1996–97 Liverpool F.C. season
During the 1996–97 English football season, Liverpool F.C. competed in the FA Premier League (known as the FA Carling Premiership for sponsorship reasons).
Competition | Result | Top scorer |
---|---|---|
Premier League | 4th | ![]() |
UEFA CWC | Semi-finals | ![]() |
FA Cup | Fourth round | ![]() |
League Cup | Fifth round | ![]() |
Overall | ![]() |
1996–97 season | |||
---|---|---|---|
Chairman | David Moores | ||
Manager | Roy Evans | ||
Premier League | 4th | ||
FA Cup | Fourth round | ||
League Cup | Fifth round | ||
Cup Winners' Cup | Semi-finals | ||
Top goalscorer | League: Robbie Fowler (18) All: Robbie Fowler (31) | ||
Average home league attendance | 38,436 | ||
| |||
Season summary
Liverpool led the Premiership for much of the season, and established a five-point lead at the top before New Year's Day 1997. However, the team were overtaken by Manchester United in the latter stages of the season, and it was United who ultimately won the league, though Liverpool squandered several more chances to reclaim the top position.[1] The side were marred both by the rise of the "Spice Boys" culture, as well as by defensive aberrations; dropping points at their previously impregnable Anfield home. A 2–1 home defeat against bottom of the table Coventry City denied Liverpool the chance to return to top spot with six games to go, United having lost at home to Derby the previous day.[2] Indeed, a win over United at Anfield in April would have put Liverpool top with just three matches to go, but United won 3–1 to effectively clinch the title.[3] The title lost, Liverpool still went into the final match of the season in second place with a two-point lead over Newcastle and Arsenal, but a 1–1 draw with Sheffield Wednesday meant they ended up finishing 4th on goal difference, thus missing out on a place in the newly expanded UEFA Champions League[4] and leaving Roy Evans and his team with a UEFA Cup place as scant consolation for a season which had promised much and giving rise to the phrase "finishing fourth in a two horse race".
In the cups there was more disappointment. Liverpool's UEFA Cup Winners' Cup campaign ended in the semi-finals with a 3–2 aggregate defeat to Paris St Germain. In the FA Cup they lost 4–2 to eventual winners Chelsea in the fourth round, having led 2–0 at half-time and squandered chances to extend their lead. Liverpool were knocked out in the Coca-Cola Cup quarter-finals by eventual finalists Middlesbrough.
The side were nevertheless praised for their attractive attacking style of football. Steve McManaman and Robbie Fowler continued to excel for the club, and Fowler continued his prolific strike partnership with Stan Collymore, scoring 47 goals between them. Fowler's suspension for the final four games was a big blow and effectively ended any lingering hopes of title glory. Fowler also received a UEFA Fair Play award, for protesting that he had not been fouled by Arsenal goalkeeper David Seaman when the referee awarded a penalty kick. The season also saw the debut of teenage prodigy Michael Owen.
Former defender Mark Wright stated in an interview that this was the season in the 1990s that the Liverpool team truly had the talent and opportunity to win the title but threw it away:[5] "We did come close to winning the league a few times and we finished fourth one season when we were the best team. We were better than Manchester United, better than everyone, and we finished joint second but ended up fourth because of goal difference. That was the season we should have won the title and we all know that. I remember some of the games we lost and the way we dropped points against certain sides. David James dropped a few clangers and I remember them because in certain games he didn't have anything to do, then all of a sudden he thinks he's got to be involved in the game. He would come rushing out and all of a sudden you would be 1–0 down", he said.
Final league table
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2 | Newcastle United | 38 | 19 | 11 | 8 | 73 | 40 | +33 | 68 | Qualification for the Champions League second qualifying round |
3 | Arsenal | 38 | 19 | 11 | 8 | 62 | 32 | +30 | 68 | Qualification for the UEFA Cup first round[lower-alpha 1] |
4 | Liverpool | 38 | 19 | 11 | 8 | 62 | 37 | +25 | 68 | |
5 | Aston Villa | 38 | 17 | 10 | 11 | 47 | 34 | +13 | 61 | |
6 | Chelsea | 38 | 16 | 11 | 11 | 58 | 55 | +3 | 59 | Qualification for the Cup Winners' Cup first round[lower-alpha 2] |
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.
Notes:
First-team squad
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
|
|
Transfers
In
# | Pos | Player | From | Fee | Date |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
15 | MF | ![]() | ![]() | £3,250,000 | 1 August 1996 |
28 | MF | ![]() | ![]() | Free | 1 September 1996 |
3 | DF | ![]() | ![]() | Free | 10 January 1997 |
Out
# | Pos | Player | To | Fee | Date |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
27 | GK | ![]() | ![]() | Free | 1 June 1996 |
18 | MF | ![]() | ![]() | Free | 6 December 1996 |
3 | DF | ![]() | ![]() | £2,600,000 | 11 December 1996 |
Results
Premier League
17 August 1996 1 | Middlesbrough | 3–3 | Liverpool | Middlesbrough, North Yorkshire |
15:00 | Ravanelli ![]() |
Report | Bjørnebye ![]() Barnes ![]() Fowler ![]() |
Stadium: Riverside Stadium Attendance: 30,039 |
19 August 1996 2 | Liverpool | 2–0 | Arsenal | Liverpool, Merseyside |
20:00 BST | McManaman ![]() |
Stadium: Anfield Attendance: 38,103 Referee: Gary Willard |
24 August 1996 3 | Liverpool | 0–0 | Sunderland | Liverpool, Merseyside |
15:00 | Stadium: Anfield Attendance: 40,503 |
4 September 1996 4 | Coventry City | 0–1 | Liverpool | Coventry, West Midlands |
19:45 | Babb ![]() |
Stadium: Highfield Road Attendance: 23,021 |
7 September 1996 5 | Liverpool | 2–1 | Southampton | Liverpool, Merseyside |
15:00 | Collymore ![]() McManaman ![]() |
Magilton ![]() |
Stadium: Anfield Attendance: 39,189 |
15 September 1996 6 | Leicester City | 0–3 | Liverpool | Leicester, Leicestershire |
15:00 | Berger ![]() Thomas ![]() |
Stadium: Filbert Street Attendance: 20,987 |
21 September 1996 7 | Liverpool | 5–1 | Chelsea | Liverpool, Merseyside |
15:00 | Fowler ![]() Berger ![]() Myers ![]() Barnes ![]() |
Leboeuf ![]() |
Stadium: Anfield Attendance: 40,739 |
29 September 1996 8 | West Ham United | 1–2 | Liverpool | Newham, London |
15:00 | Bilić ![]() |
Collymore ![]() Thomas ![]() |
Attendance: 25,064 |
12 October 1996 9 | Manchester United | 1–0 | Liverpool | Trafford, Greater Manchester |
11:15 | Beckham ![]() |
Stadium: Old Trafford Attendance: 55,128 |
27 October 1996 10 | Liverpool | 2–1 | Derby County | Liverpool, Merseyside |
16:00 | Fowler ![]() |
A. Ward ![]() |
Stadium: Anfield Attendance: 39,515 |
3 November 1996 11 | Blackburn Rovers | 3–0 | Liverpool | Blackburn, Lancashire |
15:00 | Sutton ![]() Wilcox ![]() |
Stadium: Ewood Park Attendance: 29,598 |
16 November 1996 12 | Leeds United | 0–2 | Liverpool | Leeds, West Yorkshire |
15:00 | Ruddock ![]() McManaman ![]() |
Stadium: Elland Road Attendance: 39,981 |
20 November 1996 13 | Liverpool | 1–1 | Everton | Liverpool, Merseyside |
19:45 | Fowler ![]() |
Speed ![]() |
Stadium: Anfield Attendance: 40,751 |
23 November 1996 14 | Liverpool | 1–1 | Wimbledon | Liverpool, Merseyside |
15:00 | Collymore ![]() |
Leonhardsen ![]() |
Stadium: Anfield Attendance: 39,027 |
2 December 1996 15 | Tottenham Hotspur | 0–2 | Liverpool | Haringey, London |
20:00 | Thomas ![]() McManaman ![]() |
Stadium: White Hart Lane |
7 December 1996 16 | Liverpool | 0–1 | Sheffield Wednesday | Liverpool, Merseyside |
15:00 | Whittingham ![]() |
Stadium: Anfield Attendance: 39,507 |
14 December 1996 17 | Liverpool | 5–1 | Middlesbrough | Liverpool, Merseyside |
15:00 | Fowler ![]() Bjørnebye ![]() |
Fjørtoft ![]() |
Stadium: Anfield Attendance: 39,491 |
17 December 1996 18 | Liverpool | 4–2 | Nottingham Forest | Liverpool, Merseyside |
19:45 | Collymore ![]() Fowler ![]() Lyttle ![]() |
Campbell ![]() Pearce ![]() |
Stadium: Anfield Attendance: 36,126 |
23 December 1996 19 | Newcastle United | 1–1 | Liverpool | Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Tyne and Wear |
20:00 | Shearer ![]() |
Fowler ![]() |
Stadium: St. James' Park Attendance: 36,570 |
26 December 1996 20 | Liverpool | 1–1 | Leicester City | Liverpool, Merseyside |
15:00 | Collymore ![]() |
Claridge ![]() |
Stadium: Anfield Attendance: 40,786 |
29 December 1996 21 | Southampton | 0–1 | Liverpool | Southampton, Hampshire |
16:00 | Barnes ![]() |
Stadium: The Dell Attendance: 15,222 |
1 January 1997 22 | Chelsea | 1–0 | Liverpool | Fulham, London |
15:00 | Di Matteo ![]() |
Stadium: Stamford Bridge Attendance: 28,329 |
11 January 1997 23 | Liverpool | 0–0 | West Ham United | Liverpool, Merseyside |
15:00 | Stadium: Anfield Attendance: 40,102 |
18 January 1997 24 | Liverpool | 3–0 | Aston Villa | Liverpool, Merseyside |
15:00 | Carragher ![]() Collymore ![]() Fowler ![]() |
Stadium: Anfield Attendance: 40,489 |
1 February 1997 25 | Derby County | 0–1 | Liverpool | Derby, Derbyshire |
15:00 | Collymore ![]() |
Stadium: Baseball Ground Attendance: 18,102 |
19 February 1997 26 | Liverpool | 4–0 | Leeds United | Liverpool, Merseyside |
19:45 | Fowler ![]() Collymore ![]() Redknapp ![]() |
Stadium: Anfield Attendance: 38,957 |
22 February 1997 27 | Liverpool | 0–0 | Blackburn Rovers | Liverpool, Merseyside |
15:00 | Stadium: Anfield Attendance: 40,747 |
2 March 1997 28 | Aston Villa | 1–0 | Liverpool | Birmingham, West Midlands |
16:00 | Taylor ![]() |
Stadium: Villa Park Attendance: 39,339 |
10 March 1997 29 | Liverpool | 4–3 | Newcastle United | Liverpool, Merseyside |
20:00 | McManaman ![]() Berger ![]() Fowler ![]() |
Gillespie ![]() Asprilla ![]() Barton ![]() |
Stadium: Anfield Attendance: 40,751 |
15 March 1997 30 | Nottingham Forest | 1–1 | Liverpool | Nottingham |
15:00 | Woan ![]() |
Fowler ![]() |
Stadium: City Ground Attendance: 29,181 |
24 March 1997 31 | Arsenal | 1–2 | Liverpool | Islington, London |
20:00 GMT | Wright ![]() |
Collymore ![]() McAteer ![]() |
Stadium: Highbury Attendance: 38,068 Referee: Gerald Ashby |
6 April 1997 32 | Liverpool | 1–2 | Coventry City | Liverpool, Merseyside |
15:00 | Fowler ![]() |
Whelan ![]() Dublin ![]() |
Stadium: Anfield Attendance: 40,079 |
13 April 1997 33 | Sunderland | 1–2 | Liverpool | Sunderland, Tyne and Wear |
15:00 | Stewart ![]() |
Fowler ![]() McManaman ![]() |
Stadium: Roker Park Attendance: 21,938 |
16 April 1997 34 | Everton | 1–1 | Liverpool | Liverpool, Merseyside |
19:45 | Ferguson ![]() |
Redknapp ![]() |
Stadium: Goodison Park Attendance: 40,177 |
19 April 1997 35 | Liverpool | 1–3 | Manchester United | Liverpool, Merseyside |
11:15 | Barnes ![]() |
Pallister ![]() Cole ![]() |
Stadium: Anfield Attendance: 40,892 |
3 May 1997 36 | Liverpool | 2–1 | Tottenham Hotspur | Liverpool, Merseyside |
15:00 | Collymore ![]() Berger ![]() |
Anderton ![]() |
Stadium: Anfield |
6 May 1997 37 | Wimbledon | 2–1 | Liverpool | Croydon, London |
19:45 | Euell ![]() Holdsworth ![]() |
Owen ![]() |
Stadium: Selhurst Park Attendance: 20,016 |
11 May 1997 38 | Sheffield Wednesday | 1–1 | Liverpool | Sheffield |
16:00 | Donaldson ![]() |
Redknapp ![]() |
Stadium: Hillsborough Attendance: 38,943 |
Results by round
FA Cup
Football League Cup
23 October 1996 3rd Round | Charlton Athletic | 1–1 | Liverpool | London |
Whyte ![]() |
Report | Fowler ![]() |
Stadium: The Valley Attendance: 15,000 |
13 November 1996 3rd Round replay | Liverpool | 4–1 | Charlton Athletic | Liverpool |
Wright ![]() Redknapp ![]() Fowler ![]() |
Report | Newton ![]() |
Stadium: Anfield Attendance: 20,714 |
27 November 1996 4th Round | Liverpool | 4–2 | Arsenal | Liverpool |
McManaman ![]() Fowler ![]() Berger ![]() |
Report | Wright ![]() |
Stadium: Anfield Attendance: 32,814 |
8 January 1997 Quarter-Final | Middlesbrough | 2–1 | Liverpool | Middlesbrough |
Hignett ![]() Vickers ![]() |
Report | McManaman ![]() |
Stadium: Riverside Stadium Attendance: 28,670 |
European Cup Winners' Cup
12 September 1996 First Round, First Leg | MyPa ![]() | 0–1 | ![]() | Anjalankoski |
Report | Bjørnebye ![]() |
Stadium: Kymenlaakson Sähkö Stadion Attendance: 4,767 |
26 September 1996 First Round, Second Leg | Liverpool ![]() | 3–1 | ![]() | Liverpool |
Berger ![]() Collymore ![]() Barnes ![]() |
Report | Keskitalo ![]() |
Stadium: Anfield Attendance: 39,013 |
17 October 1996 Second Round, First Leg | Sion ![]() | 1–2 | ![]() | Sion |
Bonvin ![]() |
Report | Fowler ![]() Barnes ![]() |
Stadium: Stade Tourbillon Attendance: 15,500 |
31 October 1996 Second Round, Second Leg | Liverpool ![]() | 6–3 | ![]() | Liverpool |
McManaman ![]() Bjørnebye ![]() Barnes ![]() Fowler ![]() Berger ![]() |
Report | Chassot ![]() Bonvin ![]() |
Stadium: Anfield Attendance: 38,514 |
6 March 1997 Quarter-Final, First Leg | Brann ![]() | 1–1 | ![]() | Bergen |
Hasund ![]() |
Report | Fowler ![]() |
Stadium: Brann Stadion Attendance: 12,700 |
20 March 1997 Quarter-Final, Second Leg | Liverpool ![]() | 3–0 | ![]() | Liverpool |
Fowler ![]() Collymore ![]() |
Report | Stadium: Anfield Attendance: 40,326 |
Statistics
Appearances and goals
No. | Pos | Nat | Player | Total | Premier League | FA Cup | League Cup | CWC | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||||
Goalkeepers | |||||||||||||
1 | GK | ![]() |
David James | 52 | 0 | 38 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 8 | 0 |
Defenders | |||||||||||||
2 | DF | ![]() |
Rob Jones | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
3 | DF | ![]() |
Bjørn Tore Kvarme | 17 | 0 | 15 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
5 | DF | ![]() |
Mark Wright | 43 | 2 | 33 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 1 |
6 | DF | ![]() |
Phil Babb | 31 | 1 | 21+1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 4+1 | 0 |
12 | DF | ![]() |
Steve Harkness | 10 | 0 | 5+2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
14 | DF | ![]() |
Neil Ruddock | 22 | 1 | 15+2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2+1 | 0 |
19 | DF | ![]() |
Mark Kennedy | 8 | 0 | 0+5 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 |
20 | DF | ![]() |
Stig Inge Bjørnebye | 52 | 4 | 38 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 8 | 2 |
21 | DF | ![]() |
Dominic Matteo | 38 | 0 | 22+4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 0 |
Midfielders | |||||||||||||
4 | MF | ![]() |
Jason McAteer | 51 | 1 | 36+1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 8 | 0 |
7 | MF | ![]() |
Steve McManaman | 51 | 10 | 37 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 8 | 1 |
10 | MF | ![]() |
John Barnes | 47 | 7 | 34+1 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 3 |
11 | MF | ![]() |
Jamie Redknapp | 32 | 4 | 18+5 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4+3 | 0 |
15 | MF | ![]() |
Patrik Berger | 34 | 9 | 13+10 | 6 | 1+1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 6 | 2 |
16 | MF | ![]() |
Michael Thomas | 42 | 3 | 29+2 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 5+1 | 0 |
23 | MF | ![]() |
Jamie Carragher | 3 | 1 | 1+1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
25 | MF | ![]() |
David Thompson | 2 | 0 | 0+2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Forwards | |||||||||||||
8 | FW | ![]() |
Stan Collymore | 37 | 16 | 25+5 | 12 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4+1 | 2 |
9 | FW | ![]() |
Robbie Fowler | 44 | 31 | 32 | 18 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 7 | 7 |
18 | FW | ![]() |
Michael Owen | 2 | 1 | 1+1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
24 | FW | ![]() |
Lee Jones | 2 | 0 | 0+2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Players transferred out during the season | |||||||||||||
3 | DF | ![]() |
John Scales | 7 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2+1 | 0 |
Top scorers
Rank | No. | Pos | Nat | Name | Premier League | FA Cup | League Cup | Cup Winners' Cup | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 9 | FW | ![]() |
Robbie Fowler | 18 | 1 | 5 | 7 | 31 |
2 | 8 | FW | ![]() |
Stan Collymore | 12 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 16 |
3 | 7 | MF | ![]() |
Steve McManaman | 7 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 10 |
4 | 15 | MF | ![]() |
Patrick Berger | 6 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 9 |
5 | 10 | MF | ![]() |
John Barnes | 4 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 7 |
6 | 11 | MF | ![]() |
Jamie Redknapp | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 |
20 | DF | ![]() |
Stig Inge Bjørnebye | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4 | |
8 | 16 | MF | ![]() |
Michael Thomas | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
9 | 5 | DF | ![]() |
Mark Wright | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
10 | 4 | DF | ![]() |
Jason McAteer | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
6 | DF | ![]() |
Phil Babb | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |
14 | DF | ![]() |
Neil Ruddock | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |
18 | FW | ![]() |
Michael Owen | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |
23 | DF | ![]() |
Jamie Carragher | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |
Own goal | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | ||||
Totals | 62 | 3 | 10 | 18 | 93 |
Notes
- McAteer was born in Tranmere, England, but also qualified to represent the Republic of Ireland internationally and made his international debut for the Republic of Ireland in March 1994.
- 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.
- Barnes was born in Kingston, Jamaica, but also qualified to represent any of the home nations internationally as he held a British passport and made his international debut for England in May 1983.
- 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.
- 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.
References
- Smyth, Rob (10 September 2008). "Football: The Joy of Six: bogey teams". The Guardian. Retrieved 30 January 2019 – via www.theguardian.com.
- "Football: Liverpool fall foul of Dublin". The Independent. 7 April 1997. Retrieved 30 January 2019.
- Smyth, Rob (15 February 2007). "On second thoughts ... Roy Evans". The Guardian. Retrieved 30 January 2019 – via www.theguardian.com.
- "English Premier League Table on Thursday 8th May 1997 - Statto.com". Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 30 January 2019.
- "Noticias.info".