1992–93 Liverpool F.C. season

The 1992–93 season was the 101st season in Liverpool F.C.'s existence, and their 31st consecutive year in the top-flight. Having won the FA Cup the previous season, Liverpool had qualified for the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup.

Liverpool
1992–93 season
ChairmanEngland David Moores
ManagerScotland Graeme Souness
Premier League6th
FA CupThird round
League CupFourth round
Charity ShieldRunners-up
UEFA Cup Winners' CupSecond round
Top goalscorerLeague: Ian Rush (14)
All: Ian Rush (22)
Highest home attendance44,619 (vs. Everton, League, 20 March)
Lowest home attendance12,533 (vs. Chesterfield, League Cup, 22 September)
Average home league attendance34,741

New members of the side for the 1992–93 season included goalkeeper David James, Hungarian midfielder István Kozma, Danish defender Torben Piechnik and attacking midfielder Paul Stewart. The close season had seen the departure of defender Barry Venison and winger Ray Houghton. A few weeks into the season, striker Dean Saunders also headed out of Anfield to sign for Aston Villa.

As founder-members of the new FA Premier League, Liverpool finished sixth – a repeat of their performance in the previous season. But their failure to make an impact in the cup competitions meant that their season ended without a trophy and left them without any European football for the 1993–94 season.[1]

This season covered the period from 1 July 1992 to 30 June 1993.

Players

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First-team squad

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

No. Pos. Nation Player
GK   ZIM Bruce Grobbelaar[notes 1]
GK   ENG Mike Hooper
GK   ENG David James
DF   NOR Stig Inge Bjørnebye
DF   ENG David Burrows
DF   ENG Steve Harkness
DF   ENG Rob Jones
DF   SCO Steve Nicol
DF   DEN Torben Piechnik
DF   ENG Nick Tanner
DF   ENG Mark Wright (captain)
MF   ENG John Barnes
MF   ENG Phil Charnock
No. Pos. Nation Player
MF   SCO Don Hutchison[notes 2]
MF   HUN István Kozma
MF   ENG Mike Marsh
MF   ENG Steve McManaman
MF   DEN Jan Mølby
MF   ENG Jamie Redknapp
MF   ENG Michael Thomas
MF   ENG Mark Walters
MF   IRL Ronnie Whelan
FW   ENG Robbie Fowler
FW   ISR Ronny Rosenthal
FW   WAL Ian Rush
FW   ENG Paul Stewart

Left club during season

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

No. Pos. Nation Player
FW   IRL Tony Cousins (to Middlesbrough)
No. Pos. Nation Player
FW   WAL Dean Saunders (to Aston Villa)

Reserve squad

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

No. Pos. Nation Player
FW   ENG Robbie Fowler

Squad statistics

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Appearances and goals

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No. Pos Nat Player Total Premier League FA Cup Charity Shield League Cup European CWC
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
MF   ENG John Barnes 31 5 26+1 5 2+0 0 0+0 0 2+0 0 0+0 0
DF   NOR Stig Inge Bjørnebye 13 0 11+0 0 2+0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0
DF   ENG David Burrows 40 2 29+1 2 0+0 0 1+0 0 5+0 0 4+0 0
MF   ENG Phil Charnock 2 0 0+0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0 1+0 0 0+1 0
GK   ZIM Bruce Grobbelaar 10 0 5+0 0 0+0 0 1+0 0 2+0 0 2+0 0
DF   ENG Steve Harkness 12 0 9+1 0 0+0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0 1+1 0
GK   ENG Mike Hooper 15 0 8+1 0 2+0 0 0+0 0 3+0 0 1+0 0
MF   SCO Don Hutchison 42 10 27+4 7 1+1 0 0+1 0 5+0 2 3+0 1
GK   ENG David James 31 0 29+0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0 1+0 0 1+0 0
DF   ENG Rob Jones 37 0 30+0 0 2+0 0 0+0 0 2+1 0 2+0 0
MF   HUN István Kozma 3 0 0+1 0 0+0 0 0+1 0 0+1 0 0+0 0
MF   ENG Mike Marsh 41 4 22+6 1 2+0 0 1+0 0 6+0 3 4+0 0
MF   ENG Steve McManaman 40 7 27+4 4 1+0 0 0+0 0 5+0 2 3+0 1
MF   DEN Jan Mølby 13 3 8+2 3 0+0 0 0+0 0 1+0 0 2+0 0
MF   SCO Steve Nicol 39 0 32+0 0 1+0 0 0+0 0 4+0 0 2+0 0
DF   DEN Torben Piechnik 23 0 15+1 0 2+0 0 0+0 0 5+0 0 0+0 0
MF   ENG Jamie Redknapp 40 3 27+2 2 1+0 0 0+0 0 6+0 1 4+0 0
FW   ISR Ronny Rosenthal 36 7 16+11 6 1+1 0 1+0 0 2+1 1 0+3 0
FW   WAL Ian Rush 42 22 31+1 14 1+0 1 1+0 1 4+0 1 4+0 5
FW   WAL Dean Saunders 7 2 6+0 1 0+0 0 1+0 1 0+0 0 0+0 0
FW   ENG Paul Stewart 31 3 21+3 1 1+0 0 1+0 0 3+0 0 2+0 2
DF   ENG Nick Tanner 10 0 2+2 0 0+0 0 1+0 0 1+2 0 1+1 0
MF   ENG Michael Thomas 13 1 6+2 1 2+0 0 0+0 0 1+0 0 2+0 0
MF   ENG Mark Walters 44 13 26+8 11 1+0 0 1+0 0 5+0 2 3+0 0
MF   IRL Ronnie Whelan 18 1 17+0 1 0+0 0 1+0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0
DF   ENG Mark Wright 41 4 32+1 2 0+0 0 1+0 0 2+2 1 3+0 1

Goalscorers

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Rank Pos Nat Name Premier League FA Cup League Cup Charity Shield European Cup Winner's Cup Total
1 FW   Ian Rush 14 1 1 1 5 22
2 MF   Mark Walters 11 0 2 0 0 13
3 MF   Don Hutchison 7 0 2 0 1 10
4 MF   Steve McManaman 4 0 2 0 1 7
FW   Ronnie Rosenthal 6 0 1 0 0 7
6 MF   John Barnes 5 0 0 0 0 5
7 MF   Mike Marsh 1 0 3 0 0 4
DF   Mark Wright 2 0 1 0 1 4
9 MF   Jan Mølby 3 0 0 0 0 3
MF   Jamie Redknapp 2 0 1 0 0 3
FW   Paul Stewart 1 0 0 0 2 3
12 DF   David Burrows 2 0 0 0 0 2
FW   Dean Saunders 1 0 0 1 0 2
14 MF   Michael Thomas 1 0 0 0 0 1
MF   Ronnie Whelan 1 0 0 0 0 1
Own goal 1 1 0 1 0 3
Totals 62 2 13 3 10 90

Top scorers

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Competition Result Top scorer
Premier League 6th   Ian Rush, 14
UEFA CWC Second round   Ian Rush, 5
FA Cup Third round   Ian Rush, 1
League Cup Fourth round   Mike Marsh, 3
Charity Shield Runners-up   Ian Rush, 1
  Dean Saunders, 1
Overall   Ian Rush, 22

Transfers

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Pos Player From Fee Date
GK   David James   Watford £1,000,000 6 July 1992
FW   Paul Stewart   Tottenham Hotspur £2,300,000 29 July 1992
DF   Torben Piechnik   FCK £500,000 1 August 1992
DF   Stig Inge Bjørnebye   Rosenborg £600,000 18 December 1992
Pos Player To Fee Date
DF   Barry Jones   Wrexham Free 10 July 1992
MF   Ray Houghton   Aston Villa £825,000 28 July 1992
DF   Barry Venison   Newcastle United £250,000 31 July 1992
FW   Dean Saunders   Aston Villa £2,300,000 10 September 1992
FW   Tony Cousins   Middlesbrough Free April 1993

Pre-season and friendlies

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  Win   Draw   Loss

Paris St Germain Tournament

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26 July 1992 R1   AS Monaco 2–1   Liverpool Paris
20:30 Gnako   49'
Barros   61'
Report Saunders   70' (pen.)
Burrows  
Stadium: Parc des Princes
Attendance: 18,000
27 July 1992 Third place play-off   Borussia Dortmund 3–2   Liverpool Paris
20:30 Poschner   24'
Rummenigge   30'
Chapuisat   65'
Report Wright   62'
Hutchison   89'
Stadium: Parc des Princes
Attendance: 15,000

Testimonials

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11 August 1992   Jim Beglin Leeds United 1–4 Liverpool Leeds
Batty   Report Redknapp  
Rush   12', 31'
Saunders   80'
Stadium: Elland Road
Attendance: 8,492
Referee: Steve Lodge
11 October 1992   Bruce Grobbelaar Liverpool 2–2 Everton Liverpool
Burrows   23'
Rosenthal   44'
Report Beagrie   12'
Barlow   71'
Stadium: Anfield
Attendance: 20,516
Referee: J.B. Worrall
11 May 1993   Joey Jones Wrexham 2–2 Liverpool Wrexham
Hughes   33'
Case   40'
Report Hutchison   47'
Rush   65'
Stadium: Racecourse Ground
Attendance: 11,900

Friendlies

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29 July 1992   Rosenborg 1–0   Liverpool Oslo
20:30 Stewart   72' (o.g.) Report Stewart   66' Stadium: Ullevaal Stadion
Attendance: 21,724
Referee: R.H. Olsen
31 July 1992   Tromsø 1–2   Liverpool Tromsø
20:30 Wright   68' (o.g.) Report Rush   41'
Stewart   59'
Nicol  
Wright  
Stadium: Alfheim Stadion
Attendance: 2,049
Referee: G. Paulsen
4 August 1992   Tranmere Rovers 1–7   Liverpool Birkenhead
19:30 Aldridge   61' Report Saunders   9' (pen.), 40'
Rush   11', 62'
Stewart   43'
Marsh   83'
Rosenthal   87'
Stadium: Prenton Park
Attendance: 8,717
Referee: P. Roberts
1 March 1993   Shelbourne 1–2   Liverpool Dublin
Henderson   13' Report Redknapp   12'
Walters   46'
Stadium: Tolka Park
Attendance: 9,500
Referee: T. Traynor
17 March 1993   Liverpool 1–2   Rosenborg Liverpool
19:30 Rush   25' Report    Stadium: Anfield
Attendance: 0

Competitions

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Premier League

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League Table

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
4 Blackburn Rovers 42 20 11 11 68 46 +22 71
5 Queens Park Rangers 42 17 12 13 63 55 +8 63
6 Liverpool 42 16 11 15 62 55 +7 59
7 Sheffield Wednesday 42 15 14 13 55 51 +4 59
8 Tottenham Hotspur 42 16 11 15 60 66 −6 59
Source: Premier League
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.

Matches

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  Win   Draw   Loss

16 August 1992 1 Nottingham Forest 1–0 Liverpool Nottingham
16:00 Keane   22'
Sheringham   29'
Report Rush   12'
Burrows   60'
Stadium: City Ground
Attendance: 20,038
Referee: M Reed
19 August 1992 2 Liverpool 2–1 Sheffield United Liverpool
19:30 Walters   43'
Stewart   64'
Report Deane   35' Stadium: Anfield
Attendance: 33,107
Referee: David Elleray
23 August 1992 3 Liverpool 0–2 Arsenal Liverpool
16:00 Whelan   57' Report Dixon   24'
Jensen   30'
Limpar   53'
Parlour   56'
Wright   80'
Adams   85'
Stadium: Anfield
Attendance: 34,961
Referee: Ken Redfern
25 August 1992 4 Ipswich Town 2–2 Liverpool Ipswich
Dozzell   36'
Kiwomya   90'
Milton   90'
Report Walters   39'
Wright   42'
Mølby   70' (pen.)
James   80'
Stadium: Portman Road
Attendance: 20,109
Referee: Bob Hamer
29 August 1992 5 Leeds United 2–2 Liverpool Leeds
McAllister   7'
Cantona   36'
Chapman   87'
Report Whelan   44'
Mølby   70' (pen.)
Stadium: Elland Road
Attendance: 29,597
Referee: Roger Dilkes
1 September 1992 6 Liverpool 1–1 Southampton Liverpool
Wright   60' Report K. Dixon   51' Stadium: Anfield
Attendance: 30,024
Referee: Robbie Hart
5 September 1992 7 Liverpool 2–1 Chelsea Liverpool
Saunders   26'
Redknapp   89'
Report Harford   72'
Wise   81'
Pearce   85'
Beasant   88'
Stadium: Anfield
Attendance: 29,597
Referee: John Key
12 September 1992 8 Sheffield United 1–0 Liverpool Sheffield
Littlejohn   4'
Dean   35'
Gage   77'
Report Walters   40'
Burrows   87'
Rush   87'
Stadium: Bramall Lane
Attendance: 20,632
Referee: John E Martin
19 September 1992 9 Aston Villa 4–2 Liverpool Birmingham
15:00 Saunders   44', 66'
Atkinson   54'   64'
Houghton   77'
Parker   78'
Report Walters   43'
Piechnik   62'
Rosenthal   84'
Stadium: Villa Park
Attendance: 37,863
Referee: Philip Don
26 September 1992 10 Liverpool 2–3 Wimbledon Liverpool
Wright   9'
Mølby   35' (pen.)
McManaman   39'
Report Fashanu   12'
Clarke   20'
Earle   27', 76'
Scales   67'
Sanchez   67'
Stadium: Anfield
Attendance: 29,574
Referee: Roger Milford
3 October 1992 11 Liverpool 1–0 Sheffield Wednesday Liverpool
Stewart   15'
Hutchison   80'
Report Warhurst   40'
Palmer   47'
Stadium: Anfield
Attendance: 35,785
Referee: Martin Bodenham
18 October 1992 12 Manchester United 2–2 Liverpool Manchester
Hughes   78', 90' Report Hutchison   23'
Rush   32'   44'
Stadium: Old Trafford
Attendance: 33,243
Referee: Keith Hackett
25 October 1992 13 Liverpool 4–1 Norwich City Liverpool
Thomas   15'
Hutchison   20'
Burrows   52'
Nicol   69'
Walters   89' (pen.)
Report Butterworth   2'   52'
Goss   7'
Newman   28'
Sutton   78'
Stadium: Anfield
Attendance: 36,318
Referee: Ray Lewis
31 October 1992 14 Tottenham Hotspur 2–0 Liverpool London
15:00 Nayim   63'
Austin   68'
Ruddock   72'
Report Piechnik   11'
Walters   14'
Hutchison   35'
Stadium: White Hart Lane
Attendance: 36,318
Referee: Gerald Ashby
7 November 1992 15 Liverpool 4–1 Middlesbrough Liverpool
15:00 Rosenthal   9', 38'
McManaman   45'
Rush   89'
Report Phillips   41' (pen.) Stadium: Anfield
Attendance: 34,974
Referee: Dermot Gallagher
23 November 1992 16 Queens Park Rangers 0–1 Liverpool London
Report Redknapp   19'
Rosenthal   87'
Stadium: Loftus Road
Attendance: 21,056
Referee: Roger Milford
28 November 1992 17 Liverpool 5–0 Crystal Palace Liverpool
McManaman   7', 19'
Marsh   9'
Rosenthal   61'
Hutchison   76'
Report Young   40'
McGoldrick   67'
Stadium: Anfield
Attendance: 36,380
Referee: Steve Lodge
7 December 1992 18 Everton 2–1 Liverpool Liverpool
19:45 Johnston   63'
Beardsley   84'
Report Wright   62' Stadium: Goodison Park
Attendance: 35,826
Referee: Martin Bodenham
13 December 1992 19 Liverpool 2–1 Blackburn Rovers Liverpool
16:00 Walters   77', 85' Report Shearer   80' Stadium: Anfield
Attendance: 43,668
Referee: Philip Don
19 December 1992 20 Coventry City 5–1 Liverpool Coventry
Borrows   37' (pen.), 54'
Gallacher   61'
Quinn   71', 74'
Report Hutchison   61'
Redknapp   64'   42'   70'
Stadium: Highfield Road
Attendance: 19,779
Referee: Kelvin Morton
28 December 1992 21 Liverpool 1–1 Manchester City Liverpool
15:00 Rush   49' Report Quinn   39'
McMahon   61'
Stadium: Anfield
Attendance: 43,037
Referee: David Allison
9 January 1993 22 Liverpool 1–2 Aston Villa Liverpool
Barnes   42' Report Teale   52'
Parker   54'
Saunders   64'
Stadium: Anfield
Attendance: 40,826
Referee: Keith Hackett
16 January 1993 23 Wimbledon 2–0 Liverpool London
Fashanu   36' (pen.)
Cotterill   64'
Report Stadium: Selhurst Park
Attendance: 11,294
Referee: Roger Dilkes
31 January 1993 24 Arsenal 0–1 Liverpool London
16:00 Winterburn   27'   87' Report Stewart   13'
Barnes   59' (pen.)
Stadium: Highbury
Attendance: 27,580
Referee: Keith A Cooper
6 February 1993 25 Liverpool 0–0 Nottingham Forest Liverpool
15:00 Report Keane   62' Stadium: Anfield
Attendance: 40,463
Referee: Keren Barratt
10 February 1993 26 Chelsea 0–0 Liverpool London
19:45 Hall   89' Report Marsh   27' Stadium: Stamford Bridge
Attendance: 20,981
Referee: John E Martin
13 February 1993 27 Southampton 2–1 Liverpool Southampton
17:00 Maddison   23'
Banger   73'
Monkou   83'
Adams   89'
Report Hutchison   61' Stadium: The Dell
Attendance: 17,216
Referee: Alf Buksh
20 February 1993 28 Liverpool 0–0 Ipswich Town Liverpool
Report Stadium: Anfield
Attendance: 36,680
Referee: Alan Gunn
27 February 1993 29 Sheffield Wednesday 1–1 Liverpool Sheffield
Worthington   45'   65'
Anderson   82'
Report Hutchison   20' Stadium: Hillsborough
Attendance: 33,964
Referee: Vic Callow
6 March 1993 30 Liverpool 1–2 Manchester United Liverpool
15:00 Rush   50' Report Hughes   42'
McClair   56'
Stadium: Anfield
Attendance: 44,374
Referee: Roger Milford
10 March 1993 31 Liverpool 1–0 Queens Park Rangers Liverpool
Rush   72' Report Peacock   52'
Ferdinand   78'
Stadium: Anfield
Attendance: 30,370
Referee: Keith Burge
13 March 1993 32 Middlesbrough 1–2 Liverpool Middlesbrough
Nicol   15' (o.g.)
Peake   50'
Mohan   55'
Phillips   84'
Report Hutchison   11'   37'
Walters   52'
Rush   81'
Stadium: Ayresome Park
Attendance: 22,463
Referee: Mike Peck
20 March 1993 33 Liverpool 1–0 Everton Liverpool
Rosenthal   90' Report Snodin   49' Stadium: Anfield
Attendance: 44,619
Referee: Philip Don
23 March 1993 34 Crystal Palace 1–1 Liverpool London
Armstrong   78' Report Burrows   23'
Rush   49'
Hutchison   80'
Stadium: Selhurst Park
Attendance: 18,688
Referee: Roger Dilkes
3 April 1993 35 Blackburn Rovers 4–1 Liverpool Blackburn
Newell   13'
Hendry   19'
Moran   25'
Gallacher   41'
Wilcox   65'
Report Rush   84' Stadium: Ewood Park
Attendance: 15,032
Referee: Ken Redfern
10 April 1993 36 Liverpool 1–0 Oldham Athletic Liverpool
Rush   60' Report Stadium: Anfield
Attendance: 36,129
Referee: Joe Worrall
12 April 1993 37 Manchester City 1–1 Liverpool Manchester
Flitcroft   12' Report Rush   61' Stadium: Maine Road
Attendance: 28,098
Referee: Mike Reed
17 April 1993 38 Liverpool 4–0 Coventry City Liverpool
Walters   16', 33', 50' (pen.)
Burrows   75'
Report Stadium: Anfield
Attendance: 33,328
Referee: Tony Ward
21 April 1993 39 Liverpool 2–0 Leeds United Liverpool
Barnes   54'
Walters   73' (pen.)
Report Stadium: Anfield
Attendance: 34,992
Referee: Mike Reed
1 May 1993 40 Norwich City 1–0 Liverpool Norwich
Newman   55'
Phillips   62' (pen.)
Goss   63'
Report James   30'   61'
Wright   42'
Stewart   55'
Rush   61'
Stadium: Carrow Road
Attendance: 20,610
Referee: David Elleray
5 May 1993 41 Oldham Athletic 3–2 Liverpool Oldham
Beckford   20'
Olney   35', 36'
Henry   76'
Report Redknapp   24'
Burrows   26' Rush   30', 59'
Hutchison   75'
Walters   88'
Stadium: Boundary Park
Attendance: 15,381
Referee: Paul Durkin
8 May 1993 42 Liverpool 6–2 Tottenham Hotspur Liverpool
Rush   21', 85'
Barnes   44', 88'
Harkness   47'
Walters   82' (pen.)
Jones   89'
Report Van Den Hauwe   44'
Sheringham   46'
Sedgley   77'
Stadium: Anfield
Attendance: 43,385
Referee: Steve Lodge

FA Cup

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3 January 1993 3rd Round Bolton Wanderers 2–2 Liverpool Bolton
McGinlay   6'
Seagraves   22'
Report Winstanley   56' (o.g.)
Rush   82'
Stadium: Burnden Park
Attendance: 21,502
Referee: Ron Groves
13 January 1993 3rd Round Replay Liverpool 0–2 Bolton Wanderers Liverpool
Report McGinlay   3'
Walker   78'
Stadium: Anfield
Attendance: 34,790
Referee: Ron Groves

Football League Cup

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22 September 1992 2nd Round 1st Leg Liverpool 4–4 Chesterfield Liverpool
Rosenthal   51'
Hutchison   58'
Walters   72'
Wright   85'
Report Norris   7', 69'
Lancaster   30', 48'
Stadium: Anfield
Attendance: 12,533
Referee: Philip Wright
6 October 1992 2nd Round 2nd Leg Chesterfield 1–4
(5–8 agg.)
Liverpool Chesterfield
Hebberd   10' Report Hutchison   19'
Redknapp   35'
Walters   42'
Rush   56'
Stadium: Saltergate
Attendance: 10,632
Referee: Gerald Ashby
28 October 1992 3rd Round Sheffield United 0–0 Liverpool Sheffield
Report Stadium: Bramall Lane
Attendance: 17,856
Referee: Tony Ward
11 November 1992 3rd Round Replay Liverpool 3–0 Sheffield United Liverpool
McManaman   33', 42'
Marsh   84' (pen.)
Report Stadium: Anfield
Attendance: 17,654
Referee: Kelvin Morton
1 December 1992 4th Round Liverpool 1–1 Crystal Palace Liverpool
Marsh   77' (pen.) Report Coleman   56' Stadium: Anfield
Attendance: 18,525
Referee: Brian Hill
16 December 1992 4th Round Replay Crystal Palace 2–1 (a.e.t.) Liverpool London
Watts   14'
Thorn   101'
Report Marsh   26' (pen.) Stadium: Selhurst Park
Attendance: 19,622
Referee: Peter Foakes

FA Charity Shield

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8 August 1992 Liverpool 3–4 Leeds United London
15:00 Rush   34'
Saunders   65'
Strachan   89' (o.g.)
Report Cantona   26', 77', 87'
Dorigo   43'
Stadium: Wembley Stadium
Attendance: 61,291
Referee: David Elleray
16 September 1992 First Round, First Leg Liverpool   6–1   Apollon Limassol Liverpool
19:35 Stewart   4', 38'
Rush   39', 50', 55', 74'
Report Špoljarić   84' Stadium: Anfield
Attendance: 12,769
Referee: J A Veiga Trigo (Portugal)
29 September 1992 First Round, Second Leg Apollon Limassol   1–2   Liverpool Limassol
19:00 Špoljarić   60' Report Rush   62'
Hutchison   68'
Stewart   72'
Stadium: Tsirion Stadium
Attendance: 10,000
Referee: L Stafoggia (Italy)
22 October 1992 Second Round, First Leg Spartak Moscow   4–2   Liverpool Moscow
19:00 Pisarev   10'
Karpin   69', 84' (pen.)
Lediakhov   89'
Report Wright   65'
McManaman   79'
Grobbelaar   84'
Stadium: Central Lenin Stadium
Attendance: 55,000
Referee: R Larsson (Sweden)
4 November 1992 Second Round, Second Leg Liverpool   0–2   Spartak Moscow Liverpool
19:35 Marsh   87' Report Radchenko   63'
Piatnitski   89'
Stadium: Anfield
Attendance: 37,993
Referee: M Diaz Vega (Spain)

Season events

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August

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In the last season of the original Football League First Division before the creation of the FA Premier League, Liverpool had collected their fifth FA Cup but finished sixth in the league – the first time since 1981 that they hadn't finished champions or runners-up. They had returned to European competition in the UEFA Cup and reached the quarter-finals. Their disappointment in the league could largely be put down to the fact that key players Ian Rush and John Barnes had missed many games through injury. However, Rush and Barnes were back to full fitness for the 1992–93 season, accompanied by new signing Paul Stewart from Tottenham Hotspur, who could double as a midfielder or attacker, and 21-year-old Watford goalkeeper David James who was already an England under-21 international and widely tipped to be a full international over the next few years.

The season began on 8 August, when Liverpool faced league champions Leeds United in the FA Charity Shield, and an action packed game at Wembley Stadium ended in a 4–3 defeat. Eight days later, Liverpool travelled to the City Ground to take on Nottingham Forest in their very first Premier League game, but came away 1–0 losers after a Teddy Sheringham goal. Three days later, the Reds recorded their first win, goals and points at Anfield in a 2–1 win over Sheffield United, with Mark Walters opening the goalscoring followed by Paul Stewart in the second half. However, the visit of Arsenal to Anfield four days after that brought major disappointment as the North Londoners ran out 2–0 winners. The next two games (away visits to Ipswich Town and Leeds) both ended in 2–2 draws, with 70th minute penalties from Jan Molby in both of these games.

Liverpool's first month of the new Premier League had been a major disappointment, with one win, two draws and two defeats, leaving them a lowly 16th out of 22 clubs.[2]

September

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The second month of Liverpool's season was similar to the first – bringing one draw (at home to Southampton), one win (at home to Chelsea) and three defeats (at the hands of Sheffield United, Aston Villa and Wimbledon). They were now 19th in the league, with only goal difference keeping them out of relegation places at the end of the second month of a season in a league where they had been expected to challenge for the title, which was currently being contested by some of the most unlikely sides including Norwich City, Coventry City and Queen's Park Rangers as well as big spending Manchester United and Blackburn Rovers.[3]

Liverpool's European adventure began on 16 September, with a 6–1 home demolition of Apollon Limassol (the Cypriot cup winners) in which Ian Rush scored four goals and Paul Stewart was on target twice in the first round first leg of the European Cup Winners' Cup. The return leg in Cyprus two weeks later saw Liverpool progress to the next stage with a 2–1 win thanks to another goal from Rush as well as another from Don Hutchison.

The Football League Cup quest began on 22 September, when Division Three Chesterfield gave the Reds a scare by drawing 4–4 with them at Anfield.

October

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Liverpool's terrible start to the season gave way to a slight improvement in October. The month began well with a 1–0 home win over Sheffield Wednesday in which Don Hutchison scored the only goal, and two weeks later only a late equaliser from Mark Hughes denied them an away win over Manchester United, forcing a 2–2 draw. The following Saturday saw an impressive 4–1 home win over surprise title challengers Norwich, but the month ended with a return to Liverpool's losing ways as they were beaten 2–0 by Tottenham at White Hart Lane, where Spurs' first goal came from a spectacular volley by Nayim.

They ended the month in 14th place in the league – an improvement on the previous month but still well short of top spot.[4] Any hopes that Chesterfield might have had of achieving a giant killing feat over the Reds ended at Saltergate on 6 October, when Graeme Souness's men achieved a 4–1 win to put them through to the third round. They were drawn with Sheffield United, who held them to a goalless draw at Bramall Lane on 28 October,.

On the European scene, Liverpool's chances of glory in the Cup Winners' Cup took a severe blow when they were beaten 4–2 in Russia by Spartak Moscow.

November

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Liverpool saw league action just three times in London – and won on each occasions. Middlesbrough visited Anfield on 7 November, and were on the receiving end on a 4–1 defeat in which Ronny Rosenthal scored twice. Rosenthal was the only man on the scoresheet 16 days later as the Reds beat QPR 1–0 at Loftus Road. Five days later, Liverpool's surge continued when they demolished Crystal Palace 5–0 at Anfield. They had now climbed to eighth place.[5]

The League Cup third round replay against Sheffield United at Anfield saw them run out 3–0 victors thanks to a Steve McManaman brace and a Mike Marsh penalty. However, any remaining hopes of European glory were ended on 4 November, when they suffered a 2–0 home defeat to Spartak Moscow in the second leg of the second round.

December

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Liverpool's league revival stalled in November as they won just one league matches out of four. They lost 2–1 to Everton in the Merseyside derby at Goodison Park on 7 December, though two goals from Mark Walters six days later gave them a 2–1 home win over Blackburn Rovers. Six days before Christmas, however, the Reds were on the receiving end of one of the biggest league shocks of the season as they were crushed 5–1 by Coventry at Highfield Road. Their final action of 1992 came on 28 December, when they drew 1–1 at home to Manchester City. They had now slipped to 11th place.[6]

December also saw the end of Liverpool's attempt to win a record fifth League Cup, as they were beaten 2–1 by Crystal Palace in the fourth round replay after a 1–1 draw in the first match.

January

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1993 began with a 2–2 draw with Bolton Wanderers in the FA Cup third round at Burnden Park, with the replay at Anfield 10 days later sparking arguably the biggest cup upset of the season as the Reds lost 2–0 at home to the Division Two promotion chasers.

Liverpool fared little better in the league this month, beginning with a 2–1 home defeat to title chasers Aston Villa, followed by a 2–0 defeat at Wimbledon, before a John Barnes penalty against Arsenal at Highbury on 31 January, ensured that the month would not end winless for the Reds, who were still only 12th in the league.[7]

February

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Liverpool's dismal form continued into February as they failed to win a single game all month, and speculation was mounting that manager Graeme Souness would soon be forced out of the club. The month began with goalless draws against Forest and Chelsea, before the Reds lost 2–1 at Southampton. A goalless draw followed at home to Ipswich, whose recent surge in form had seen them look like outsiders for the league title a season after promotion. A 1–1 draw at Sheffield Wednesday ensured that Liverpool had gone a whole month with five games but no wins. They had managed just two goals all month, both from Don Hutchison.

March

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Liverpool's action for March kicked off with a 2–1 home defeat by a Manchester United side who went top on their way to their first top division title since 1967, with left Liverpool a lowly 15th in the league and just five places and three points clear of the relegation zone. The game also saw Ian Rush score his first league goal of 1993 and only his fourth of the whole season in the league, and marked the start of a turnaround in fortunes for both player and club.[8]

Four days later, QPR were the visitors at Anfield as Rush was the only man on the scoresheet in a 1–0 win for the hosts. Three days later, Rush was joined by Don Hutchison on the scoresheet as the Reds won 2–1 at Middlesbrough – a result which pushed the Ayresome Park club deeper into relegation trouble. 20 March, was the day of the second Merseyside derby of the season, in which Liverpool ran out 1–0 winners and Ronny Rosenthal scored the only goal of the game. The resurgence was put on hold when Liverpool's last game of the month saw the held to a 1–1 draw at relegation-threatened Crystal Palace, but Rush was on target for the fourth time in five games and his team had now lifted themselves to 10th place.[9]

April

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April began badly for the Reds as a 4–1 defeat at Blackburn (managed by former Liverpool player and boss Kenny Dalglish) suggested that another decline was setting in and that the Reds could be sucked back into the unthinkable relegation battle. However, a week later their resurgence was resumed with Ian Rush once again the inspiration as they defeated Oldham 1–0 at Anfield. Rush was on the scoresheet yet again in the next game as they were held to a 1–1 draw by Manchester City at Maine Road. Undoubtedly the best game of the month came on 17 April, when the Reds demolished Coventry 4–0 at Anfield, with Mark Walters scoring a hat-trick and defender David Burrows scoring the other goal. The month ended with a 2–0 home win over Leeds that completed Liverpool's impressive rise from 15th place to fifth within the space of a few weeks. The relegation fear was now long gone, though it was too late for Liverpool to make a challenge for one of the two UEFA Cup places.[10]

With the pressure off the Reds as the end of the season loomed, they lost 1–0 to third placed Norwich at the beginning of the month before being beaten 3–2 by an Oldham side who were on the way to completing a survival act which was little short of miraculous. The campaign ended on 8 May, with an impressive 6–2 demolition of Tottenham with goals from Ian Rush (twice), John Barnes (twice), a penalty from Mark Walters and an own goal from Tottenham's Stuart Nethercott, to secure a sixth-place finish for the second season running. Manager Souness was not at the game, instead attending the match between Coventry City and Leeds United in order to scout Coventry forward Peter Ndlovu.[11] [12]

Notes

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  1. ^ 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.
  2. ^ Hutchison was born in Gateshead, England, but also qualified to represent Scotland internationally through his father and would make his international debut for Scotland in March 1999, having previously represented them at B level.

References

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  1. ^ "Football Club History Database - F.A. Premier League 1992-93". www.fchd.info. Retrieved 5 November 2019.
  2. ^ "Liverpool News - LFC Online". www.lfconline.co.uk. Retrieved 5 November 2019.
  3. ^ "Liverpool News - LFC Online". www.lfconline.co.uk. Retrieved 5 November 2019.
  4. ^ "Liverpool News - LFC Online". www.lfconline.co.uk. Retrieved 5 November 2019.
  5. ^ "Liverpool News - LFC Online". www.lfconline.co.uk. Retrieved 5 November 2019.
  6. ^ "Liverpool News - LFC Online". www.lfconline.co.uk. Retrieved 5 November 2019.
  7. ^ "Liverpool News - LFC Online". www.lfconline.co.uk. Retrieved 5 November 2019.
  8. ^ "Liverpool News - LFC Online". www.lfconline.co.uk. Retrieved 5 November 2019.
  9. ^ "Liverpool News - LFC Online". www.lfconline.co.uk. Retrieved 5 November 2019.
  10. ^ "Liverpool News - LFC Online". www.lfconline.co.uk. Retrieved 5 November 2019.
  11. ^ "Liverpool News - LFC Online". www.lfconline.co.uk. Retrieved 5 November 2019.
  12. ^ "Liverpool Results 1992-93". Archived from the original on 13 November 2007. Retrieved 5 November 2019.
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