2002–03 Liverpool F.C. season

The 2002–2003 season was Liverpool Football Club's 111th season in existence and their 41st consecutive season in the top-flight of English football.

Liverpool
2002–03 season
ChairmanDavid Moores
ManagerGérard Houllier
Premier League5th
FA CupFourth round
League CupWinners
UEFA Champions LeagueGroup stage
UEFA CupQuarter-finals
FA Community ShieldRunners-up
Top goalscorerLeague: Michael Owen (19)
All: Michael Owen (28)
Average home league attendance42,768

Season summary

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Having finished second the previous season, Liverpool had high hopes to win their first league title since 1990. Indeed, they topped the Premier League table after their first 12 games (including a seven-game winning streak), picking up 30 points out of a possible 36, a run which saw them four points clear at the top from reigning champions Arsenal. However, on 9 November 2002, they suffered a surprise 1–0 away defeat at the hands of high-fliers Middlesbrough. This wasn't completely disastrous; it did see their lead cut to one point but three days later, they completed a miserable week after they bowed out of the Champions League after failure to beat Basel. That week's two results started a freefall of 13 matches without victory (including 11 league games) and a dismal run of only two wins in 16 league matches (both away at Southampton and West Ham United) which ended such title hopes. They were, in fact, out of the top 4 altogether never to return after a shock 2–1 defeat at struggling Sunderland. However, their first home league win in four months came in a 2–0 win over Bolton Wanderers on 8 March 2003, starting a more promising run of seven wins in eight league games which almost took the club to Champions League qualification anyway, but defeats at the hands of Manchester City and Chelsea in the final two games of the season buried those hopes. A League Cup win following a 2–0 victory over arch-rivals Manchester United was the sole glorious moment of a disappointing season.[1]

Competition Result Top scorer
Premier League 5th   Michael Owen, 19
Champions League First group stage   Michael Owen, 4
UEFA Cup Quarter-finals   Michael Owen, 3
FA Cup Fourth round   Danny Murphy, 1
League Cup Winners   El Hadji Diouf, 3
Overall   Michael Owen, 28

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
1 GK   POL Jerzy Dudek
2 DF   SUI Stéphane Henchoz
3 DF   POR Abel Xavier[notes 1]
4 DF   FIN Sami Hyypiä (captain)
5 FW   CZE Milan Baroš
6 DF   GER Markus Babbel
7 MF   CZE Vladimír Šmicer
8 FW   ENG Emile Heskey
9 FW   SEN El Hadji Diouf
10 FW   ENG Michael Owen
13 MF   ENG Danny Murphy
14 DF   NOR Vegard Heggem
15 MF   CZE Patrik Berger
16 MF   GER Dietmar Hamann
17 MF   ENG Steven Gerrard
18 DF   NOR John Arne Riise
19 GK   GLP Pegguy Arphexad
21 MF   SEN Salif Diao
No. Pos. Nation Player
22 GK   ENG Chris Kirkland
23 DF   ENG Jamie Carragher
24 MF   FRA Bernard Diomède
25 MF   CRO Igor Bišćan
26 MF   IRL Richie Partridge
27 DF   FRA Grégory Vignal
28 MF   FRA Bruno Cheyrou
30 DF   FRA Djimi Traoré[notes 2]
31 DF   FRA Alou Diarra
32 MF   ENG John Welsh
33 FW   ENG Neil Mellor
34 MF   FIN Daniel Sjölund
35 DF   ENG Stephen Warnock
36 DF   ENG Jon Otsemobor
38 MF   IRL Michael Foley-Sheridan
39 GK   FRA Patrice Luzi
40 MF   SCO Robbie Foy

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
20 MF   ENG Nick Barmby (to Leeds United)
29 DF   ENG Stephen Wright (to Sunderland)
No. Pos. Nation Player
37 MF   FIN Jari Litmanen (to Ajax)

Statistics

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Appearances

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As of end of season[2]
No. Pos Nat Player Total Premier League FA Cup League Cup Champions League
UEFA Cup
Community Shield
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
1 GK   POL Jerzy Dudek 46 0 30 0 1+1 0 2 0 11 0 1 0
2 DF   SUI Stéphane Henchoz 32 0 19 0 2 0 4 0 6 0 1 0
3 DF   POR Abel Xavier 6 0 4 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0
4 DF   FIN Sami Hyypiä 56 5 36 3 3 0 4 0 12 2 1 0
5 FW   CZE Milan Baroš 42 12 17+10 9 0+1 0 2+2 2 3+6 1 0+1 0
6 DF   GER Markus Babbel 7 0 2 0 0 0 3 0 1 0 0+1 0
7 MF   CZE Vladimír Šmicer 34 1 10+11 0 1 0 4+1 0 3+3 1 0+1 0
8 FW   ENG Emile Heskey 51 10 22+10 6 2 1 2+3 0 10+1 3 1 0
9 FW   SEN El Hadji Diouf 47 6 21+8 3 3 0 5 3 5+4 0 1 0
10 FW   ENG Michael Owen 54 28 32+3 19 2 0 3+1 2 11+1 7 1 0
13 MF   ENG Danny Murphy 55 12 36 7 3 1 4 2 11 2 0+1 0
15 MF   CZE Patrik Berger 4 1 0+2 0 0 0 1 1 0+1 0 0 0
16 MF   GER Dietmar Hamann 42 2 29+1 2 1 0 1 0 7+2 0 1 0
17 MF   ENG Steven Gerrard 54 7 32+2 5 2 0 6 2 11 0 1 0
18 DF   NOR John Arne Riise 55 7 31+6 6 2 1 4 0 10+1 0 1 0
21 MF   SEN Salif Diao 40 2 13+13 1 1+1 0 6+3 1 2+1 0 0 0
22 GK   ENG Chris Kirkland 15 0 8 0 2 0 4 0 1 0 0 0
23 DF   ENG Jamie Carragher 54 0 34+1 0 3 0 9+2 0 5 0 0 0
25 MF   CRO Igor Bišćan 13 0 3+3 0 0+1 0 2+2 0 0+2 0 0 0
27 DF   FRA Gregory Vignal 5 0 0+1 0 1 0 2 0 0+1 0 0 0
28 MF   FRA Bruno Cheyrou 29 1 8+11 0 2 0 1+1 0 3+2 1 0+1 0
30 DF   FRA Djimi Traoré 49 0 30+2 0 2 0 2+1 0 10+1 0 1 0
32 MF   ENG John Welsh 1 0 0 0 0 0 0+1 0 0 0 0 0
33 FW   ENG Neil Mellor 6 1 1+2 0 1 0 2 1 0 0 0 0
36 DF   ENG Jon Otsemobor 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0

Transfers

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# Pos Player From Fee Date
28 MF   Bruno Cheyrou   Lille £3,700,000 16 May 2002[3]
9 FW   El Hadji Diouf   Lens £10,000,000 1 June 2002
MF   Alou Diarra   Bayern Munich Free 9 July 2002[4]
39 GK   Patrice Luzi   AS Monaco Free 29 July 2002
21 MF   Salif Diao   Sedan £4,700,000 6 August 2002[5]
# Pos Player To Fee Date
21 GK   Jørgen Nielsen   FC Nordsjælland Free 1 July 2002
20 MF   Nick Barmby   Leeds United £3,750,000 8 August 2002[6]
29 DF   Stephen Wright   Sunderland £1,500,000 15 August 2002[7]
37 MF   Jari Litmanen   Ajax Free 30 August 2002[8]
  • In:   £18,400,000
  • Out:   £5,250,000
  • Total spending:   £13,150,000

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 Qualification or relegation
3 Newcastle United 38 21 6 11 63 48 +15 69 Qualification for the Champions League third qualifying round
4 Chelsea 38 19 10 9 68 38 +30 67
5 Liverpool 38 18 10 10 61 41 +20 64 Qualification for the UEFA Cup first round[a]
6 Blackburn Rovers 38 16 12 10 52 43 +9 60
7 Everton 38 17 8 13 48 49 −1 59
Source: Premier League
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.
Notes:
  1. ^ Since Liverpool qualified for the UEFA Cup via the league, their place in the UEFA Cup as League Cup winners reverted to the league and was awarded to Blackburn Rovers as the highest-placed team not already qualified for European competitions.

Results by round

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Round1234567891011121314151617181920212223242526272829303132333435363738
GroundAHAHHAHAHAHHAHAHAAHHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
ResultWWDDDWWWWWWWLDLLLLDDDLDWDWDLWWWLWWWWLL
Position62234522211112224666677666676656655555
Source: Competitive Matches
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

Matches

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18 August 2002 1 Aston Villa 0–1 Liverpool Birmingham
14:00 BST Report Riise   47' Stadium: Villa Park
Attendance: 41,183
Referee: Andy D'Urso
24 August 2002 2 Liverpool 3–0 Southampton Liverpool
15:00 BST Diouf   3', 51'
Murphy   90' (pen.)
Report Stadium: Anfield
Attendance: 43,058
Referee: Jeff Winter
28 August 2002 3 Blackburn Rovers 2–2 Liverpool Blackburn
20:00 BST Dunn   15'
Grabbi   83'
Report Murphy   31'
Riise   77'
Stadium: Ewood Park
Attendance: 29,207
Referee: Steve Bennett
2 September 2002 4 Liverpool 2–2 Newcastle United Liverpool
20:00 BST Hamann   53'
Owen   73' (pen.)
Report Speed   80'
Shearer   88'
Stadium: Anfield
Attendance: 43,241
Referee: Graham Poll
11 September 2002 5 Liverpool 2–2 Birmingham City Liverpool
20:00 BST Murphy   25'
Gerrard   49'
Report Morrison   61', 90' Stadium: Anfield
Attendance: 43,113
Referee: Neale Barry
14 September 2002 6 Bolton Wanderers 2–3 Liverpool Bolton
15:00 BST Gardner   54'
Campo   87'
Report Baroš   45', 72'
Heskey   88'
Stadium: Reebok Stadium
Attendance: 27,328
Referee: Rob Styles
21 September 2002 7 Liverpool 2–0 West Bromwich Albion Liverpool
15:00 BST Baroš   56'
Riise   90'
Report Stadium: Anfield
Attendance: 43,830
Referee: David Elleray
28 September 2002 8 Manchester City 0–3 Liverpool Manchester
15:00 BST Report Owen   4', 64', 89' Stadium: Maine Road
Attendance: 35,131
Referee: Paul Durkin
6 October 2002 9 Liverpool 1–0 Chelsea Liverpool
16:00 BST Owen   90' Report Stadium: Anfield
Attendance: 43,856
Referee: Graham Barber
19 October 2002 10 Leeds United 0–1 Liverpool Leeds
12:00 BST Report Diao   66' Stadium: Elland Road
Attendance: 40,187
Referee: Steve Dunn
26 October 2002 11 Liverpool 2–1 Tottenham Hotspur Liverpool
15:00 BST Murphy   72'
Owen   86' (pen.)
Report Richards   82' Stadium: Anfield
Attendance: 44,084
Referee: Mike Riley
2 November 2002 12 Liverpool 2–0 West Ham United Liverpool
15:00 GMT Owen   28', 55' Report Stadium: Anfield
Attendance: 44,048
Referee: Eddie Wolstenholme
9 November 2002 13 Middlesbrough 1–0 Liverpool Middlesbrough
15:00 GMT Southgate   82' Report Stadium: Riverside
Attendance: 34,747
Referee: Mark Halsey
17 November 2002 14 Liverpool 0–0 Sunderland Liverpool
14:00 GMT Report Stadium: Anfield
Attendance: 43,074
Referee: Andy D'Urso
23 November 2002 15 Fulham 3–2 Liverpool London
15:00 GMT Sava   5', 68'
Davis   38'
Report Hamann   62'
Baroš   86'
Stadium: Loftus Road
Attendance: 18,144
Referee: Graham Poll
1 December 2002 16 Liverpool 1–2 Manchester United Liverpool
12:15 GMT Hyypiä   82' Report Forlán   64', 67' Stadium: Anfield
Attendance: 44,250
Referee: Alan Wiley
7 December 2002 17 Charlton Athletic 2–0 Liverpool London
15:00 GMT Euell   36'
Konchesky   78'
Report Stadium: The Valley
Attendance: 26,694
Referee: Mike Riley
15 December 2002 18 Sunderland 2–1 Liverpool Sunderland
16:00 GMT McCann   36'
Proctor   85'
Report Baroš   68' Stadium: Stadium of Light
Attendance: 37,118
Referee: Mark Halsey
22 December 2002 19 Liverpool 0–0 Everton Liverpool
16:00 GMT Report Stadium: Anfield
Attendance: 44,025
Referee: Graham Poll
26 December 2002 20 Liverpool 1–1 Blackburn Rovers Liverpool
Riise   17' Report Cole   77' Stadium: Anfield
Attendance: 43,075
Referee: Neale Barry
29 December 2002 21 Arsenal 1–1 Liverpool London
16:00 GMT Henry   79' (pen.) Report Murphy   70' (pen.) Stadium: Highbury
Attendance: 38,074
Referee: Jeff Winter
1 January 2003 22 Newcastle United 1–0 Liverpool Newcastle-upon-Tyne
Robert   13' Report Diao   66' Stadium: St. James' Park
Attendance: 52,147
Referee: Dermot Gallagher
11 January 2003 23 Liverpool 1–1 Aston Villa Liverpool
15:00 GMT Owen   38' Report Dublin   49' (pen.) Stadium: Anfield
Attendance: 43,210
Referee: Paul Durkin
18 January 2003 24 Southampton 0–1 Liverpool Southampton
15:00 GMT Report Heskey   14' Stadium: St. Mary's
Attendance: 32,104
Referee: Steve Bennett
29 January 2003 25 Liverpool 2–2 Arsenal Liverpool
Riise   52'
Heskey   90'
Report Pires   9'
Bergkamp   63'
Stadium: Anfield
Attendance: 43,668
Referee: Mark Halsey
2 February 2003 26 West Ham United 0–3 Liverpool London
Report Baroš   7'
Gerrard   9'
Heskey   67'
Stadium: Boleyn Ground
Attendance: 35,033
Referee: Matt Messias
8 February 2003 27 Liverpool 1–1 Middlesbrough Liverpool
15:00 GMT Riise   74' Report Geremi   27' Stadium: Anfield
Attendance: 42,247
Referee: Steve Bennett
23 February 2003 28 Birmingham City 2–1 Liverpool Birmingham
16:00 GMT Clemence   34'
Morrison   68'
Report Owen   77' Stadium: St Andrew's
Attendance: 29,449
Referee: C Wilkes
8 March 2003 29 Liverpool 2–0 Bolton Wanderers Liverpool
Diouf   44'
Owen   67'
Report Stadium: Anfield
Attendance: 41,462
Referee: Graham Barber
16 March 2003 30 Tottenham Hotspur 2–3 Liverpool London
Taricco   48'
Sheringham   87'
Report Owen   51'
Heskey   72'
Gerrard   82'
Stadium: White Hart Lane
Attendance: 36,077
Referee: Uriah Rennie
23 March 2003 31 Liverpool 3–1 Leeds United Liverpool
Owen   12'
Murphy   20'
Gerrard   73'
Report Viduka   44' Stadium: Anfield
Attendance: 43,021
Referee: Andy D'Urso
5 April 2003 32 Manchester United 4–0 Liverpool Manchester
van Nistelrooy   5' (pen.), 65' (pen.)
Giggs   78'
Solskjær   90'
Report Hyypia   4' Stadium: Old Trafford
Attendance: 67,639
Referee: Mike Riley
12 April 2003 33 Liverpool 2–0 Fulham Liverpool
15:00 BST Heskey   36'
Owen   59'
Report Stadium: Anfield
Attendance: 42,120
Referee: Alan Wiley
19 April 2003 34 Everton 1–2 Liverpool Liverpool
15:00 BST Unsworth   58' (pen.) Report Owen   31'
Murphy   54'
Stadium: Goodison Park
Attendance: 40,162
Referee: Paul Durkin
21 April 2003 35 Liverpool 2–1 Charlton Athletic Liverpool
Hyypiä   86'
Gerrard   90'
Report Bartlett   47' Stadium: Anfield
Attendance: 42,010
Referee: Steve Dunn
26 April 2003 36 West Bromwich Albion 0–6 Liverpool West Bromwich
15:00 BST Report Owen   15', 49', 61', 67'
Baroš   47', 84'
Stadium: The Hawthorns
Attendance: 27,128
Referee: Dermot Gallagher
3 May 2003 37 Liverpool 1–2 Manchester City Liverpool
Baroš   59' Report Anelka   74' (pen.), 90' Stadium: Anfield
Attendance: 44,220
Referee: Neale Barry
11 May 2003 38 Chelsea 2–1 Liverpool London
15:00 BST Desailly   14'
Grønkjær   27'
Report Hyypiä   11' Stadium: Stamford Bridge
Attendance: 41,911
Referee: Alan Wiley

FA Cup

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Matches

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5 January 2003 3 Manchester City 0–1 Liverpool Manchester
Report Murphy   47' (pen.) Stadium: Maine Road
Attendance: 28,586
Referee: Uriah Rennie
26 January 2003 4 Crystal Palace 0–0 Liverpool London
Report Stadium: Selhurst Park
Attendance: 26,054
Referee: Rob Styles
5 February 2003 4
Replay
Liverpool 0–2 Crystal Palace Liverpool
Report Gray   55'
Henchoz   79' (o.g.)
Stadium: Anfield
Attendance: 35,109
Referee: Phil Dowd

League Cup

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Matches

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6 November 2002 3 Liverpool 3–1 Southampton Liverpool
Berger   45'
Diouf   57'
Baroš   60'
Report Delgado   55' Stadium: Anfield
Attendance: 35,870
Referee: Phil Dowd
4 December 2002 4 Liverpool 1–1 (a.e.t.)
(5–4 p)
Ipswich Town Liverpool
Diouf   54' (pen.) Report Miller   14' Stadium: Anfield
Attendance: 26,305
Referee: Dermot Gallagher
Penalties
Gerrard  
Baroš  
Riise  
Carragher  
Diouf  
Holland  
Clapham  
Magilton  
Miller  
Armstrong  
18 December 2002 Quarter-final Aston Villa 3–4 Liverpool Birmingham
Vassell   23' (pen.)
Hitzlsperger   72'
Henchoz   88' (o.g.)
Report Murphy   27', 90'
Baroš   54'
Gerrard   67'
Stadium: Villa Park
Attendance: 38,530
Referee: Graham Barber
8 January 2003 Semi-final
First leg
Sheffield United 2–1 Liverpool Sheffield
Tonge   76', 82' Report Mellor   35' Stadium: Bramall Lane
Attendance: 30,095
Referee: Mike Dean
21 January 2003 Semi-final
Second leg
Liverpool 2–0 (a.e.t.) Sheffield United Liverpool
Diouf   9'
Owen   107'
Report Stadium: Anfield
Attendance: 43,837
Referee: Alan Wiley
2 March 2003 Final Liverpool 2–0 Manchester United Cardiff
Gerrard   39'
Owen   86'
Report Stadium: Millennium Stadium
Attendance: 74,500
Referee: Paul Durkin

Champions League

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Group B

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification VAL BSL LIV SPM
1   Valencia 6 5 1 0 17 4 +13 16 Advance to second group stage 6–2 2–0 3–0
2   Basel 6 2 3 1 12 12 0 9 2–2 3–3 2–0
3   Liverpool 6 2 2 2 12 8 +4 8 Transfer to UEFA Cup 0–1 1–1 5–0
4   Spartak Moscow 6 0 0 6 1 18 −17 0 0–3 0–2 1–3
Source: RSSSF

Matches

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17 September 2002 1 Valencia   2–0 Liverpool Valencia, Spain
20:45 CEST Pablo Aimar   20'
Baraja   38'
Report Hamann   Stadium: Estadio Mestalla
Attendance: 43,000
Referee:   Herbert Fandel
25 September 2002 2 Liverpool 1–1   FC Basel Liverpool
19:45 BST Baroš   34' Report Rossi   42' Stadium: Anfield
Attendance: 37,634
Referee:   Dick Van Egmond
2 October 2002 3 Liverpool 5–0   Spartak Moscow Liverpool
19:45 BST Heskey   7', 90'
Cheyrou   15'
Hyypiä   29'
Diao   81'
Report Stadium: Anfield
Attendance: 40,812
Referee:   Alain Hamer
22 October 2002 4 Spartak Moscow   1–3 Liverpool Moscow, Russia
20:00 MSD Danishevsky   23' Report Owen   29', 70', 90' Stadium: Dynamo Stadium
Attendance: 15,000
Referee:   Konrad Plautz
30 October 2002 5 Liverpool 0–1   Valencia Liverpool
19:45 GMT Report Rufete   34' Stadium: Anfield
Attendance: 41,831
Referee:   Terje Hauge
12 November 2002 6 FC Basel   3–3 Liverpool Basel, Switzerland
20:45 CET Rossi   2'
Giménez   22'
Atouba   29'
Report Murphy   61'
Šmicer   64'
Owen   85'
Stadium: St. Jakob-Park
Attendance: 35,000
Referee:   Claude Colombo

UEFA Cup

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Matches

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28 November 2002 Third round
First leg
Vitesse Arnhem   0–1 Liverpool Arnhem, Netherlands
Report Owen   26' Stadium: GelreDome
Attendance: 28,500
Referee:   Manuel Mejuto González
12 December 2002 Third round
Second leg
Liverpool 1–0   Vitesse Arnhem Liverpool, England
Owen   21' Report Stadium: Anfield
Attendance: 23,576
Referee:   Wolfgang Stark
20 February 2003 Fourth round
First leg
Auxerre   0–1 Liverpool Auxerre, France
Report Hyypiä   72' Stadium: Stade de l'Abbé-Deschamps
Attendance: 20,452
Referee:   Massimo De Santis
27 February 2003 Fourth round
Second leg
Liverpool 2–0   Auxerre Liverpool, England
Owen   66'
Murphy   72'
Report Stadium: Anfield
Attendance: 34,252
Referee:   Antonio Jesús López Nieto
13 March 2003 Quarter-final
First leg
Celtic   1–1 Liverpool Glasgow, Scotland
Larsson   2' Report Heskey   17' Stadium: Celtic Park
Attendance: 59,759
Referee:   Terje Hauge
20 March 2003 Quarter-finals
Second leg
Liverpool 0–2   Celtic Liverpool, England
Report Thompson   45'
Hartson   82'
Stadium: Anfield
Attendance: 44,238
Referee:   Markus Merk

References

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  1. ^ "Liverpool lift Worthington Cup". BBC Sport. 2 March 2003. Retrieved 26 September 2010.
  2. ^ "All Liverpool players: 2003".
  3. ^ "Cheyrou joins Liverpool". BBC News. 16 May 2002.
  4. ^ "Liverpool sign Diarra". BBC News. 9 July 2002.
  5. ^ "Diao confirms Liverpool move". BBC News. 24 June 2002.
  6. ^ "Barmby lands at Leeds". BBC News. 8 August 2002.
  7. ^ McNulty, Phil (14 August 2002). "Wright agrees Sunderland deal". BBC News.
  8. ^ "Ajax sign Litmanen". BBC News. 30 August 2002.

Notes

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  1. ^ Xavier was born in Nampula, Portuguese Mozambique (now Mozambique), which was then an overseas territory of Portugal, and made his international debut for Portugal in March 1993.
  2. ^ Traoré was born in Saint-Ouen, France, but also qualified to represent Mali internationally and would make his international debut for Mali in 2004.
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