The opening goal set a hypnotically frantic tone. Captivatingly familiar for a derby game. Quality’s void filled with the excruciating knowledge that something is always about to happen. In clearing a David Unsworth long-ball and attempting to contain Duncan Ferguson, Jamie Carragher’s handball went unnoticed. His robust clearance was cushioned by Robbie Fowler and landed at the feet of Dietmar Hamann. The German’s carefully measured half-volley exposed a grossly over-committed Everton defence, and Emile Heskey held off Steve Watson before drilling his finish under Paul Gerrard. Everton 0-1 Liverpool.
On Easter Monday of 2001, the 164th Merseyside derby had it all. A recklessly pulsating match which swung between sublime, scrappy, and borderline stupid. There were 12 cautions, a red-card for Igor Bišćan, two penalties (one scored and one missed) and five goals.
The deciding goal was a moment of sweet ingenuity from veteran Gary McAllister.
There appeared to be little threat on offer from a last minute 40-yard free-kick. However, in those pre-vanishing spray, halcyon days of the Premier League, the cunning McAllister gained a couple of yards. With referee Jeff Winters’ back turned, McAllister moved the ball forward with something of a glint in his eye. It was still 40 yards from goal.
Everton’s two-man wall was nothing more than a gesture. It signalled the consensus of expectation that a chipped ball into the box would proceed. Instead, McAllister hit a shot which somehow and all at once chipped, dipped and drilled its way towards the goal. With Paul Gerrard unsighted and wrong-footed, the ball bounced once before nestling in the bottom corner.
“McAllister takes it … woooaaahhh yes”, foamed an astounded Ian Darke. As the Sky Sportscameras picked out Liverpool manager Gérard Houllier, his face was reminiscent of a man who had recovered a jackpot winning lottery ticket with a few hours remaining till the claim deadline.
Liverpool’s 3-2 victory, their first at Goodison Park in little over a decade, proved a catalyst for a remarkable season finale, and cemented Everton in a relegation battle. Following the derby-winning goal and performance, McAllister was a fixture in the Liverpool midfield. The crucial final month of the season belonged to him, and to say he single-handedly won Liverpool the UEFA Cup wouldn’t be a huge overstatement.
His quietly influential application steered Liverpool to third place in the Premier League, Champions League qualification, a UEFA Cup semi-final victory over Barcelona, and seemingly unlikely victories in the FA Cup and UEFA Cup finals. Not bad for a 35-year-old Bosman signing from Coventry City.
McAllister’s arrival on Merseyside wasn’t greeted with widespread enthusiasm. Fresh from two consecutive relegation battles, and in the fading twilight of his less-than-spectacular playing career, McAllister’s signature prompted more eyebrow raising than wide-eyed anticipation. Despite being a league championship winner with Leeds United in 1992, strength of association made the Scot a bottom of the table warrior, rather than a European great.
Furthermore, Liverpool’s midfield roster was already rather lavishly staffed in July 2000. Twenty-year-old Steven Gerrard had recently established himself in the first-team, flitting between the right flank and a central role alongside Dietmar Hamann. Czech duo Patrick Berger and Vladimír Šmicer offered width and attacking options, as did Danny Murphy. New signings McAllister and Nick Barmby faced fierce competition. Furthermore, Igor Bišćan would sign in December for £5.5 million, and the injured Jamie Redknapp remained in contention despite long-term injury.
Gérard Houllier, though, saw potential and the bigger picture.
Long Article. The rest is here: https://thesefootballtimes.co/2016/04/18/gary-mcallisters-indian-summer-at-liverpool/
On Easter Monday of 2001, the 164th Merseyside derby had it all. A recklessly pulsating match which swung between sublime, scrappy, and borderline stupid. There were 12 cautions, a red-card for Igor Bišćan, two penalties (one scored and one missed) and five goals.
The deciding goal was a moment of sweet ingenuity from veteran Gary McAllister.
There appeared to be little threat on offer from a last minute 40-yard free-kick. However, in those pre-vanishing spray, halcyon days of the Premier League, the cunning McAllister gained a couple of yards. With referee Jeff Winters’ back turned, McAllister moved the ball forward with something of a glint in his eye. It was still 40 yards from goal.
Everton’s two-man wall was nothing more than a gesture. It signalled the consensus of expectation that a chipped ball into the box would proceed. Instead, McAllister hit a shot which somehow and all at once chipped, dipped and drilled its way towards the goal. With Paul Gerrard unsighted and wrong-footed, the ball bounced once before nestling in the bottom corner.
“McAllister takes it … woooaaahhh yes”, foamed an astounded Ian Darke. As the Sky Sportscameras picked out Liverpool manager Gérard Houllier, his face was reminiscent of a man who had recovered a jackpot winning lottery ticket with a few hours remaining till the claim deadline.
Liverpool’s 3-2 victory, their first at Goodison Park in little over a decade, proved a catalyst for a remarkable season finale, and cemented Everton in a relegation battle. Following the derby-winning goal and performance, McAllister was a fixture in the Liverpool midfield. The crucial final month of the season belonged to him, and to say he single-handedly won Liverpool the UEFA Cup wouldn’t be a huge overstatement.
His quietly influential application steered Liverpool to third place in the Premier League, Champions League qualification, a UEFA Cup semi-final victory over Barcelona, and seemingly unlikely victories in the FA Cup and UEFA Cup finals. Not bad for a 35-year-old Bosman signing from Coventry City.
McAllister’s arrival on Merseyside wasn’t greeted with widespread enthusiasm. Fresh from two consecutive relegation battles, and in the fading twilight of his less-than-spectacular playing career, McAllister’s signature prompted more eyebrow raising than wide-eyed anticipation. Despite being a league championship winner with Leeds United in 1992, strength of association made the Scot a bottom of the table warrior, rather than a European great.
Furthermore, Liverpool’s midfield roster was already rather lavishly staffed in July 2000. Twenty-year-old Steven Gerrard had recently established himself in the first-team, flitting between the right flank and a central role alongside Dietmar Hamann. Czech duo Patrick Berger and Vladimír Šmicer offered width and attacking options, as did Danny Murphy. New signings McAllister and Nick Barmby faced fierce competition. Furthermore, Igor Bišćan would sign in December for £5.5 million, and the injured Jamie Redknapp remained in contention despite long-term injury.
Gérard Houllier, though, saw potential and the bigger picture.
Long Article. The rest is here: https://thesefootballtimes.co/2016/04/18/gary-mcallisters-indian-summer-at-liverpool/
