newly traced from Reds: Liverpool FC first est. 25 june 1997 paths still being plotted scribed by journeymaster perrin

the ongoing saga of liverpool fc never walk alone S e a s o n 21 9 9 8 / 1 9 9 9

[ C u r r e n t aA b o d e ] [ J o u r n e y m e n ] [ J o u r n a l s df r o m dt h ed P a s t ] [ P a t h s sE l s e w h e r e ]

Season Results

Final Premier League Standing

	P	W	D	L	F	A	GD	Pts	Position	Leaders
Liverpool	38	15	9	13	68	49	19	54	7th	Man Utd on 79 pts

Liverpool squad: Friedel, Staunton (Babb, 46), Song (Heggem, 85), Matteo, Carragher, Berger, Redknapp, Ince, Leonhardsen, McManaman (Thompson, 74), Riedle.

Liverpool squad: Friedel, Staunton, Matteo, Carragher, Gerrard (Song 46), McManaman, Ince, Berger (Thompson 66), Leonhardsen, Redknapp (Ferri 82), Riedle.

Liverpool squad: Friedel, Song (Berger 56), Matteo, Staunton (Thompson 79), Babb, Carragher, Redknapp, Ince, Leonhardsen, Riedle, McManaman.

Liverpool squad: Friedel, Kvarme (Gerrard 46), Carragher, Staunton, Matteo, Thompson (Bjornebye 87), Redknapp, Ince, Leonhardsen (Song 75), McManaman, Riedle.

Liverpool squad: Friedel, Song (Kvarme 83), Staunton, Matteo, Carragher, Thompson, Ince, Redknapp, Leonhardsen, McManaman, Riedle (Dundee 80).

Liverpool squad: James, Song, Babb, Matteo, Carragher, Thompson (Dundee 67), Redknapp, Ince, Leonhardsen, McManaman, Riedle.

Liverpool squad: James, Song (Dundee 86), Babb, Matteo, Bjornebye (Leonhardsen 46), McManaman, Redknapp, Ince, Carragher, Fowler, Riedle.

Liverpool squad: James, Gerrard, Babb, Carragher, Matteo, McManaman, Ince, Berger, Redknapp, Fowler, Owen (Riedle 25).

Liverpool squad: James, Carragher, Matteo, Song, Staunton, Ince, Redknapp, Berger, McManaman (Riedle 67), Fowler (Gerrard 78), Owen.

Liverpool squad: James, Matteo, Song, Heggem (Gerrard 71), Staunton, Ince, Redknapp, Berger, McManaman, Fowler (Riedle 85), Owen.

Liverpool squad: James, Matteo, Babb, Heggem, Staunton (Bjornebye 24), Redknapp, Berger, Gerrard, Fowler, Owen (Riedle 46).

Liverpool squad: James, Matteo, Babb, Heggem (McManaman 10), Bjornebye, Ince (Ferri 48), Redknapp, Berger (Riedle 81), Fowler, Owen.

Liverpool squad: James, Carragher, Song, Heggem, Staunton, Bjornebye (Riedle 77), Redknapp, McManaman (Berger 66), Fowler, Owen.

Liverpool squad: James, Carragher (sent off 69), Matteo, Heggem (Gerrard 81), Staunton, Bjornebye (Song 72), Ince, Redknapp, McManaman, Fowler, Owen (Riedle 81).

Liverpool squad: James, Carragher, Matteo (sent off 64), Heggem, Staunton, Bjornebye, Ince, Redknapp, McManaman, Fowler (Riedle 81), Owen (Gerrard 81).

Liverpool squad: James, Song (McManaman 69), Matteo, Heggem, Staunton, Bjornebye, Ince, Redknapp, Berger (Riedle 77), Fowler, Owen.

Liverpool squad: James, Carragher (Kvarme 79), Babb, Matteo, Heggem, Bjornebye, Ince (Thompson 73), Redknapp, Berger, Fowler, Owen (Riedle 73).

Liverpool squad: James, Carragher, Babb, Staunton (Matteo 63), Heggem, Harkness, Ince, Redknapp, Berger, Fowler, Owen (Riedle 89).

Liverpool squad: James, Carragher, Babb, McAteer, Staunton, Bjornebye (Harkness 70), Ince, Redknapp, Berger, Owen, Riedle (Fowler 61).

Liverpool squad: James, Carragher, Babb (McAteer 60), Staunton, Bjornebye, Heggem, Redknapp, McManaman (Gerrard 25 [Thompson 46]), Berger, Owen, Riedle.

Liverpool squad: James, Carragher, Babb, Staunton, Bjornebye, Heggem, Ince, Redknapp (Harkness 90), Berger, Owen (McManaman 76), Fowler (Riedle 58).

Liverpool squad: James, Carragher, Babb, Staunton, Bjornebye, Heggem (Kvarme 83), Ince, Redknapp, Berger, Owen, Fowler (Riedle 88).

Liverpool squad: James, Carragher, Babb, Staunton, Bjornebye, Heggem, Ince, Redknapp, Berger, Owen, Fowler (Riedle 61).

Liverpool squad: James (Friedel 63), Carragher, Babb (Murphy 46), Staunton, Matteo, McAteer, Gerrard, Thompson (Riedle 59), Berger, Owen, Fowler.

Liverpool squad: James, Carragher, Babb, Staunton, Heggem, Bjornebye (Murphy 75), Gerrard (Thompson 55), Ince, Berger, Owen, Fowler.

Liverpool squad: James, Carragher, Babb, Staunton (Kvarme 75), Heggem (Gerrard 90), Bjornebye, Ince, Redknapp, Berger, Owen, Fowler.

Liverpool squad: James, Carragher, Kvarme, Staunton, Heggem, Bjornebye, Ince, Redknapp, Thompson (Riedle 78), Berger (Babb 85), Owen, Fowler.

Liverpool squad: James, Carragher, Babb, Staunton, Heggem, Harkness (Bjornebye 12), Ince, Redknapp, Berger (McAteer 63), Owen (Riedle 78), Fowler.

Liverpool squad: James, Carragher, Staunton, Heggem, Bjornebye, Ince, Redknapp, Thompson, Berger, Riedle (Leonhardsen 70), Fowler.

Liverpool squad: Friedel, Carragher, Staunton, Heggem, Bjornebye, Ince, Thompson, McAteer, Leonhardsen (Riedle 46), Fowler, Owen (Murphy 82).

Liverpool squad: James, Carragher, Heggem (Thompson 67), Staunton, Bjornebye, McManaman, Redknapp, Ince, Berger (McAteer 31), Owen, Fowler.

But the situation may be more hopeful than you might think, or say, than 2 years ago. Today we have a progressive management which includes the Frenchman Gerard Houllier (still to make his impact on the club I think) as well as the striker extraordinaire Michael Owen. There are also Paul Ince, Jamie Redknapp and Robbie Fowler around. Would this be enough to convince Macca? It is a test for him as well as for us Liverpool fans to believe that the current/next season's Liverpool team can win something. So before we judge him, ask ourselves some serious questions first.

Liverpool squad: James, Carragher, Heggem (Dundee 79), Staunton, Bjornebye, McManaman, Redknapp, Ince, Berger (Harkness 89), Owen, Fowler (McAteer 85).

It's easy to criticise the team when they disappoint and lose, but a few things must be noted, the most important of which was how bad a loss was it? Leicester City, to contradict an earlier comment, never looked like title contenders - it was an extremely sterile game played under bad weather conditions.

Liverpool's fault was failing to create any penetrating thrust in their unimaginative attacks, and they have done this far too many times already this season, getting held scoreless in several games now. I thought the Reds were rather steadfast in their defending, and they held Emile Heskey and Tony Cottee at bay well for most of the match. The goal was well-worked - a moment of inspiration in a match which didn't seem capable of conjuring up a goal, for which David James ought to be held partly responsible for his rush of blood coming out to deal with Heskey.

Other than that, Liverpool's approach to the game was negative - they seemed to be trying to cancel out Leicester rather than winning the game, and I was surprised why Robbie Fowler was not introduced earlier in the game - if rotation and competition means anything at all at Liverpool, there should be a real cause to pull someone out if things aren't going the right way.

Liverpool squad: James, Carragher, Bjornebye, Staunton, Heggem, McAteer, Ince, Berger (Fowler 80), McManaman, Owen, Riedle.

Liverpool squad: Friedel, Carragher, Bjornebye, Staunton, McAteer, Ince, Thompson, Murphy (Harkness 73), Berger, Owen (Dundee 83), Fowler.

Liverpool squad: James, Carragher, Bjornebye, Staunton, Heggem, Ince, McAteer, Berger, McManaman, Owen, Riedle.

Liverpool squad: James, Carragher, Bjornebye, Staunton, Heggem, Ince, McAteer, Berger (Leonhardsen 76), McManaman, Riedle (Owen 73), Fowler.

Liverpool squad: James, Carragher (Kvarme 49), Bjornebye, Staunton, Heggem, Ince, Redknapp (McAteer 45), Berger (Riedle 86), McManaman, Fowler, Owen.

Liverpool picked up only their 2nd point from their last possible 12 with a last-ditch draw against Chelsea. Redknapp added a fine free-kick seven minutes from time to his brace against Kosice to earn the Reds a draw against a classy Chelsea side. He finally scored after crashing an earlier effort against the post at the stroke of half-time.

For much of the game, howvever, Liverpool struggled as Frank Lebouef's backline marked Robbie Fowler and Michael Owen into anonymity in the game. With Steve McManaman rested due to a nagging Achilles' heel injury, the Reds laboured to chase the game after the Londoners took an early lead. A high ball from Roberto di Matteo was well-controlled by his Italian team-mate, Perluigi Casiraghi, who took the ball past a committed David James and scored from a tight angle in the 10th minute. Phil Babb injured himself diving in trying to prevent the goal and was soon replaced by Dominic Matteo.

Chelsea defended classily after that, limiting the home team to long-range efforts. An increasingly anxious Liverpool brought on Veggard Heggem for the ineffective Jason McAteer and Karlheinz Riedle for Oyvind Leonhardsen in the second half. The substitutes played better than the men they replaced and injected penetration and urgency into the Liverpool attack. Riedle appeared to be tackled from behind in the box on 66 minutes. The referee, who was well-placed, dismissed the appeals for a penalty and booked Riedle for diving. Paul Ince was then put through but panicked and shot weakly at Ed de Goey.

Until Redknapp's late goal, it appeared that the Merseysiders were heading for their 3rd league defeat. The early optimism which culminated in the 4-1 thrashing of Newcastle has since evaporated. The old fears which have plagued the Reds' defence have returned. The same team which crushed Kosice in mid-week failed to sparkle against Chelsea. McAteer's only know-how as the right-back was to pump crosses into the box where Fowler and Owen were well-marked and out-jumped. Riedle, however, is increasingly showing his relevance to the Liverpool attack with his rugged play and sharpness. A lot, however, still needs to be done.

Liverpool squad: James, Babb (Matteo 25), Carragher, Bjornebye, McAteer (Heggem 56), Ince, Redknapp, Berger, Leonhardsen (Riedle 64), Fowler, Owen.

Liverpool squad: James, McAteer (Heggem 66), Babb (Matteo 63), Bjornebye, Leonhardsen, Carragher, Ince (Staunton 71), Redknapp, Berger, Owen, Fowler.

Liverpool squad: Friedel, Babb, Carragher, McAteer, Bjornebye, Ince, Redknapp, Berger, McManaman, Riedle (Fowler 75), Owen.

Liverpool squad: Friedel, Babb, Carragher, Heggem (Thompson 85), Staunton (Matteo 64), Redknapp, Berger, Harkness (McAteer 61), McManaman, Fowler, Owen.

Liverpool squad: Friedel, Babb, Carragher, Heggem, Staunton, Redknapp (Leonhardsen 83), Berger, Harkness, McManaman (McAteer 78), Riedle (Fowler 58), Owen.

Liverpool's early-season bubble was dented at Upton Park when Harry Redknapp's well-passing Hammers nailed them 2-1, a repeat of last season's result. The Merseysiders were caught out after only 4 minutes, when John Hartson rose to head down a corner past Brad Friedel.

Liverpool, electing to start Steve Harkness in place of Karlheinz Riedle, and with Steve McManaman probably less than fully fit, were listless and subdued in attack in the first half, while the home team dominated and showed the advantages of having Hartson as an effective target man.

In the second half, the Reds were hit by another early sucker-punch on 50 minutes when Israeli Eyal Berkovic's shot from outside the box flashed past 2 Liverpool defenders and past an unsighted Brad Friedel for what turned out to be the winning goal. Liverpool from then on brought on three more attack-oriented players in Riedle, Jason McAteer and Dominic Matteo, and at last managed to create some chances to overturn a 2-0 deficit.

First, Michael Owen - quiet generally, skipped past a defender inside the box and swung in a cross which appeared to hit Liverpool old boy Neil Ruddock on his hand. The referee waved play on. On 68 minutes, a Jamie Redknapp freekick from 25 yards was punched out by Shaka Hislop. Then Riedle's header on 77 minutes from a Macca cross cannoned off the post and out of play.

The German international did score on 88 minutes, a scorching header from a McAteer cross (Berkovic was down injured on the field). But despite 5 minutes of extra-time and hopes of a repeat of a West Ham collapse similar to their prior 4-3 defeat after taking a 3-0 lead against Wimbledon, the Reds suffered their first loss of the season.

Liverpool did manufacture a belated fightback and were improved after the break. But they were always chasing the game from 2-0 down, and Hartson's aerial strength unraveled some of the old doubts about Liverpool's centerbacks. And the team cannot depend solely on Owen - with Macca not totally fit, it could have been a tactical mistake to leave out Riedle - he certainly looked Liverpool's most likely player to score. Not the best send-off for Europe.

Liverpool squad: Friedel, Carragher, Babb, Heggem (McAteer 70), Staunton (Matteo 62), Harkness (Riedle 54), Ince, Redknapp, Berger, McManaman, Owen.

Liverpool squad: Friedel, Babb, Carragher, Staunton, Heggem, Ince, Redknapp, Berger, McManaman, Riedle, Owen.

Striker irresistible Michael Owen ran in a hat-trick in 13 minutes - his second in a senior Liverpool shirt, as the Reds embarrassed Ruud Gullit's labouring Newcastle United at St. James' Park. Gullit - the new Newcastle manager after the shock sacking of Kenny Dalglish, had promised "sexy" football for the Newcastle faithful, but there was both precious little chance and evidence of it despite a good opening 10 minutes for the Magpies.

Instead, it was the devastating finish of Owen which overshadowed all else. On 17 minutes, a powerful Paul Ince drive was pushed out by Shay Given to Owen. The forward still had lots to do but he hit a splendid volley from a tight angle which hit the body of the Newcastle keeper at the near post on its way into the net. A minute later, it was 2-0 as Steve McManaman released Owen, who burst clear of the defense and coolly slotted the ball under Given. Stephane Gui'varch then gave the home fans some hope when Rob Lee robbed a shaky Phil Babb of the ball and fed him an easy chance to make it 2-1 on 28 minutes.

The third Owen goal on 32 minutes was, however, the cream of the crop. Karlheinz Riedle won the ball in midfield and passed to Owen. The young England striker rode, Ronaldo-style, two Newcastle challenges and chipped the ball neatly past Given into the corner of the net. It was a goal that had both the pace, balance and strength of Ronaldo and the finishing of Robbie Fowler. The match was effectively over as a contest at the stroke of half-time when Patrik Berger won the ball and skipped past a challenge before unleashing a cross-goal shot for Liverpool's fourth.

The second half was mainly a leisurely run-out for both sides. Liverpool, after their deadly attacks and finishing of the first half, were less adventurous while Newcastle exposed some of their defensive frailties with headers at the Brad Friedel's goal. Macca and Ince were booked late in the game. The win lifted the Merseysiders to the top of the Premiership, ahead of Aston Villa on goal difference. The ease and decisiveness of their victory at Tyneside have sounded a clear warning to Arsenal and other title contenders. Go on, Michael Owen, and bring on Robbie Fowler.

Liverpool squad: Friedel, Babb, Carragher, Heggem, Staunton, Ince, Redknapp (Thompson), Berger, McManaman (McAteer), Riedle, Owen.

Liverpool drew a blank in their first game of the season at Anfield against last season's double winners. Arsenal, despite missing Tony Adams in the heart of their defence, were far more steadfast at the back compared to their 4-0 mauling in last season's corresponding fixture.

The Gunners were excellent in the first 20 minutes in containing the home team's enthusiasm; they passed well and had more possession of the ball. Most of the goal attempts during the early period were long-range efforts as Paul Ince and Nicolas Anelka both tried from far.

In the 31st minute, Karlheinz Riedle, an aerial threat in the box, headed down a cross that went just wide. Two minutes later, Anelka, who outshone Dennis Bergkamp in attack for the visitors, chested down a Patrick Vieira cross but Friedel brilliantly pushed away his downward header; Ray Parlour's follow-up with Friedel out of position was however thumped wastefully over the bar.

The Reds improved after the break and saw an opportunistic stab at the ball by Ince inside the box saved by David Seaman. Half a minute later, Anelka was off racing in a counterattack but his shot was well-covered by Friedel. Seaman next proceeded to spill a long-range shot by the impressive Veggard Heggem, but Riedle failed to turn the loose ball in.

The match after the hour mark settled back into a more predictable pattern. Anelka curled a dangerous effort just beyond the far post on 68 minutes. Jamie Redknapp, making his season debut and return from a knee injury, came on and struck a shot over the bar later on. But it was Arsenal which looked dangerous near the end. First Marc Overmars broke free and slipped his shot under Friedel but Jamie Carragher cleared, and then just two minutes from the end, Bergkamp missed a great chance to win the match when his low drive inside the box was saved by Friedel.

For me the best Liverpool performers were Friedel in goal and Heggem on the right side of defence (the latter in containing Overmars). Michael Owen and Steve McManaman were both unable to break down a tight Arsenal defence. A draw seems a creditable result against a team of Arsenal's capability. Liverpool's defence coped well against some excellent forwards - they were shakier against Southampton last weekend, but Arsenal still had some excellent opportunities.

Liverpool squad: Friedel, Babb, Carragher, Heggem, Staunton, Ince, Berger (Redknapp), McAteer, McManaman, Riedle, Owen.

Liverpool squad: Friedel, Babb, Carragher, Heggem, Staunton, Ince, Berger (Harkness), McAteer, McManaman, Riedle, Owen.

The new management has signed defender Veggard Heggem for about 3.5m pounds from Rosenberg. The 22-year-old rightback joins his former Rosenberg team-mates at Anfield, Stig Inge Bjornebye, Tore Kvarme and Oyvind Leonhardsen.

Amid more transfer rumours both in and out of Liverpool, Jamie Redknapp suffered another injury blow when he underwent a minor operation on his troublesome knee and might miss the start of the season.

Sean Dundee has completed a 2m pound move from relegated German side Karlsruhe to Merseyside. The 25-year-old is set to become reserve striker behind Michael Owen and fellow German Karlheinz Riedle while Robbie Fowler fights to return from injury.

Meanwhile, the shocking news is that Fabrizio Ravanelli is eyeing a return to the Premiership after a disappointing season at Olympqiue Marseille. And if Roy Evans is pleased with the reduced 4.5m pound valuation, the "White Feather" could be playing for the Reds next season after a high transfer fee put off Liverpool last season.