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1994–95 Liverpool F.C. season

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Liverpool
1994–95 season
ChairmanEngland David Moores
ManagerEngland Roy Evans
StadiumAnfield
FA Premier League4th
FA CupSixth round
League CupWinners
Top goalscorerLeague:
Robbie Fowler (25)

All:
Robbie Fowler (31)
Average home league attendance34,743

The 1994–95 Liverpool F.C. season was the 103rd season in the club's existence, and their 33rd consecutive year in the top-flight. It was also the club's first full season under the management of Roy Evans, who had succeeded Graeme Souness halfway through 1993–94.

The season saw Liverpool win the League Cup for a record fifth time, beating Bolton Wanderers 2–1 in the final at Wembley with two goals from Steve McManaman. They improved on last season's eighth-place finish to reach fourth place in the final table, their best final position in four years, although they never really looked like serious title contenders.

Early in the season, Evans bolstered his defence by signing John Scales from Wimbledon and Phil Babb from Coventry City. In attack, Robbie Fowler was top scorer with 25 goals in the league and 31 in all competitions, while the ageing Ian Rush continued to thrive with 12 in the league and 19 in all competitions.

Heading out of the Anfield exit door early in the season was midfielder Don Hutchison to West Ham United, while January saw exit of defender Steve Nicol to Notts County after 13 years at Anfield. The club suffered a tragedy on 2 January 1995 when 19-year-old midfielder Ian Frodsham, who was on a professional contract but had yet to play a first team game, died of cancer of the spine.

Players

[edit]

First-team squad

[edit]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK England ENG David James
2 DF England ENG Rob Jones
5 DF England ENG Mark Wright
6 DF Republic of Ireland IRL Phil Babb[notes 1]
7 MF England ENG Nigel Clough
8 MF England ENG Paul Stewart
9 FW Wales WAL Ian Rush (captain)
10 MF England ENG John Barnes
11 MF England ENG Mark Walters
12 DF England ENG John Scales
13 GK Denmark DEN Michael Stensgaard
14 MF Denmark DEN Jan Mølby
15 MF England ENG Jamie Redknapp
No. Pos. Nation Player
16 MF England ENG Michael Thomas
17 MF England ENG Steve McManaman
18 DF England ENG Phil Charnock
19 MF Republic of Ireland IRL Mark Kennedy
20 DF Norway NOR Stig Inge Bjørnebye
21 DF England ENG Dominic Matteo[notes 2]
22 DF England ENG Steve Harkness
23 FW England ENG Robbie Fowler
24 FW Wales WAL Lee Jones
25 DF England ENG Neil Ruddock
26 GK England ENG Tony Warner[notes 3]
28 GK England ENG Alec Chamberlain (on loan from Sunderland)

Left club during season

[edit]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
4 DF Scotland SCO Steve Nicol
6 MF Scotland SCO Don Hutchison[notes 4]
No. Pos. Nation Player
27 GK England ENG Mark Prudhoe (on loan from Stoke City)

Reserves and academy

[edit]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
DF England ENG Jamie Carragher
No. Pos. Nation Player
DF England ENG Michael Howard

Transfers

[edit]

In

[edit]
# Pos Player From Fee Date
13 GK Denmark Michael Stensgaard Denmark Hvidovre IF £400,000 1 June 1994
6 DF Republic of Ireland Phil Babb England Coventry City £3,600,000 1 September 1994
12 DF England John Scales England Wimbledon £3,500,000 2 September 1994
19 MF Republic of Ireland Mark Kennedy England Millwall £1,500,000 21 March 1995

Out

[edit]
# Pos Player To Fee Date
3 DF England Julian Dicks England West Ham United £300,000 20 May 1994
19 DF Denmark Torben Piechnik Denmark AGF Free 1 June 1994
1 GK Zimbabwe Bruce Grobbelaar[notes 5] England Southampton Free 11 August 1994
6 MF Scotland Don Hutchison England West Ham United £1,500,000 30 August 1994
12 MF Republic of Ireland Ronnie Whelan England Southend United Free 9 September 1994
4 DF Scotland Steve Nicol England Notts County Free 20 January 1995

Competitions

[edit]

Premier League

[edit]

League table

[edit]
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
2 Manchester United 42 26 10 6 77 28 +49 88 Qualification for the UEFA Cup first round[a]
3 Nottingham Forest 42 22 11 9 72 43 +29 77
4 Liverpool 42 21 11 10 65 37 +28 74
5 Leeds United 42 20 13 9 59 38 +21 73
6 Newcastle United 42 20 12 10 67 47 +20 72
Source: Premier League
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.
Notes:
  1. ^ Leeds United were rewarded entry to the UEFA Cup through UEFA Fair Play ranking.

Matches

[edit]
20 August 1994 1 Crystal Palace 1–6 Liverpool London
15:00 Armstrong 49' Report Mølby 12' (pen.)
McManaman 14', 70'
Fowler 45'
Rush 60', 73'
Stadium: Selhurst Park
Attendance: 18,084
Referee: Robbie Hart (Darlington)
28 August 1994 2 Liverpool 3–0 Arsenal Liverpool
16:00 Fowler 26', 29', 31' Report Stadium: Anfield
Attendance: 30,017
Referee: Alan Wilkie (Chester-le-Street)
31 August 1994 3 Southampton 0–2 Liverpool Southampton
19:30 Report Fowler 21'
Barnes 78'
Stadium: The Dell
Attendance: 15,190
Referee: Martin Bodenham (Looe)
10 September 1994 4 Liverpool 0–0 West Ham United Liverpool
15:00 Report Cottee Red card 54' Stadium: Anfield
Attendance: 30,907
Referee: Paul Danson (Leicester)
17 September 1994 5 Manchester United 2–0 Liverpool Manchester
15:00 Kanchelskis 71'
McClair 73'
Report Stadium: Old Trafford
Attendance: 43,740
Referee: Kelvin Morton (Suffolk)
24 September 1994 6 Newcastle United 1–1 Liverpool Newcastle upon Tyne
15:00 Lee 50' Report Rush 70' Stadium: St. James' Park
Attendance: 34,435
Referee: Philip Don
1 October 1994 7 Liverpool 4–1 Sheffield Wednesday Liverpool
15:00 Rush 51'
McManaman 54', 86'
Walker 66' (o.g.)
Report Nolan 33' Stadium: Anfield
Attendance: 31,493
Referee: Gary Willard (Worthing)
8 October 1994 8 Liverpool 3–2 Aston Villa Liverpool
15:00 Ruddock 20'
Fowler 26', 57'
Report Whittingham 37'
Staunton 90+1'
Stadium: Anfield
Attendance: 32,158
Referee: Keith Burge (Tonypandy)
15 October 1994 9 Blackburn Rovers 3–2 Liverpool Blackburn
15:00 Atkins 52'
Sutton 57', 72'
Report Fowler 27'
Barnes 59'
Stadium: Ewood Park
Attendance: 30,263
Referee: Brian Hill (Kettering)
22 October 1994 10 Liverpool 3–0 Wimbledon Liverpool
15:00 McManaman 21'
Fowler 35'
Barnes 64'
Report Stadium: Anfield
Attendance: 31,139
Referee: Peter Jones (Leicestershire)
29 October 1994 11 Ipswich Town 1–3 Liverpool Ipswich
15:00 Paz 65' Report Barnes 39'
Fowler 56', 59'
Stadium: Portman Road
Attendance: 22,513
Referee: Paul Durkin
31 October 1994
(MNF)
12
Queens Park Rangers 2–1 Liverpool London
20:00 Sinclair 29'
Ferdinand 85'
Report Barnes 66' Stadium: Loftus Road
Attendance: 18,295
Referee: Terry Holbrook (West Midlands)
5 November 1994 13 Liverpool 1–0 Nottingham Forest Liverpool
15:00 Fowler 14' Report Stadium: Anfield
Attendance: 33,329
Referee: Joe Worrall (Warrington)
9 November 1994 14 Liverpool 3–1 Chelsea Liverpool
19:45 Fowler 9', 10'
Ruddock 25'
Report J. Spencer 3'
E. Johnsen Yellow card 68' Red card 72'
Stadium: Anfield
Attendance: 32,855
Referee: Graham Poll (Tring)
21 November 1994
(MNF)
15
Everton 2–0 Liverpool Liverpool
20:00 Ferguson 58'
Rideout 90 A'
Report Stadium: Goodison Park
Attendance: 39,866
Referee: Dermot Gallagher
26 November 1994 16 Liverpool 1–1 Tottenham Hotspur Liverpool
15:00 Fowler 39' (pen.) Report Ruddock 78' (o.g.) Stadium: Anfield
Attendance: 35,007
Referee: Steve Lodge (Barnsley)
3 December 1994 17 Coventry City 1–1 Liverpool Coventry
15:00 Flynn 57' Report Rush 2' Stadium: Highfield Road
Attendance: 21,029
Referee: Keith Burge
11 December 1994
(Super Sunday)
18
Liverpool 0–0 Crystal Palace Liverpool
16:00 Report Stadium: Anfield
Attendance: 30,972
Referee: Kelvin Morton
18 December 1994
(Super Sunday)
19
Chelsea 0–0 Liverpool London
16:00 F. Sinclair Yellow card 31' Report Stadium: Stamford Bridge
Attendance: 27,050
Referee: Dermot Gallagher
26 December 1994 20 Leicester City 1–2 Liverpool Leicester
11:30 S. Thompson soccer ball with red X 63'
Simon Grayson Yellow card 65' Yellow-red card 82'
I. Roberts 87'
Report Fowler 67' (pen.)
Rush 77'
Stadium: Filbert Street
Attendance: 21,393
Referee: Gerald Ashby (Worcestershire)
28 December 1994 21 Liverpool 2–0 Manchester City Liverpool
19:45 Phelan 55' (o.g.)
Fowler soccer ball with red X 80' 82'
Report Stadium: Anfield
Attendance: 38,122
Referee: Robbie Hart
31 December 1994 22 Leeds United 0–2 Liverpool Leeds
15:00 Report Redknapp 18'
Fowler 76'
Stadium: Elland Road
Attendance: 38,563
Referee: Alan Wilkie
2 January 1995 23 Liverpool 4–0 Norwich City Liverpool
15:00 Scales 14'
Fowler 38', 47'
Rush 83'
Report Stadium: Anfield
Attendance: 34,709
Referee: Keith Cooper (Pontypridd)
14 January 1995 24 Liverpool 0–1 Ipswich Town Liverpool
15:00 Report Tanner 30' Stadium: Anfield
Attendance: 32,733
Referee: Roger Gifford (Mid Glamorgan)
24 January 1995 25 Liverpool 0–0 Everton Liverpool
19:45 Report Stadium: Anfield
Attendance: 39,505
Referee: Brian Hill
4 February 1995 26 Nottingham Forest 1–1 Liverpool Nottingham
15:00 Collymore 10' Report Babb Red card 52'
Fowler 90+2'
Stadium: City Ground
Attendance: 25,418
Referee: Gary Willard
11 February 1995 27 Liverpool 1–1 Queens Park Rangers Liverpool
15:00 Scales 71' Report Gallen 6' Stadium: Anfield
Attendance: 35,996
Referee: Dermot Gallagher
25 February 1995 28 Sheffield Wednesday 1–2 Liverpool Sheffield
15:00 Bart-Williams 14' Report Barnes 42'
McManaman 59'
Stadium: Hillsborough
Attendance: 31,964
Referee: David Elleray (Harrow)
4 March 1995 29 Liverpool 2–0 Newcastle United Liverpool
15:00 Fowler 57'
Rush 63'
Report Stadium: Anfield
Attendance: 39,300
Referee: Peter Jones
14 March 1995 30 Liverpool 2–3 Coventry City Liverpool
19:45 Mølby 76' (pen.)
Burrows 90+1' (o.g.)
Report Ndlovu 20', 35' (pen.), 85' Stadium: Anfield
Attendance: 27,183
Referee: Mike Reed (Birmingham)
19 March 1995
(Super Sunday)
31
Liverpool 2–0 Manchester United Liverpool
16:00 Redknapp 25'
Bruce 85' (o.g.)
Report Stadium: Anfield
Attendance: 38,906
Referee: Gerald Ashby
22 March 1995 32 Tottenham Hotspur 0–0 Liverpool London
19:45 Klinsmann soccer ball with red X 72' Report Stadium: White Hart Lane
Attendance: 31,988
Referee: Paul Danson
5 April 1995 33 Liverpool 3–1 Southampton Liverpool
19:45 Rush 28', 53'
Fowler 70' (pen.)
Report R. Hall 14' Stadium: Anfield
Attendance: 29,881
Referee: Steve Lodge
9 April 1995 34 Liverpool 0–1 Leeds United Liverpool
15:00 Report Deane 30' Stadium: Anfield
Attendance: 37,454
Referee: Keith Burge
12 April 1995 35 Arsenal 0–1 Liverpool London
19:45 Report Fowler 90' Stadium: Highbury
Attendance: 38,036
Referee: Martin Bodenham
14 April 1995 36 Manchester City 2–1 Liverpool Manchester
15:15 Summerbee 17'
Gaudino 74'
Report McManaman 21' Stadium: Maine Road
Attendance: 27,055
Referee: Joe Worrall
17 April 1995 37 Liverpool 2–0 Leicester City Liverpool
15:00 Fowler 75'
Rush 80'
Report Whitlow Yellow card ?' Yellow-red card 70' Stadium: Anfield
Attendance: 36,012
Referee: Graham Poll
29 April 1995 38 Norwich City 1–2 Liverpool Norwich
15:00 Ullathorne 17' Report Harkness 7'
Rush 84'
Stadium: Carrow Road
Attendance: 21,843
Referee: Brian Hill
2 May 1995 39 Wimbledon 0–0 Liverpool London
19:45 Report Stadium: Selhurst Park
Attendance: 12,041
Referee: Terry Holbrook
6 May 1995 40 Aston Villa 2–0 Liverpool Birmingham
15:00 Yorke 25', 36' Report Stadium: Villa Park
Attendance: 40,154
Referee: Robbie Hart
10 May 1995 41 West Ham United 3–0 Liverpool London
19:45 Holmes 29'
Hutchison 60', 62'
Report Stadium: Boleyn Ground
Attendance: 22,246
Referee: Paul Durkin
14 May 1995 42 Liverpool 2–1 Blackburn Rovers Liverpool
16:00 Barnes 64'
Redknapp 90+3'
Report Shearer 20' Stadium: Anfield
Attendance: 40,014
Referee: David Elleray

FA Cup

[edit]

Matches

[edit]
7 January 1995 3rd round Birmingham City 0–0 Liverpool Bordesley
15:00 Report Stadium: St Andrew's
Attendance: 25,326
Referee: JL Watson
18 January 1995 3rd round (replay) Liverpool 1–1 (a.e.t.)
(2–0 p)
Birmingham City Liverpool
19:45 Redknapp 21' Report Otto 69' Stadium: Anfield
Attendance: 36,275
Referee: Jimmy Parker
Penalties
Ruddock soccer ball with red X
Redknapp soccer ball with check mark
Bjørnebye soccer ball with check mark
M. Ward soccer ball with red X
McGavin soccer ball with red X
Daish soccer ball with red X
G. Cooper soccer ball with red X
28 January 1995 4th round Burnley 0–0 Liverpool Burnley
15:00 Report Stadium: Turf Moor
Attendance: 20,551
Referee: Gary Willard
7 February 1995 4th round (replay)) Liverpool 1–0 Burnley Liverpool
19:45 Barnes 44'
Ruddock Red card 81'
Report McMinn Red card
(after FT)
Stadium: Anfield
Attendance: 32,109
Referee: Kelvin Morton
19 February 1995 5th round Liverpool 1–1 Wimbledon Liverpool
15:00 Fowler 33' Report A. Clarke 2' Stadium: Anfield
Attendance: 25,124
Referee: Alan Wilkie
28 February 1995 5th round (replay) Wimbledon 0–2 Liverpool Selhurst
19:45 Report Barnes 10'
Rush 38'
Stadium: Selhurst Park
Attendance: 12,553
Referee: Alan Wilkie
11 March 1995 6th Liverpool 1–2 Tottenham Liverpool
15:00 Fowler 38' Report Sheringham 45+1'
Klinsmann 89'
Stadium: Anfield
Attendance: 39,592
Referee: Martin Bodenham

Coca-Cola Cup

[edit]

Matches

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21 September 1994 2nd, 1st leg Liverpool 2–0 Burnley Liverpool
19:45 Scales 42'
Fowler 84'
Report Stadium: Anfield
Attendance: 23,359
5 October 1994 2nd, 2nd leg Burnley 1–4 Liverpool Burnley
19:45 Robinson 84' Report Redknapp 15', 69'
Fowler 50'
Clough 75'
Stadium: Turf Moor
Attendance: 19,032
25 October 1994 3 Liverpool 2–1 Stoke City Liverpool
19:45 Rush 4', 56' Report Peschisolido 40' Stadium: Anfield
Attendance: 32,060
30 November 1994 4 Blackburn Rovers 1–3 Liverpool Blackburn
19:45 Sutton 89' Report Rush 19', 53', 71' Stadium: Ewood Park
Attendance: 30,115
11 January 1995 Q-F Liverpool 1–0 Arsenal Liverpool
19:45 Rush 59' Report Stadium: Anfield
Attendance: 35,026
15 February 1995 S-F, 1st leg Liverpool 1–0 Crystal Palace Liverpool
19:45 Fowler 90+2' Report Stadium: Anfield
Attendance: 25,480
8 March 1995 S-F, 2nd leg Crystal Palace 0–1 Liverpool London
19:45 Report Fowler 27' Stadium: Selhurst Park
Attendance: 18,224
2 April 1995 Final Liverpool 2–1 Bolton Wanderers London
17:00 McManaman 37', 68' Report Thompson 70' Stadium: Wembley Stadium
Attendance: 75,595
Referee: Philip Don (Middlesex)

Statistics

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Appearances and goals

[edit]
No. Pos Nat Player Total Premier League FA Cup League Cup
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
DF Republic of Ireland IRL Phil Babb 47 0 33+1 0 6+0 0 7+0 0
MF England ENG John Barnes 50 9 38+0 7 6+0 2 6+0 0
DF Norway NOR Stig Inge Bjørnebye 44 0 31+0 0 5+1 0 7+0 0
FW England ENG Nigel Clough 11 1 3+7 0 0+0 0 1+0 1
FW England ENG Robbie Fowler 57 31 42+0 25 7+0 2 8+0 4
DF England ENG Steve Harkness 8 1 8+0 1 0+0 0 0+0 0
GK England ENG David James 57 0 42+0 0 7+0 0 8+0 0
FW Wales WAL Lee Jones 2 0 0+1 0 0+0 0 0+1 0
DF England ENG Rob Jones 46 0 31+0 0 7+0 0 8+0 0
MF Republic of Ireland IRL Mark Kennedy 6 0 4+2 0 0+0 0 0+0 0
MF England ENG Dominic Matteo 8 0 2+5 0 1+0 0 0+0 0
MF England ENG Steve McManaman 55 9 40+0 7 7+0 0 8+0 2
MF Denmark DEN Jan Mølby 16 2 12+2 2 0+0 0 2+0 0
MF Scotland SCO Steve Nicol 5 0 4+0 0 0+0 0 1+0 0
MF England ENG Jamie Redknapp 55 6 36+5 3 6+0 1 8+0 2
DF England ENG Neil Ruddock 52 2 37+0 2 7+0 0 8+0 0
FW Wales WAL Ian Rush 50 19 36+0 12 7+0 1 7+0 6
DF England ENG John Scales 49 3 35+0 2 7+0 0 7+0 1
MF England ENG Michael Thomas 29 0 16+7 0 2+1 0 1+2 0
MF England ENG Mark Walters 23 0 7+11 0 2+2 0 1+0 0
DF England ENG Mark Wright 6 0 5+1 0 0+0 0 0+0 0

Goalscorers

[edit]
Rank No. Pos Nat Name Premier League FA Cup League Cup Total
1 23 FW England Robbie Fowler 25 2 4 31
2 9 FW Wales Ian Rush 12 1 6 19
3 10 MF England John Barnes 7 2 0 9
17 MF England Steve McManaman 7 0 2 9
5 15 MF England Jamie Redknapp 3 1 2 6
6 12 DF England John Scales 2 0 1 3
7 14 MF Denmark Jan Mølby 2 0 0 2
25 DF England Neil Ruddock 2 0 0 2
9 7 MF England Nigel Clough 0 0 1 1
22 DF England Steve Harkness 1 0 0 1
Own goal 4 0 0 4
Totals 65 6 16 87

Competition top scorers

[edit]
Competition Result Top Scorer
Premier League 4th England Robbie Fowler, 25
FA Cup Sixth round England John Barnes, 2
England Robbie Fowler, 2
League Cup Winners Wales Ian Rush, 6
Overall England Robbie Fowler, 31

Season overview

[edit]

August

[edit]

The only major signing of the season was that of Danish goalkeeper Michael Stensgaard as understudy to David James, following Bruce Grobbelaar's departure to Southampton. Defender Julian Dicks had returned to West Ham United after an unsuccessful season at Anfield, followed by midfielder Don Hutchison just after the start of the season, around the same time that veteran Ronnie Whelan called time on 15 years at Anfield and signed for Southend United.

The league campaign began in style with a 6–1 away win over newly promoted Crystal Palace in which Ian Rush and Steve McManaman both scored twice, with Robbie Fowler and Jan Molby scoring the other goals. Robbie Fowler then managed a hat-trick in less than five minutes in the next game, when Liverpool beat Arsenal 3–0 at Anfield. Fowler was on target again, along with John Barnes, in the next game – a 2–0 win at Southampton.

September

[edit]

The month began with Roy Evans breaking the national defender transfer fee with a £3.6 million move for Wimbledon's John Scales, followed 24 hours later by a £3.5 million signing of Coventry's Phil Babb.

Liverpool saw league action just three times in September, and failed to record any wins. The first game was a goalless draw at home to West Ham, followed by a 2–0 defeat at Manchester United before Ian Rush scored Liverpool's only league goal of the month in a 1–1 away draw with Newcastle United. The Reds were sixth in the league, which was being led by Newcastle.[1]

The League Cup quest began on 21 September, in which John Scales scored his first goal for the club and was joined on the scoresheet by Robbie Fowler in a 2-0 second-round first-leg win over Burnley at Turf Moor.[2]

October

[edit]

October saw mixed results for Liverpool, who were beaten 3-2 by Kenny Dalglish's title chasers Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park before recording a 3–0 home win over Wimbledon and a 3–1 away win over Ipswich Town. The month ended on a sour note with a 2–1 defeat at QPR.

Liverpool eliminated Burnley from the League Cup with a 4–1 win in the second leg, in which Jamie Redknapp was on the scoresheet twice and Nigel Clough scored what would be his only goal of the season. In the next round, Ian Rush scored twice as the Reds defeated Stoke City 2–1 at Anfield.[2]

The Reds ended October in fifth place, with Newcastle still leading the way, newly promoted Nottingham Forest second and pushing hard for a rare title one season after promotion, followed by Manchester United and Blackburn.[3]

November

[edit]

A goal from Robbie Fowler on 5 November gave Liverpool a 1–0 home win over fellow title challengers Nottingham Forest at Anfield. Fowler then scored twice in the next game, a 3–1 win home win over Chelsea. Liverpool were then on the losing side in the Merseyside derby at Goodison Park, where a struggling Everton won 2–0. The month ended with a 1–1 home draw against Tottenham Hotspur. The League Cup quest continued at the end of the month when an Ian Rush hat-trick disposed of Blackburn in the fourth round at Ewood Park.[2] The Reds ended the month fourth in the Premier League, six points behind leaders Blackburn.[4]

December

[edit]

Liverpool were unbeaten in the six league games they played in December, but the first three of those were draws so the subsequent wins over Leicester City, Manchester City and Leeds United restricted them to third place in the league when wins from those first three games would have put them just one point behind leaders Blackburn.[5]

January

[edit]

The first month of 1995 saw the departure of Liverpool's longest serving player Steve Nicol, who signed for Division One strugglers Notts County after losing his place in the first team to new arrivals John Scales and Phil Babb.

However, the year began on a bright note with a 4–0 home win over Norwich City. Then came a 1–0 defeat at home to struggling Ipswich, followed by a goalless draw in the second Merseyside derby of the season at Anfield.

There was success in the cup competitions as an Ian Rush goal gave the Reds 1–0 win over Arsenal in the League Cup quarter-final. However, it took a penalty shoot-out in a replay to see off Division Two underdogs Birmingham City in the FA Cup third round, while Division One strugglers Burnley faced Liverpool again after the League Cup meeting to hold the Reds to a goalless draw at Turf Moor, forcing yet another replay against lower league opposition.[2]

February

[edit]

Another quiet month for league action saw the Reds held to 1-1 draws with Forest and QPR before scraping to a 2–1 win away to Sheffield Wednesday. As had happened last month, the biggest news for Liverpool was in the cup competitions. The FA Cup fourth round replay saw them overcome Burnley 1–0, before a fifth round clash with Wimbledon ended in a 1–1 draw and forced another replay, which the Reds won 2–0. Then came the League Cup semi-final first leg at Anfield, in which a Robbie Fowler goal saw the Reds defeat Crystal Palace (battling relegation but chasing glory in both cup competitions) 1–0.[2]

It was looking too late for Liverpool to challenge for a league title win and a unique domestic treble, as they were now 15 points behind leaders Blackburn (though they did have two games in hnd) and occupying fourth place.[6]

March

[edit]

March brought the familiar pattern for Liverpool of mixed results in the league but good form in the cups. Wins over title hopefuls Manchester United and Newcastle but a home defeat by relegation-threatened Coventry and an away draw with Tottenham Hotspur saw them fall to fifth place in the table and leave their title hopes almost completely dead.[7] The FA Cup fifth round replay against Wimbledon saw Liverpool win 2–0, but their hopes of glory ended in the quarter-finals when they 2–1 at home to Tottenham Hotspur. However, the League Cup campaign continued with another 1–0 win over Crystal Palace and another goal from Robbie Fowler in the second leg of the semi-final, to book the Reds a Wembley date with Bolton Wanderers and a chance of becoming the first team to win the League Cup five times.[2]

April

[edit]

The League Cup final at Wembley Stadium on 2 April 1995 saw Liverpool beat Bolton 2–1 with a brace from Steve McManaman giving Roy Evans the first major trophy of his managerial career, and Liverpool's first major trophy since the FA Cup in 1992. With a place in the UEFA Cup guaranteed for next season and the title now beyond reasonable hope for Liverpool, there was less pressure on them in the final few games of the season, and they looked well placed to finish higher in the league than they had in any of the previous three seasons. Four wins and two defeats from six games made the previously crucial top-five finish a near certainty anyway.[8]

May

[edit]

A draw with Wimbledon and defeats to two sides climbing clear of relegation danger (Aston Villa and West Ham United) were of little importance to a Liverpool side who could no longer win the title but had already booked European action with their League Cup glory. There was, however, one more game left to play. The final game of the league season was at Anfield on 14 May, and the opponents were Blackburn. Kenny Dalglish's new team were two points ahead of Manchester United – the last side capable of catching them – and a win for them would secure their first league title since 1914. However, if they lost or drew and Manchester United won at West Ham, the title would remain at Old Trafford for the third successive season. There was speculation that Liverpool would give their old manager an easy ride and let him add to the three title success he had managed them to in his time there, but Roy Evans dismissed such talk and his Liverpool side defeated Dalglish's men 2–1. The stadium was a scene of jubilation after the final whistle when news came through that the game in east London had ended in a 1–1 draw and Blackburn had ended their 81-year title wait.[2]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ Babb was born in Lambeth, England, but also qualified to represent the Republic of Ireland internationally and made his international debut for the Republic of Ireland in 1994.
  2. ^ Matteo was born in Dumfries, Scotland, but was raised in England from the age of four and represented them at U-21 and B level before making his international debut for Scotland in November 2000.
  3. ^ Warner was born in Liverpool, England, but also qualified to represent Trinidad and Tobago internationally and would make his international debut for Trinidad and Tobago in February 2006.
  4. ^ Hutchison was born in Gateshead, England, but also qualified to represent Scotland internationally through his father and represented them at B level in 1994 before making his international debut for Scotland in March 1999.
  5. ^ Grobbelaar was born in Durban, South Africa, but was raised in Rhodesia (later named Zimbabwe) from the age of two months and made his international debut for Rhodesia in 1977 and for Zimbabwe in 1980.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Snapshot Tables 1994-1995 24 Sep Liverpool – Liverpool FC – LFC Online". Liverpool-mad.co.uk. 24 September 1994. Retrieved 6 October 2012.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g "Liverpool Results 1994-95". Liverweb. Archived from the original on 2 March 2012. Retrieved 6 October 2012.
  3. ^ "Snapshot Tables 1994-1995 31 Oct Liverpool – Liverpool FC – LFC Online". Liverpool-mad.co.uk. 31 October 1994. Retrieved 6 October 2012.
  4. ^ "Snapshot Tables 1994-1995 26 Nov Liverpool – Liverpool FC – LFC Online". Liverpool-mad.co.uk. 26 November 1994. Retrieved 6 October 2012.
  5. ^ "Snapshot Tables 1994-1995 31 Dec Liverpool – Liverpool FC – LFC Online". Liverpool-mad.co.uk. 31 December 1994. Retrieved 6 October 2012.
  6. ^ "Snapshot Tables 1994-1995 25 Feb Liverpool – Liverpool FC – LFC Online". Liverpool-mad.co.uk. 25 February 1995. Retrieved 6 October 2012.
  7. ^ "Snapshot Tables 1994-1995 22 Mar Liverpool – Liverpool FC – LFC Online". Liverpool-mad.co.uk. 22 March 1995. Retrieved 6 October 2012.
  8. ^ "Snapshot Tables 1994-1995 29 Apr Liverpool – Liverpool FC – LFC Online". Liverpool-mad.co.uk. 29 April 1995. Retrieved 6 October 2012.