1995–96 Liverpool F.C. season
Second round | ||||
Top goalscorer | League: Robbie Fowler (28) All: Robbie Fowler (36) | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Average home league attendance | 39,010 | |||
| ||||
The 1995–96 Liverpool F.C. season was the 104th season in the club's existence, and their 34th consecutive year in the top-flight. In addition to the FA Premier League (known as the FA Carling Premiership for sponsorship reasons), the club competed in the FA Cup, the League Cup, and the UEFA Cup.
Season overview
Having paid a national record £8.5million for
Collymore too was rich on form from the beginning: he found the net on his debut at Liverpool won 1–0 at
September started on a low note for the Reds as they lost 1–0 at
There was also success on the European scene, as the Reds overcame
November was a disaster for the Reds, who failed to win any of their five games that month, losing 2–1 to Newcastle United, Everton and Middlesbrough in the league, in which they also drew 0–0 at West Ham United, and lost 1–0 to Newcastle United in the League Cup fourth round. They ended the month in seventh place, 14 points behind leaders Newcastle United. The title dream was now looking dead and buried with less than half of the season gone.[4]
December was a much better month for the Reds, who were held 1–1 at Anfield by Southampton at the start of the month before winning 1–0 at struggling Bolton Wanderers. On 17 December, Robbie Fowler took his tally of goals against Manchester United for the season to four as he scored both goals in a 2–0 win at Anfield just over two months after netting twice in the 2–2 draw at Old Trafford. The Anfield win helped keep Newcastle United's lead of the Premier League a comfortable one. For the second season running, Robbie Fowler scored a league hat-trick at home to Arsenal, though this time in the space of nearly 40 minutes rather than the record breaking time of less than five minutes as had happened the previous season, as the Reds won 3–1. They were now just one point behind second placed Manchester United, though they were still 11 points adrift of leaders Newcastle United.[5]
January was another successful month at Anfield as the Reds ended it in second place, ahead of Manchester United on goal difference, although Newcastle United still had a nine-point lead at the top. It seemed possible that Liverpool might be able to live up to their pre-season tag as title favourites after all.[6]
Liverpool's best chance of silverware appeared to be in the FA Cup, where they began with a 7–0 third round win over Rochdale in which Ian Rush set a new record for career goals scored in the competition. They had a similarly easy opposition in the fourth round, winning 4–0 at home to Shrewsbury Town, and booked their place in the quarter-finals for the first time since 1992 by beating Charlton Athletic 2–1 in the fifth round at the end of February. They were still going well in the league, keeping up the pressure on the leading pack of Newcastle United and Manchester United, though by 24 February they were still nine points behind Kevin Keegan's leaders and Alex Ferguson's second place title chasers.[7] The quarter-final brought a 3–0 win in the replay against Leeds United after a goalless draw in the first match, and the month ended with a 3–0 semi-final win over Aston Villa which booked them an FA Cup final clash with Manchester United.
April began with a 4–3 home win over Newcastle United – a match widely regarded as one of the most exciting league games of the 1990s. The result did a favour for Liverpool's fierce rivals Manchester United, as it kept their three-point lead over the Tynesiders intact, also keeping Liverpool's title hopes – and their hopes of a unique second double – alive, as they were now just five points off the top.[8] However, a 1–0 defeat at struggling Coventry City three days later left Liverpool's title hopes looking practically dead.[9] By the time of their 1–0 home win over Middlesbrough on 27 April, the title was beyond Liverpool's reach.[10] They finished the season third in the Premier League – their highest league finish since finishing runners-up of the old Football League First Division in 1991 – and their last game was at Maine Road on 5 May, when they held Manchester City to a 2–2 draw, a result which saw their hosts relegated on goal difference. The game was also memorable for being the game where Ian Rush scored his final goal for the Reds; after more than 300 goals in two spells at the club over the last 16 years, he would be leaving on a free transfer at the end of the season.
The
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 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
8 | FW | Stan Collymore | Nottingham Forest | £8,500,000 | 1 July 1995 |
27 | GK | Stephen Pears | Middlesbrough | Free | 14 August 1995 |
4 | MF | Jason McAteer | Bolton Wanderers | £4,500,000 | 7 September 1995 |
Out
# | Pos | Player | To | Fee | Date |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
11 | MF | Mark Walters | Southampton | Free | 17 January 1996 |
7 | FW | Nigel Clough | Manchester City | £1,500,000 | 24 January 1996 |
14 | MF | Jan Mølby | Swansea City | Free | 21 February 1996 |
8 | FW | Paul Stewart |
Sunderland | Free | 5 March 1996 |
9 | FW | Ian Rush | Leeds United |
Free | 20 May 1996 |
Competitions
Premier League
League table
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Manchester United (C) | 38 | 25 | 7 | 6 | 73 | 35 | +38 | 82 | Qualification for the Champions League group stage |
2 | Newcastle United | 38 | 24 | 6 | 8 | 66 | 37 | +29 | 78 | Qualification for the UEFA Cup first round |
3 | Liverpool | 38 | 20 | 11 | 7 | 70 | 34 | +36 | 71 | Qualification for the Cup Winners' Cup first round[a] |
4 | Aston Villa | 38 | 18 | 9 | 11 | 52 | 35 | +17 | 63 | Qualification for the UEFA Cup first round |
5 | Arsenal | 38 | 17 | 12 | 9 | 49 | 32 | +17 | 63 |
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.
(C) Champions
Notes:
- runners-up, as winners Manchester United already qualified for the Champions League. They defaulted their UEFA Cup spot from league position to Arsenal.
Results by round
Matches
19 August 1995 1 | Liverpool | 1–0 | Sheffield Wednesday | Liverpool |
15:00 | Collymore 61' | Report | Stadium: Anfield Attendance: 40,535 Referee: Paul Durkin (Isle of Portland) |
21 August 1995 ( Leeds United | 1–0 | Liverpool | Leeds | |
20:00 | Yeboah 51' | Report | Stadium: Elland Road Attendance: 35,852 Referee: David Elleray (Harrow) |
26 August 1995 3 | Tottenham Hotspur | 1–3 | Liverpool | Tottenham |
15:00 | o.g. ) |
Report | 54' | Stadium: White Hart Lane Attendance: 31,254 Referee: Keith Cooper (Pontypridd) |
30 August 1995 4 | Liverpool | 1–0 | Queens Park Rangers | Liverpool |
19:45 | Ruddock 29' | Report | Stadium: Anfield Attendance: 37,548 Referee: Steve Dunn |
9 September 1995 5 | Wimbledon | 1–0 | Liverpool | South Norwood |
15:00 | o.g. ) |
Report | Stadium: Selhurst Park Attendance: 19,530 Referee: Keith Burge (Tonypandy) |
16 September 1995 6 | Liverpool | 3–0 | Blackburn Rovers | Liverpool |
15:00 | Redknapp 12' Fowler 22' Collymore 29' |
Report | Berg ?' 51' | Stadium: Anfield Attendance: 39,502 Referee: Gary Willard |
23 September 1995 7 | Liverpool | 5–2 | Bolton Wanderers | Liverpool |
15:00 | Fowler 11', 30', 46', 67' Harkness 83' |
Report | Patterson 81' (pen. ) |
Stadium: Anfield Attendance: 40,104 Referee: Martin Bodenham |
1 October 1995 ( Super Sunday) 8 | Manchester United | 2–2 | Liverpool | Trafford |
16:00 | Cantona 71' (pen. ) |
Report | Fowler 32', 54' | Stadium: Old Trafford Attendance: 34,934 Referee: David Elleray |
14 October 1995 9 | Liverpool | 0–0 | Coventry City | Liverpool |
15:00 | Report | Stadium: Anfield Attendance: 39,079 Referee: Paul Danson |
22 October 1995 ( Super Sunday) 10 | Southampton | 1–3 | Liverpool | Southampton |
16:00 | G. Watson 2' Le Tissier ?' 68' |
Report | McManaman 21', 54' Redknapp 73' |
Stadium: The Dell Attendance: 15,245 Referee: Dermot Gallagher |
28 October 1995 11 | Liverpool | 6–0 | Manchester City | Liverpool |
15:00 | Rush 3', 64' Redknapp 5' Fowler 47', 60' Ruddock 53' |
Report | Stadium: Anfield Attendance: 39,267 Referee: Alan Wilkie |
4 November 1995 12 | Newcastle United | 2–1 | Liverpool | Newcastle upon Tyne |
15:00 | Ferdinand 3' S. Watson 90' |
Report | Rush 11' | Stadium: St James' Park Attendance: 36,547 Referee: Mike Reed |
18 November 1995 13 | Liverpool | 1–2 | Everton | Liverpool |
15:00 | Fowler 89' | Report | Kanchelskis 53', 65' | Stadium: Anfield Attendance: 40,818 Referee: Gerald Ashby |
22 November 1995 14 | West Ham United | 0–0 | Liverpool | Upton Park |
19:45 | Report | Stadium: Boleyn Ground Attendance: 24,324 Referee: Jeff Winter (Middlesbrough) |
25 November 1995 15 | Middlesbrough | 2–1 | Liverpool | Middlesbrough |
15:00 | 66' | Report | Ruddock 54' | Stadium: Riverside Stadium Attendance: 29,390 Referee: Dermot Gallagher |
2 December 1995 16 | Liverpool | 1–1 | Southampton | Liverpool |
15:00 | Collymore 67' | Report | Shipperley 60' | Stadium: Anfield Attendance: 38,007 Referee: Robbie Hart (Darlington) |
9 December 1995 17 | Bolton Wanderers | 0–1 | Liverpool | Burnden |
15:00 | Report | Collymore 61' | Stadium: Burnden Park Attendance: 21,042 Referee: Martin Bodenham |
17 December 1995 ( Super Sunday) 18 | Liverpool | 2–0 | Manchester United | Liverpool |
16:00 | Fowler 45', 87' | Report | Stadium: Anfield Attendance: 40,546 Referee: Graham Poll |
23 December 1995 19 | Liverpool | 3–1 | Arsenal | Liverpool |
15:00 | Fowler 40', 56', 78' | Report | Wright 8' (pen.) | Stadium: Anfield Attendance: 39,806 Referee: Keith Cooper |
30 December 1995 20 | Chelsea | 2–2 | Liverpool | Fulham |
15:00 | Spencer 9', 45' | Report | McManaman 33', 76' | Stadium: Stamford Bridge Attendance: 31,137 Referee: Keith Burge |
1 January 1996 21 | Liverpool | 4–2 | Nottingham Forest | Nottingham |
Fowler 3', 41' Collymore 62' Cooper 86' (o.g.) |
Stone 13' Woan 18' |
Stadium: Anfield Attendance: 39,206 |
13 January 1996 22 | Sheffield Wednesday | 1–1 | Liverpool | Sheffield |
Kovačević 7' | Rush 87' | Stadium: Hillsborough Attendance: 32,747 |
20 January 1996 23 | Leeds United | Liverpool | ||
Ruddock 27', 90' Fowler 62' (pen.), 68' Collymore 89' |
Stadium: Anfield Attendance: 40,254 |
31 January 1996 24 | Aston Villa | 0–2 | Liverpool | Aston |
Collymore 61' Fowler 65' |
Stadium: Villa Park Attendance: 39,332 |
3 February 1996 25 | Liverpool | 0–0 | Tottenham Hotspur | Liverpool |
Stadium: Anfield Attendance: 40,628 |
11 February 1996 26 | Queens Park Rangers | 1–2 | Liverpool | Shepherd's Bush |
Dichio 66' |
M. Wright 13' Fowler 30' |
Stadium: Loftus Road Attendance: 18,405 |
24 February 1996 27 | Blackburn Rovers | 2–3 | Liverpool | Blackburn |
Wilcox 25' Sherwood 83' |
Collymore 10', 21' Thomas 70' |
Stadium: Ewood Park Attendance: 30,895 |
3 March 1996 ( Super Sunday) 28 | Liverpool | 3–0 | Aston Villa | Liverpool |
McManaman 2' Fowler 5', 8' |
Stadium: Anfield Attendance: 39,508 |
13 March 1996 29 | Liverpool | 2–2 | Wimbledon | Liverpool |
McManaman 35' Collymore 68' |
Ekoku 54' Holdsworth 60' |
Stadium: Anfield Attendance: 34,063 |
16 March 1996 30 | Liverpool | 2–0 | Chelsea | Liverpool |
M. Wright 53' Fowler 62' |
Stadium: Anfield Attendance: 40,820 |
23 March 1996 31 | Nottingham Forest | 1–0 | Liverpool | Nottingham |
Stone 42' | Stadium: City Ground Attendance: 29,058 |
3 April 1996 32 | Liverpool | 4–3 | Newcastle United | Liverpool |
Fowler 2', 55' Collymore 68', 90' |
Ferdinand 10' Ginola 14' Asprilla 57' |
Stadium: Anfield Attendance: 40,702 |
6 April 1996 33 | Coventry City | 1–0 | Liverpool | Hillfields |
Whelan 18' |
Stadium: Highfield Road Attendance: 23,137 |
8 April 1996 34 | Liverpool | 2–0 | West Ham United | Liverpool |
Barnes 38' |
Stadium: Anfield Attendance: 40,326 |
16 April 1996 35 | Walton | |||
Kanchelskis 18' | Fowler 87' | Stadium: Goodison Park Attendance: 40,120 |
27 April 1996 36 | Liverpool | 1–0 | Middlesbrough | Liverpool |
Collymore 70' | Stadium: Anfield Attendance: 40,782 |
5 May 1996 38 | Manchester City | 2–2 | Liverpool | Moss Side |
Rösler 71' (pen.) Symons 78' |
Lomas 6' (o.g.) Rush 41' |
Stadium: Maine Road Attendance: 31,436 |
FA Cup
6 January 1996 Third round | Liverpool | 7–0 | Rochdale | Liverpool |
Fowler 21' Collymore 43', 44', 70' Valentine 48' (o.g.) Rush 61' McAteer 85' |
(Report) | Stadium: Anfield Attendance: 28,126 |
18 February 1996 Fourth round | Shrewsbury Town | 0–4 | Liverpool | Shrewsbury |
(Report) | Collymore 8' Walton 69' (o.g.) Fowler 75' McAteer 84' |
Stadium: Gay Meadow Attendance: 7,752 |
28 February 1996 Fifth round | Liverpool | 2–1 | Charlton Athletic | Liverpool |
Fowler 12' Collymore 59' |
(Report) | Grant 87' | Stadium: Anfield Attendance: 36,818 |
10 March 1996 Sixth round | Leeds United | 0–0 | Liverpool | Leeds |
(Report) | Stadium: Elland Road Attendance: 24,632 |
20 March 1996 Sixth round replay | Liverpool | 3–0 | Leeds United | Liverpool |
McManaman 57', 73' Fowler 83' |
(Report) | Stadium: Anfield Attendance: 30,812 |
31 March 1996 Semi-final | Liverpool | 3–0 | Aston Villa | Manchester |
Fowler 16', 86' McAteer 90' |
(Report) | Stadium: Old Trafford Attendance: 39,072 |
11 May 1996 Final | Liverpool | 0–1 | Manchester United | London |
(Report) | Cantona 85' | Stadium: Wembley Stadium Attendance: 79,007 |
Football League Cup
20 September 1995 Second round, first leg | Liverpool | 2–0 | Sunderland | Liverpool |
19:45 | McManaman 8' Thomas 72' |
Report | Stadium: Anfield Attendance: 25,579 Referee: Peter Jones (Loughborough) |
6 October 1995 Second round, second leg | Sunderland | |||
19:45 | Report | Fowler 39' | Stadium: Roker Park Attendance: 20,560 Referee: Roger Dilkes (Mossley) |
25 October 1995 Third round | Liverpool | 4–0 | Manchester City | Liverpool |
19:45 | Scales 9' Fowler 74' Rush 79' Harkness 82' |
Report | Stadium: Anfield Attendance: 29,394 Referee: Stephen Lodge (Barnsley) |
29 November 1995 Fourth round | Liverpool | 0–1 | Newcastle United | Liverpool |
19:45 | Report | Watson 77' | Stadium: Anfield Attendance: 40,077 Referee: Paul Durkin (Isle of Portland) |
UEFA Cup
12 September 1995 First round, first leg | 1–2 | Liverpool | Vladikavkaz | |
Qosimov 20' | Report | McManaman 32' Redknapp 52' |
Stadium: Republican Spartak Stadium Attendance: 43,000 Referee: Rémi Harrel (France) |
13 October 1995 Second round, first leg | Brøndby IF | 0–0 | Liverpool | Brøndby Municipality |
Report | Stadium: Brøndby Stadium Attendance: 37,648 Referee: Jaap Uilenberg (Netherlands) |
31 October 1995 Second Round, Second Leg | Liverpool | 0–1 | Brøndby IF | Liverpool |
Report | Eggen 78' | Stadium: Anfield Attendance: 35,878 Referee: Karol Ihring (Slovakia) |
Statistics
Appearances and goals
No. | Pos | Nat | Player | Total | Premier League | FA Cup | League Cup | UEFA Cup | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||||
Goalkeepers | |||||||||||||
1 | GK | ENG | David James | 53 | 0 | 38 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
Defenders | |||||||||||||
2 | DF | ENG | Rob Jones | 47 | 0 | 33 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
5 | DF | ENG | Mark Wright | 42 | 2 | 28 | 2 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
6 | DF | IRL | Phil Babb | 40 | 0 | 28 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
12 | DF | ENG | John Scales | 38 | 1 | 27 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
20 | DF | NOR | Stig Inge Bjørnebye | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
21 | DF | ENG | Dominic Matteo | 6 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
22 | DF | ENG | Steve Harkness | 33 | 2 | 23+1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 0 |
25 | DF | ENG | Neil Ruddock | 28 | 5 | 18+2 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3+1 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
Midfielders | |||||||||||||
4 | MF | IRL | Jason McAteer | 40 | 3 | 27+2 | 0 | 7 | 3 | 3+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
10 | MF | ENG | John Barnes | 50 | 3 | 36 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
15 | MF | ENG | Jamie Redknapp | 33 | 4 | 19+4 | 3 | 2+1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 1 |
16 | MF | ENG | Michael Thomas | 37 | 2 | 18+9 | 1 | 5+1 | 0 | 0+1 | 1 | 2+1 | 0 |
17 | MF | ENG | Steve McManaman | 53 | 10 | 38 | 6 | 7 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 1 |
19 | MF | IRL | Mark Kennedy | 6 | 0 | 1+3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 |
Forwards | |||||||||||||
8 | FW | ENG | Stan Collymore | 44 | 19 | 30+1 | 14 | 7 | 5 | 2+2 | 0 | 1+1 | 0 |
9 | FW | WAL | Ian Rush | 29 | 7 | 10+10 | 5 | 0+4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2+1 | 0 |
23 | FW | ENG | Robbie Fowler | 53 | 36 | 36+2 | 28 | 7 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 3+1 | 0 |
Players transferred out during the season | |||||||||||||
7 | FW | ENG | Nigel Clough | 2 | 0 | 1+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Last updated: 30 May 1996
Source: Competitions
Competition top scorers
Competition | Result | Top scorer |
---|---|---|
Premier League | 3rd | Robbie Fowler, 28 |
UEFA Cup | Second round | Steve McManaman, 1 Jamie Redknapp, 1 |
FA Cup | Runners-up | Robbie Fowler, 6 |
League Cup | Fourth round | Robbie Fowler, 2 |
Overall | Robbie Fowler, 36 |
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.
- B level before making his international debut for Scotlandin November 2000.
- ^ 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.
References
- ^ "LIVERWEB - Liverpool Results 1995-96". Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 1 April 2011.
- ^ "Liverpool News – LFC Online". www.lfconline.co.uk. Retrieved 29 January 2019.
- ^ "Liverpool News – LFC Online". www.lfconline.co.uk. Retrieved 29 January 2019.
- ^ "Liverpool News – LFC Online". www.lfconline.co.uk. Retrieved 29 January 2019.
- ^ "Liverpool News – LFC Online". www.lfconline.co.uk. Retrieved 29 January 2019.
- ^ "Liverpool News – LFC Online". www.lfconline.co.uk. Retrieved 29 January 2019.
- ^ "Liverpool News – LFC Online". www.lfconline.co.uk. Retrieved 29 January 2019.
- ^ "Liverpool News – LFC Online". www.lfconline.co.uk. Retrieved 29 January 2019.
- ^ "Liverpool News – LFC Online". www.lfconline.co.uk. Retrieved 29 January 2019.
- ^ "Liverpool News – LFC Online". www.lfconline.co.uk. Retrieved 29 January 2019.
- ^ "FA Cup Final 1996". Archived from the original on 23 October 2007. Retrieved 1 April 2011.