA Cup 91-92 |
| Personal Honours: |
| Fact: |
| Website: |
|
|
Total LFC
games/goals
|
League |
FA Cup |
FL Cup |
Europe |
Other |
Total |
| Seasons |
App |
Gls |
App |
Gls |
App |
Gls |
App |
Gls |
App |
Gls |
App |
Gls |
| 1991-92 |
36 |
10 |
8 |
2 |
5 |
2 |
5 |
9 |
|
|
54 |
23 |
| 1992-93 |
6 |
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
1 |
1 |
7 |
2 |
| Total |
42 |
11 |
8 |
2 |
5 |
2 |
5 |
9 |
1 |
1 |
61 |
25 |
A more detailed look at the player's appearances
| Total |
started/substitutions |
|
Total |
Competition |
| 61 |
Started |
|
36 |
Premier League |
| 1 |
On the bench |
|
8 |
FA Cup |
| 0 |
Substitute |
|
6 |
Premier League |
| 9 |
Substituted |
|
5 |
UEFA Cup |
|
|
|
5 |
League Cup |
|
|
|
1 |
Charity Shield |
Career Milestones for Dean Saunders:
Appearances in all competitions
| № |
Date |
Against |
Result |
Venue |
Competition |
| 1 |
17.08.1991 |
Oldham A |
2-1 |
Anfield |
League |
| 50 |
13.04.1992 |
Portsmouth |
0-0 |
Villa Park |
FA |
Goals in all competitions
| № |
Date |
Min |
Against |
Result |
Venue |
Competition |
| 1 |
27.08.1991 |
62 |
QPR |
1-0 |
Anfield |
League |
Update 03.01.2007 |
PROFILE
Welsh international striker Dean Saunders was brought to Liverpool for 2.9 million pounds
from Derby County by Graeme Souness just before the start of the 1991-92 season as a
replacement for Peter Beardsley, and went on to become top scorer with 23 goals in 54
appearances as Liverpool won the FA Cup.
His Reds career didn't start too well when he failed to score in his opening three
games. He missed a vital penalty in his second game at Maine Road when he hit the bar and
Liverpool lost 2-1 to Manchester City and in his next game somehow missed an open goal
from three yards out when he blazed over the bar during a 0-0 draw at Luton. His first
Reds goal arrived at Anfield when he scored the only goal in front of the Kop during the
1-0 win over Queens Park Rangers, then followed that up with a goal in the 3-1 Anfield
derby victory over Everton.
Saunders also went into the Reds record books that season for his European scoring
feat. In an Anfield Uefa Cup 1st Round, 1st leg tie with Finnish side Kuusysi Lahti,
Saunders became the first Liverpool player to score four goals in a single European match.
The Reds won the tie 6-1, but the four goal personal tally was levelled by Saunders Welsh
international teammate Ian Rush in the 1992-93 season. Rush scored four at Anfield in the
Cup Winners Cup 6-1 victory over Apollon Limassol on September 16th, 1992. 'Deano' also
broke Roger Hunt's record for the most European goals in one season, set back in the
1964-65 season. Saunders hat-trick in the 4-0 win over Austrian's Swarovski Tirol, at
Anfield gave the Welshman nine European goals during the 1991-92 season - two more than
Hunt's tally. Liverpool supporters will also fondly remember his display in the FA Cup
final win over Sunderland. Although he didn't score, he was a constant menace to the
Mackems defence in the second half and also hit the bar.
However the following season Souness decided Saunders wasn't needed and didn't feel
he could play alongside Rush so he sold him to Aston Villa. He scored on his last Reds
appearance, a 2-1 Anfield victory over Chelsea and as fate prevailed his home debut for
Villa saw him score twice against Liverpool when he ran Torben Piechnik ragged! He also
scored on his Anfield return for Villa that same season as his new side won 2-1!
Opinions are divided about Saunders time at Anfield. Some say he shouldn't have
been sold and others to this day are still angry at the way Graeme Souness replaced their
hero Peter Beardsley with Saunders, but to be fair to 'Deano' that was hardly his fault.
He did give 100 per cent every game and he had a good rapport with the Kop, and he did get
that European scoring record which is no mean feat to pass the legendary Roger Hunt's
tally.
After spells with Nottingham Forest and Sheffield United Saunders rejoined Souness
at Benfica and again at Galatasary before moving to Bradford on a free transfer at the
start of the 1999-2000 season. He is now retired and a coach at Blackburn Rovers. |
