1997–98 Liverpool F.C. season
Encyclopedia
During the 1997–98 English football season, Liverpool F.C.
competed in the FA Premier League
(known as the FA Carling Premiership for sponsorship reasons).
and runners-up Manchester United
. But the real success of the season was the emergence of 18-year-old striker Michael Owen
. The Chester
-born youngster had impressed in a handful of appearances during 1996–97
, but his impact during 1997–98 was outstanding—18 goals from 36 Premiership games, especially after Robbie Fowler
was ruled out for much of the campaign with a broken leg. In midfield, the arrival of Paul Ince
sought to add steel to a side creatively centred on playmaker Steve McManaman
, but the team were at the peak of their Spice Boys
era, and underachieved in the end, eventually finishing in third place – meaning that Liverpool would be challenging in the UEFA Cup
for 1998–99.
18 Steve McManaman
11 Robbie Fowler
9 Paul Ince
8 Karl-Heinz Riedle 6 Øyvind Leonhardsen
6
Liverpool F.C.
Liverpool Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Liverpool, Merseyside. Liverpool has won eighteen League titles, second most in English football, seven FA Cups and a record seven League Cups...
competed in the FA Premier League
FA Premier League
The Premier League is an English professional league for association football clubs. At the top of the English football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. Contested by 20 clubs, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation with The Football League. The Premier...
(known as the FA Carling Premiership for sponsorship reasons).
| Competition | Result | Top Scorer |
|---|---|---|
| Premier League FA Premier League 1997-98 The FA Premier League 1997-98 season saw Arsenal lift their first league title since 1991, and also become only the second team to win the 'double' of the FA Cup and league title twice... |
3rd |  Michael OwenMichael Owen Michael James Owen is an English professional footballer who plays as a striker for Manchester United.The son of former footballer Terry Owen, Owen began his senior career at Liverpool in 1996. He progressed through the Liverpool youth team and scored on his debut in May 1997... , 18 |
| UEFA Cup | Second Round | Robbie Fowler Robbie Fowler Robert Bernard Fowler is an English footballer who is currently player/manager for Thai Premier League club Muangthong United.... Steve McManamanSteve McManaman Steven McManaman is a retired English footballer who played as a midfielder, winger and playmaker. Having spent his playing career at two of European football's most successful clubs of the 20th century, Liverpool and Real Madrid, as well as a spell at Manchester City, McManaman is the most... Michael OwenMichael Owen Michael James Owen is an English professional footballer who plays as a striker for Manchester United.The son of former footballer Terry Owen, Owen began his senior career at Liverpool in 1996. He progressed through the Liverpool youth team and scored on his debut in May 1997...  Karl-Heinz Riedle, 1 |
| FA Cup FA Cup 1997-98 The 1997–98 FA Cup was the 117th season of the world's oldest cup competition, the Football Association Cup or FA Cup. The competition was won by Arsenal with a 2-0 victory against Newcastle United at Wembley Stadium.-Calendar:-First round proper:... |
Third Round | Jamie Redknapp Jamie Redknapp Jamie Frank Redknapp is a retired English footballer who was active from 1989 until 2005. He is now a football pundit with Sky Sports, and an editorial columnist with the Daily Mail.... , 1 |
| League Cup Football League Cup The Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis... |
Semi Finals | Michael Owen Michael Owen Michael James Owen is an English professional footballer who plays as a striker for Manchester United.The son of former footballer Terry Owen, Owen began his senior career at Liverpool in 1996. He progressed through the Liverpool youth team and scored on his debut in May 1997... , 4 |
| Overall 1997-98 in English football The 1997-1998 season was the 118th season of competitive football in England.-Premier League:Arsenal overhauled Manchester United's lead during the final weeks of the season to win the Premiership title... |
Michael Owen Michael Owen Michael James Owen is an English professional footballer who plays as a striker for Manchester United.The son of former footballer Terry Owen, Owen began his senior career at Liverpool in 1996. He progressed through the Liverpool youth team and scored on his debut in May 1997... , 23 |
Season summary
Liverpool's season saw them feature regularly in the title race, though in the end they just couldn't get the better of champions ArsenalArsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
and runners-up Manchester United
Manchester United F.C.
Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958...
. But the real success of the season was the emergence of 18-year-old striker Michael Owen
Michael Owen
Michael James Owen is an English professional footballer who plays as a striker for Manchester United.The son of former footballer Terry Owen, Owen began his senior career at Liverpool in 1996. He progressed through the Liverpool youth team and scored on his debut in May 1997...
. The Chester
Chester
Chester is a city in Cheshire, England. Lying on the River Dee, close to the border with Wales, it is home to 77,040 inhabitants, and is the largest and most populous settlement of the wider unitary authority area of Cheshire West and Chester, which had a population of 328,100 according to the...
-born youngster had impressed in a handful of appearances during 1996–97
1996–97 Liverpool F.C. season
During the 1996–97 English football season, Liverpool F.C. competed in the FA Premier League .-Season summary:...
, but his impact during 1997–98 was outstanding—18 goals from 36 Premiership games, especially after Robbie Fowler
Robbie Fowler
Robert Bernard Fowler is an English footballer who is currently player/manager for Thai Premier League club Muangthong United....
was ruled out for much of the campaign with a broken leg. In midfield, the arrival of Paul Ince
Paul Ince
Paul Emerson Carlyle Ince is an English football manager and a former professional player. He has managed Blackburn Rovers, Milton Keynes Dons and Macclesfield Town...
sought to add steel to a side creatively centred on playmaker Steve McManaman
Steve McManaman
Steven McManaman is a retired English footballer who played as a midfielder, winger and playmaker. Having spent his playing career at two of European football's most successful clubs of the 20th century, Liverpool and Real Madrid, as well as a spell at Manchester City, McManaman is the most...
, but the team were at the peak of their Spice Boys
Spice Boys (footballers)
The Spice Boys was a media term used to describe a group of Liverpool F.C. footballers in the mid-late 1990s, seen typically as being composed of Jamie Redknapp, David James, Phil Babb, Steve McManaman, Robbie Fowler, Stan Collymore and Jason McAteer...
era, and underachieved in the end, eventually finishing in third place – meaning that Liverpool would be challenging in the UEFA Cup
UEFA Cup
The UEFA Europa League is an annual association football cup competition organised by UEFA since 1971 for eligible European football clubs. It is the second most prestigious European club football contest after the UEFA Champions League...
for 1998–99.
Final league table
| Pos | Team | Pl | W | D | L | F | A | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Arsenal Arsenal F.C. Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups... |
38 | 23 | 9 | 6 | 68 | 33 | 78 |
| 2. | Manchester United | 38 | 23 | 8 | 7 | 73 | 26 | 77 |
| 3. | Liverpool Liverpool F.C. Liverpool Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Liverpool, Merseyside. Liverpool has won eighteen League titles, second most in English football, seven FA Cups and a record seven League Cups... |
38 | 18 | 11 | 9 | 68 | 42 | 65 |
| 4. | Chelsea Chelsea F.C. Chelsea Football Club are an English football club based in West London. Founded in 1905, they play in the Premier League and have spent most of their history in the top tier of English football. Chelsea have been English champions four times, FA Cup winners six times and League Cup winners four... |
38 | 20 | 3 | 15 | 71 | 43 | 63 |
| 5. | Leeds United Leeds United A.F.C. Leeds United Association Football Club are an English professional association football club based in Beeston, Leeds, West Yorkshire, who play in the Football League Championship, the second tier of the English football league system... |
38 | 17 | 8 | 13 | 57 | 46 | 59 |
| 6. | Blackburn Rovers | 38 | 16 | 10 | 12 | 57 | 52 | 58 |
| 7. | Aston Villa | 38 | 17 | 6 | 15 | 49 | 48 | 57 |
| 8. | West Ham United | 38 | 16 | 8 | 14 | 56 | 57 | 56 |
| 9. | Derby County Derby County F.C. Derby County Football Club is an English football based in Derby. the club play in the Football League Championship and is notable as being one of the twelve founder members of the Football League in 1888 and is, therefore, one of only ten clubs to have competed in every season of the English... |
38 | 16 | 7 | 15 | 52 | 49 | 55 |
| 10. | Leicester City | 38 | 13 | 14 | 11 | 51 | 41 | 53 |
| 11. | Coventry City | 38 | 12 | 16 | 10 | 46 | 44 | 52 |
| 12. | Southampton Southampton F.C. Southampton Football Club is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club gained promotion to the Championship from League One in the 2010–2011 season after being relegated in 2009. Their home ground is the St Mary's Stadium, where the club... |
38 | 14 | 6 | 18 | 50 | 55 | 48 |
| 13. | Newcastle United | 38 | 11 | 11 | 16 | 35 | 44 | 44 |
| 14. | Tottenham Hotspur | 38 | 11 | 11 | 16 | 44 | 56 | 44 |
| 15. | Wimbledon Wimbledon F.C. Wimbledon Football Club was an English professional association football club from Wimbledon, south-west London. Founded in 1889 as Wimbledon Old Central Football Club, the club spent most of its history in amateur and semi-professional non-League football before being elected to the Football... |
38 | 10 | 14 | 14 | 34 | 46 | 44 |
| 16. | Sheffield Wednesday | 38 | 12 | 8 | 18 | 52 | 67 | 44 |
| 17. | Everton Everton F.C. Everton Football Club are an English professional association football club from the city of Liverpool. The club competes in the Premier League, the highest level of English football... |
38 | 9 | 13 | 16 | 41 | 56 | 40 |
| 18. | Bolton Wanderers | 38 | 9 | 13 | 16 | 41 | 61 | 40 |
| 19. | Barnsley Barnsley F.C. Barnsley Football Club are a professional English football club based in the town of Barnsley, South Yorkshire. Nicknamed the Tykes, they were founded in 1887 under the name Barnsley St. Peter's... |
38 | 10 | 5 | 23 | 37 | 82 | 35 |
| 20. | Crystal Palace Crystal Palace F.C. Crystal Palace Football Club are an English Football league club based in South Norwood, London. The team plays its home matches at Selhurst Park, where they have been based since 1924. The club currently competes in the second tier of English Football, The Championship.Crystal Palace was formed in... |
38 | 8 | 9 | 21 | 37 | 71 | 32 |
| Key |
|---|
| Qualified for the Champions League |
| Qualified for the UEFA Cup |
| Qualified for the Cup Winners' Cup |
| Relegated to Division 1 |
Squad
Starting 11
- Only considering Premiership starts.
| No. | Pos. | Name | Starts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | GK | England |
27 |
| 23 | CB Defender (association football) Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking.... |
England |
20 |
| 21 | CB Defender (association football) Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking.... |
 Scotland |
24 |
| 12 | CB Defender (association football) Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking.... |
England |
24 |
| 2 | RWB Defender (association football) Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking.... |
England |
21 |
| 20 | LWB Defender (association football) Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking.... |
 Norway |
25 |
| 17 | CM Midfielder A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role... |
England |
31 |
| 8 | CM Midfielder A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role... |
Norway |
27 |
| 7 | CM Midfielder A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role... |
England |
36 |
| 9 | CF | England |
19 |
| 18 | CF | England |
34 |
| . |
Matches
Matches
Matches
Matches
Top scorers
Michael OwenMichael Owen
Michael James Owen is an English professional footballer who plays as a striker for Manchester United.The son of former footballer Terry Owen, Owen began his senior career at Liverpool in 1996. He progressed through the Liverpool youth team and scored on his debut in May 1997...
18 Steve McManaman
Steve McManaman
Steven McManaman is a retired English footballer who played as a midfielder, winger and playmaker. Having spent his playing career at two of European football's most successful clubs of the 20th century, Liverpool and Real Madrid, as well as a spell at Manchester City, McManaman is the most...
11 Robbie Fowler
Robbie Fowler
Robert Bernard Fowler is an English footballer who is currently player/manager for Thai Premier League club Muangthong United....
9 Paul Ince
Paul Ince
Paul Emerson Carlyle Ince is an English football manager and a former professional player. He has managed Blackburn Rovers, Milton Keynes Dons and Macclesfield Town...
8 Karl-Heinz Riedle 6 Øyvind Leonhardsen
Øyvind Leonhardsen
Øyvind Leonhardsen is a Norwegian former footballer. He retired after the 2007 season, and at that moment he was captain of Strømsgodset IF in the Norwegian Premier Division, ending a career with nine years in English football with clubs like Wimbledon, Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur and Aston Villa...
6