That Season When... Liverpool Beat Newcastle 4-3

23:18And I think they only conceded eight or something at home. I mean, they were a really, really good team. It's because of the style of play. And, you know, once Asprey comes to Newcastle, the problem there, I mean, I will defend him as well to my last breath. But, you know, Kevin's thought process at that point was how do I cram all this attacking talent into the same team as opposed to, OK, we've been doing well with two wingers, you know, a centre forward in Les Ferdinand, Peter Beersley behind. And, you know, it was like, how can we get even more adventurous? Not, you know, not doing that thing that Steve talked about and tightening up and looking to close games out.

23:59Alistair Bruce-Ball:Ian Ryan is with us as well from the Anfield Wrap. And Ian was on the cot that night as a Liverpool fan. So, Ian, those goals go in in the first 15 minutes. Liverpool get the early one and then Newcastle get themselves in front. and it stays that way until half-time. Were you thinking, do you know what, this is anyone's game tonight? Because when you watch the highlights, obviously when you watch highlights, it's end-to-end because you are seeing the highlights of the game. But was the whole thing like that, Ian, do you remember? Yeah, I think there was a sense that it could go either way. But I think looking back at some of the stats, Liverpool have a lot more shots.

24:39They dominate the ball on the night as well. So you felt like there was always a chance that they'd get back into it. And listen, the Farlow and Equaliser comes on the 55th minute. Liverpool were knocking on the door. But you just knew because of the array of talent on display that teams were capable of taking games away from each other with that kind of tacking talent on the pitch. The lads have reeled off some of the names, but it was an absolute joy to watch Liverpool go forward at times. And they were getting a little bit of stick for maybe what was going on the other way. but the defensive records of the other two teams as mentioned, but Liverpool ended up conceding 34 goals that season.

25:17It's only Arsenal with 32 who concede less so despite maybe the reputation they weren't shipping loads and loads of goals but there could be nights and occasions where you felt maybe there's one or two flaws there but going forward, obviously they'd invested a lot of money in Collymore in the summer he'd come in for 8.5 million just surpassing the Andy Cole deal to Manchester United he gets off to a flyer on his debut. Him and Fowler It's 55 goals between the two of them across the season. And Mac Maneman's pulling strings as well. So you always felt on any given night against any opposition, as I mentioned before, Liverpool were always in with a shout when they had that kind of lethal kind of combinations up the top end of the pitch and so it proved.

25:57Yeah, we're going to hit the second half. Yeah, go on, Jason. You talk about the Fowler goal and the game and what people's expectations were. That goal, for me, epitomised the game. It went from David James to me to Maka to Robbie in under probably 15 seconds.

26:15Alistair Bruce-Ball:So, Jason, you're talking there about the equaliser to make it 2-2, aren't you? The second half goal. So we're going to hear that in a second. But what I was just going to say to you there, Jason, was it sums Robbie Fowler up. And we're going to talk about Stan Collymore and the partnership in a bit as well. But the two goals, I mean, he could score so many different goals, couldn't he? But that left foot finish as the ball's coming across him from the right. so he's a left footer which makes that slightly harder doesn't it and he just absolutely drills that doesn't he I mean that is not going anywhere else but the back of the net he was an unbelievable finisher wasn't he Fowler I thought you know because I'd gone from Bolton and then just signed for Liverpool and obviously I'd played with the likes of Niall Quinn and John Aldridge with the Republic I'd been to the World Cup and then obviously you know I thought John McGinley was a top striker at Bolton and Andy Walker I'd played with him, a really good striker.

27:08And then I got to Liverpool, and I just remember thinking, oh, my God, like, how good is Robbie Fowler? It was ridiculous training. You know, people like Robbie get labelled like a natural striker, but he would stay out longer than anybody, just practising left foot, right foot, headers. You know, we'd always want to do extra shooting and stuff. He really honed in on his skills and stuff, yet he was naturally gifted, and he did have every sort of goal in his locker, whether it was a side foot, whether he could drill it, whether he could, you know, just bend it, or he could just get him, he knew where to go.

27:42He learnt off rushy, which was obviously, you know, a great example to work off. But I never realised how good he was. And one of the, you know, the questions I get is, who's the best player you've ever played with? It would be Robbie Fowler. Really? Yeah, yeah. Ridiculous. Ridiculously talented. Okay. But the other thing about him as well, is, I don't know whether Steve felt like this with Ginola and Esprit and the likes in the dressing room. But when you're getting ready to go out to play, when you're looking at him and Maka, you always feel you're going to win the game. Because these players can do something just out of nothing.

28:17They're match winners. They're just so gifted. It just fills you with confidence. And Robbie just delivered. I mean, he went 30, 30, 30 plus, didn't he, for three seasons on the spin. He was just phenomenal.

28:29Alistair Bruce-Ball:Steve, do you remember on the night what it was like trying to look after those two as a partnership and how they played together, Collymore and Fowler? I mean, it's difficult because you've got, I mean, absolutely top quality players. I mean, I just want to kind of reiterate and prove the point, really. What Jason's saying about Robbie Fowler is the fact that, I mean, I played with Shearer for a lot of years. I mean, the best player I ever played with was Peter Beardsley. But as far as finishes concerned, Shearer was ridiculously good. But having played against Robbie and being with him in the England camps, I was blown away by his talent in front of goal.

29:10I mean, incredible how he could just finish the ball in the corners with ease. And the timing of his strikes as well was just like, he hasn't even had any pullback in it, but it's just sweet as a nut. But when you are playing against strikers of that, you know for a fact that there's possibly going to be chances because of the array of quality players as well that's around them. I mean, they can create a chance themselves, but when you look at what's around in the team, not only the forwards that I mentioned earlier on the show, but when you've got the wing-backs like Jace was saying about himself, and I think it was Rob Jones, you know, bombing forward and the other midfield players, you knew there was going to be a chance fashioned from somewhere.

29:56And nine times out of ten, when it comes to players of that, it ends up in the back of the net. And you can be the best defender in the world or you can be a switched on. But they don't need to beat you. They just need, like, basically an inch.

30:13My name's Steve Bracknell, assistant manager at Royal Oak FC. Now, one bit of news, administration news. It's Jono here from BBC Sounds. I can confirm Royal Oak versus Nags Head will be streamed live. Oh! Royal Oak! The Nags Head, live on BBC, stream to Games Gone podcast YouTube channel. I told you to trust the process, didn't I? April 5th, Easter Sunday, kick-off at 2pm. This is your moment. Tune in to the biggest game in Sunday League yesterday. Games Gone, the Steve Bracknell podcast. Listen on BBC Sounds. This is the Football Daily Podcast with Alistair Bruce Ball.

30:58Alistair Bruce-Ball:So we're reminiscing in the company of Jason McAteer, Steve Howey, George Culkin is here, Ian Ryan from the Anfield wrap as well. Let's take you back to Anfield right now and relive it. Ten minutes into the second half, three goals. We've just been discussing a couple of them. We're scored within 12 minutes of each other. Commentary again here from Mike Ingham and David Pleat. But it's all Liverpool. McManaman inside the area. Drags it back for Fowler. And it's Tutu. And that goal had been coming. Didn't Fowler come in and anticipate that ball superbly well. An unerring shot, never broke pace, left foot, his favourite like an arrow.

31:34Through to Asprey, goalkeeper's out and Asprey has beaten in and Newcastle are back in front again. Incredible scenes at Anfield. He played it so cleverly and deftly. It really is a wonderful goal, a wonderful game. In comes a cross, Collymore can score and he does do. What a contest. It was a superb ball by McAteer. Wonderful ball. Just bisected the last line and the goalkeeper. And Collymore was sneaking in.

32:01Alistair Bruce-Ball:OK, so we'll get on to that Stan Collymore goal in a second that makes it 3-3. But, George, you touched on this with Tino Espria. We've done Robbie Fowler's two goals and what a brilliant finisher he was. One of the common things, most common things you ever hear about that Newcastle team is, well, Tino Espria arrived as good as he was. It disrupted the dressing room. And, you know, that's kind of why they didn't get it over the line. I've got a feeling you don't agree with that. I don't agree with that. I mean, I think it possibly affected the balance of the team. But I think that's a different thing.

32:33You know, it's one of the oldest clichés in the book, isn't it? That you strengthen from a position of strength. They signed Aspreyat. They signed Aspreyat halfway through the season. They signed David Batty. I mean, I can't remember. I remember there being almost consternation with David Batty arriving because it's like Newcastle United. Kevin Keegan's Newcastle United buying a holding midfielder. and it was like this, that can't be right. But I think if you look at, I mean, that finish, by the way, from Asperia in that game, it's with the outside of his foot. I mean, it is absolutely sensational.

33:03And I think he scored, though. I think he scored like three times. I think there were, you know, this is pre-assists in terms of like those official recordings. I think there was like seven, he made seven goals in that time. He was a phenomenal footballer who made a big impact. I don't know whether Steve would agree with my assessment. I think it was more that the balance of the team was affected than him in the dressing room because he was absolutely adored. Taino was brilliant in the dressing room. Lads absolutely loved him. I just think it was a couple of changes that the manager had made. I think George had pointed that before Taino had come on a couple of times and had substituted and changed the game or done something which was outstanding.

33:48Tino was a frustrating player. You know, he could do something which you'd go, wow. And then other times it was though he had like kind of, you know, Adidas trampolines on. It just, nothing would stick. It was bouncing off him all the time. And you're like, you know, get a hold of it, Tino. And as I said, the incidence was, you know, when he'd scored that goal. And then afterwards he tries the trick and run over it and tries to do, I think, near Ruddock. and it hits Razor and then the break and score the goal. But I just think at that particular time, Kevin was trying to fit Tino in, which meant where do I put Peter Beadsley?

34:27Right, I'll probably move Peter Beadsley out to the right, which was Keith Gillespie. Keith Gillespie was having an excellent season. And also the other one was Lee Clark had been having a great season and he wanted to put bats in there. So certainly not the player's point of view. It was just probably the manager trying to manipulate players into position. So it kind of, it affected sort of, well, it did affect the balance quite a bit.

34:53Alistair Bruce-Ball:But Steve, you make the point there, you know, crucial moments. So 3-2 up and Espira scored and then he loses the ball. As you say, trying something a bit clever, a little flick just inside the Liverpool half and whoom, Liverpool are just on Newcastle and get it back to 3-3. I mean would Kevin Keegan criticise one of his attacking players for doing that at that point in the game? I think the weird thing is it's one of these when as players we're probably shouting to Tino get a hold of it obviously not in a polite way it has to be said but a lot of times some of the stuff he did was just so off the cuff and some of it would really work and it would be brilliant and some of it wouldn't.

35:39As I said, it was just frustrating, but that was Tino. You had to have, you know, it's give and take, you know, what he does and sometimes what he doesn't do and what frustrates you. But that was just, that was him. That's why we love Tino. And to be fair, Tino just didn't care. So he was just going to do his own thing anyway. But no, I think it will be vastly unfair to blame Tino or blame Bats or anybody. It was just, you know, a team that I was massively kind of privileged and proud to be part of. And unfortunately, it just, you know, it just wasn't our year that year.

36:15Alistair Bruce-Ball:And Jason, Liverpool obviously then get the ball from that and it comes out to you. And as David Pleat says there, that's one of those classic balls you put in there. Retreating defence, goalkeeper, not quite sure. You've put it right in that corridor, haven't you? You know, and just hoping that someone's going to get on the end of that. Yeah, I think we'd just been on the attack and lost it. And like Steve alluded to there, they win back possession and then it goes to Tino and he tries a trick and obviously it doesn't come off. But because we were on the attack, I was so high up the pitch and it was kind of fizzed out to me really quick.

36:50And I was kind of one-on-one with Beresford and I don't know what made me do it, but sometimes you just see this gap and it's wide open between the keeper and the back four. and it's just about getting the right purchase and the right bend on it. And, you know, I was lucky enough to put this lovely ball. I mean, Andy Gray, I think in Commercy, called it a horrible ball, which we still laugh about now. I agree. And it is. I mean, Steve spoke about it before. If you've got the defenders running back towards the goal, it's so hard to get something on it because you don't know where it's going to go and you're looking for your keeper to come out, but everything's on top.

37:27And it just turned out to be one of them moments, which was, you know, it was a sweet and special moment for me. and then obviously Stan puts it in the back of the net. And that's where the phrase, the buffet ball was born, I think. Help yourself, Stan.

37:41Alistair Bruce-Ball:So, Ian, we're going to come on to Stan's sort of crowning moment in this game because we've still got the winning goal to come. Do you think this was his finest night, one of his finest nights in a Liverpool shirt, Stan Colombo? He sets the first goal up right at the start of the game as well, doesn't he? He was the one who stood that cross up to the back post that Fowler heads in. Yeah, it's a brilliant ball. as has been mentioned, it was obviously very, very early in the game, but Robbie was great in the air, you know, everything Jason said before, I couldn't agree with more, you know, absolutely echo all of that.

38:11Fowler was just an unbelievable finisher, and for four years, he was an absolute genius, before the kind of injuries took hold a little bit, but Stan, in terms of, yeah, I think Liverpool fans would absolutely remember him for that night, there's a game on New Year's Day against Nottingham Forest, which finishes 4-2, and he's brilliant that day as well, obviously comes from Forest, and Liverpool come behind on that day and Collymore's at the heart of it. He's absolutely brilliant. But the game against Newcastle, I mean, I think, yeah, if Liverpool fans are looking back on his career, it's absolutely that game because he was always capable of that.

38:44And I say maybe the following season, it doesn't go quite as well. And there's, you know, there's rumours obviously of maybe him being a little bit homesick, but that combination with Robbie, and I think Stan's actually said, you know, the best player he played with was Fowler as well. And I think you hear that a lot from Robbie's peers, you know, So even the Manchester United lads, you've heard, I think Shearer's mentioned it, in training and in games, he was absolutely lethal. But from anywhere, it wasn't just in the 6-yard box or the 12-yard box, or 18-yard box, I should say. Outside the box, Robbie could score.

39:13He was great in the air as well, which is proven with the first goal. And he scores a header in the game the following year, as well, to make it 4-3, another header. So he always had that in him. But them two, as a partnership, they were so hard to play against. And as I say, Newcastle weren't the only team that season who struggled.

39:30Alistair Bruce-Ball:Yeah, so we've got just over 20 minutes to play at that point. And if I can, Steve and Jason, if you can rewind it 30 years and remember sort of standing on the pitch at that time, I mean, people must have been absolutely gassed. But was there any, for both of you, really, I mean, Steve first, any fear of failure or, crikey, we've been pegged back to 3-3, what do we do now? Or was it right, we just, you know, like two heavyweight boxers, we just keep slugging this out? Yeah, I think it is that. I think it is just, you know, all right, whatever time's left, 20 minutes, let's keep on going. So it's basically like two boxes standing there, one punch.

40:11Then, okay, then I've took that, I'll throw a punch. Then we'll throw a punch again. And it's just kind of both teams staggering a little bit, but coming back and then throwing another punch. So it was going to be, basically, it was like, right, last man standing type thing, last team standing. So that's what it was. ultimately to the very end Yeah I think the game deserved the winner and it could have come from either team to be honest it was Steve he's just setting up perfectly there it was like two heavyweights throwing haymakers and just taking them and it was whoever was going to be left standing at the final whistle and fortunately it was for us you know and Rush had come on and I think Steve plays a big moment in the game as well I think you come off mate didn't you I did yeah the second minute or something had you stayed on I mean you know it might have been different you know Defender stays on Steve stays on he might have been in the right place but it goes into Rush Barnes Rush Barnes done it and then Macca's wide open I'm actually shouting give it Macca give it Macca and seeing wide open his hands are open and next thing it goes left and it goes to Stan I actually didn't see Stan because I was on the angle and then it's such an acute angle it goes in the near post doesn't it it doesn't actually go across Pavel but it goes in and then And this rush of adrenaline just come over me.

41:30I can't speak for the other lads, but it was like, I don't know where I found the energy from, but I ran straight across the pitch, and I just remember thinking, we must have the day off tomorrow.

41:39Alistair Bruce-Ball:Well, look, Steve and George have got to block their ears now for 40 seconds or so. It's 3-3 at Anfield. 30 years ago, in the 90th minute, Stan Collymore pops up with that historic late winner. Take it away, Alan Green. Barnes rush once more Poaching the penalty Barnes rush Rush into the box They're running into each other Barnes is there Teasing up for Collymore Collymore strikes And the team's the miracle The ball was by Liverpool My word A minute and a quarter Into stoppage time And Liverpool have plucked victory From despair Stan Collymore with his second goal What a build up Barnes rush Barnes rush Finally, it's teed up for Stan Collymore.

42:26And Liverpool don't care what he costs. Liverpool are still in this championship race. Liverpool 4, Newcastle 3.

42:35Alistair Bruce-Ball:And Jason's just wondering whether he was going to get a day off the following day. Ian, you were in the Cop. I mean, what, you know, just, can you remember it? Oh, it was absolutely wild. I mean, looking back at the city, I mean, even hearing the commentary there, it sends shivers because it was one of those moments where you just kind of, you're clamoring over people, you're going four or five rows further forward than you should be. It was just limbs and bodies everywhere. But watching it back and the scenes and obviously the iconic moment where Kevin Keegan strapped over the hoardings and stuff, I think that's why people just remember it as one of the all-time graces.

43:07The context of three teams really trying to win a league title. And I know Liverpool were always on the cusp and never maybe felt as in it as the other two. But that night, you better believe it, Liverpool thought they were in something. They thought they were absolutely in something. All of a sudden, that points difference has gone from eight to five. Yes, Newcastle got the game in hand. But you did feel like, wow, that could be a huge moment. And it doesn't turn out that way, but you're living and breathing it at that time. And my God, it felt absolutely sensational.

43:37Alistair Bruce-Ball:In terms of moments you had as a Liverpool player at Anfield, Jason, that explosion, that moment, is there anything to match that? We spoke about it before, the two goals Robbie scored against United. I think just because of the enormity of the fixture, and it was my first one, and then, you know, when Robbie scores the free kick, he bends it over the wall, Donnie Schmeich will just stand still. I mean, there was an eruption then, but I don't think I've ever felt anything. I mean, there's been moments in my career that have kind of maybe matched it, but I just think, I just think at Anfield, for me, no, that moment was just absolutely sensational, yeah.

44:14It was kind of, I can't tell you what the energy was like coming on, like that actually come onto the pitch. It was like this rush of... And I know we struggle when we finish playing. I think these are the reasons why, because we get filled with so much adrenaline and so much energy and feeling and emotion. It's hard to replicate when you finish. There's just nothing like it. And it was, it was just sensational, yeah.

44:37Alistair Bruce-Ball:And George, Ian has referenced that. So if you were watching the game on television, the image of Kevin Keegan with the head down and the arms draped over the advertising hoarding in front of him. And if we continue with that sort of boxing analogy, it's a little bit like the knockout blow, isn't it? That one, all the wind has gone out of the stairs. Either team could have won that and then that happens. Yeah, and it was, you know, that is an iconic image. And there were many of them, whether spoken or kind of in picture form. And Kevin was often at the forefront of that. He was a very kind of emotional man and leading this emotional football club, an emotional city.

45:13Of course, there was, you know, the famous words he said after the Leeds game. and he was kind of, you know, he represented everybody. I mean, it was the same in the pub. I mean, it was like, you know, there was that absolute feeling of adrenaline of watching your team fight for something meaningful, which, you know, in my lifetime with Newcastle hadn't happened. And, you know, it happened a few times afterwards and Newcastle got close, but, you know, it was never kind of quite there. And then it went to silence. And, you know, it's very difficult to pick yourself back up from that sort of emotional expenditure of energy, I suppose.

45:49And, yeah, I mean, that's why it's so difficult to, you know, to think about it really and watch it again and listen back to it. But like I said, I mean, I'm so sort of – I mean, it's so weird. You know, I think one of the clichés is, like, no one remembers who comes second or, you know, second is nothing or whatever. And it's like we're still talking about that Newcastle team 30 years on because the way they played had not been seen before and it's not been seen since. And, you know, that's why this game, you know, this game kind of represented that team in some ways. But, you know, we talk about that team and this match because those players and that team were so special.

46:29Alistair Bruce-Ball:And Steve, you must be immensely proud of having played in that team. Yeah, I mean, the thing is about the whole thing, and I'm sure Jason will say the same thing, not only were they fantastic players, but more importantly, they were brilliant people. Just to sort of be working with people like that every day, you know, having a laugh and training hard. But it's just such a good camaraderie, such a good atmosphere and friendships that last a lifetime. I mean, every single time, I mean, I mightn't see David or Philippe or Pizzi or, you know, one or two of the other players. Some I'll see quite regularly, but it's as though you've never been away because you give each other a big hug.

47:12And then the conversation and the kind of chat that you have, it's as though you've been with each other all the time. And it's a weird sort of closeness that you have. And as I said, if there's one thing players do miss, it's that kind of togetherness, camaraderie and being around each other. But it was also like a very fresh thing, wasn't it? It was a very new thing for Newcastle still. And the earlier part of that Newcastle story, Newcastle coming back to the club, saving the team from relegation to the third tier, then immediately going up as champions, playing this ridiculous football, finishing third in the Premier League, then finishing sixth, then going into this season.

47:50There was a sort of beautiful, I don't want to say naivety about the team, although you could make that argument, but there was an innocence about the whole thing, like playing that way, and in a city which was just absolutely at boiling point, you know players out social socializing with fans everybody in it together it was a kind of very very sort of fresh story at the time as well just looking again at some of the quotes i've read in

48:16Alistair Bruce-Ball:you know in the build-up to this show tonight one from robbie fowler as well who says there was an old man in the newcastle end who looked close to tears at the final whistle i couldn't help but feel so sorry for him it genuinely could have gone either way it's great we're still talking about it it was unforgettable i mean you're in a title race there and you've just won a massive game so So was there any part of you thinking about what you'd done to Newcastle there or you're a professional athlete that just doesn't come into it? No, we knew the enormity of the fixture and, you know, what the repercussions were going to be because effectively, as we lost the game, we were probably out the title race.

48:48But, you know, after the final whistle goes, you're so wrapped up in the euphoria of the win. There's nothing better than a last-minute winner. And then, obviously, the dressing room, everyone's buzzing. And, you know, it's just a great place to be, you know, our dressing room as opposed to the Newcastle one as Steve alluded to. But, you know, the emotional expenditure just from, you know, the semi-final of getting or getting to the FA Cup through the semi-final against Villa a few days before. And then you go and do that. And, you know, the 4-3 plays out. It's such an emotional rush, wasn't it?

49:19And then it was a really come back down to earth on Saturday against Coventry. It kind of knocked the wind out of our sails, to be honest. I mean, we just never recovered. We never recovered from it. So it was such a great week, but it kind of played its toll on us and probably cost us the title, to be honest.

49:37Alistair Bruce-Ball:Yeah, so Liverpool lost 1-0 at Coventry on the Saturday, as you said, Jason, and then dropped points in three of the last five games. And then obviously the FA Cup final, the white suits, and Eric Cantona scores the winner in that one. Steve, in terms of Newcastle picking themselves up, Newcastle won four of the next five games, although there was a defeat to Blackburn in there. So actually the response to an absolute hammer blow that night was pretty impressive. But Manchester United obviously were absolutely flying, weren't they? Their run from January basically was incredible. Yeah, I mean, they were relentless, to be quite honest.

50:14I mean, obviously, George has just touched on it with Kevin. Obviously, after the Leeds game, I think we beat them 1-0, Keith Gillespie. And obviously that goes down in Premier League history as well with what Kevin had said. but yeah I mean it was just one of them ones where Man United just seemed to be winning 1-0 1-0 1-0 and Peter Schmeichel was just having the kind of ridiculous sort of games week in week out it would be you know the team that we're playing against would either miss Gilted's chances or as I said it was Pete Schmeichel making incredible saves and then some of the games going into shall we say, Fergie time, and then they will be getting late winners and all this kind of thing.

50:58But it was, the games were never played together. So it was always, you know, one of us was playing before the other type thing, so the pressure was always on. But it was, I can remember afterwards when I played with Peter at Manchester City and our very first meeting was in the dressing room, just sort of a training ground. And I could see he was desperate to want to talk about that kind of thing. and he got a swift go away. So, yeah, I mean, it was difficult. I mean, I know in the last game of the season, I think it was, I think they might have had Middlesbrough. Middlesbrough. And you couldn't see them doing us any favours.

51:37Ultimately, they didn't have to. But I think United's run in the end was just incredible.

51:42Alistair Bruce-Ball:Yeah. How do you remember it then, George, from that point in? I was exactly that. I mean, they're, you know, Man United are the third party in this game, really, because they were just lurking. I think it was like from mid-January on, they played 21 games in all competitions. They drew one, they lost one. The one they lost was another famous game at Southampton where they changed their strips, grey strips, at half-time. And Steve is right. It felt like it's 1-0 to Man U. Schmeichels had a blinder and Cantona scored the goal. And if you actually look back, that is pretty much what happened. I mean, I think they had something like eight 1-0s and Cantona scored the only golden six of them.

52:22And they were relentless. And so, you know, the second half of that season is portrayed, it's painted as Newcastle throwing it away. And when you've had, you know, when you've had a 12-point lead, a big lead, it's kind of quite difficult to argue against that, except that Manchester United were absolutely relentless, robotic and brilliant in the second half of that season, which never really gets talked about.

52:48Alistair Bruce-Ball:Ian, as a Liverpool fan who was there that night and watched what that Liverpool team could do, do you actually think that Liverpool team could have won more, should have won more? Yeah, I think there was always a feeling that there was enough talent in there. Now, listen, they were going up against other great sides as well. You know, that Manchester United team that obviously will get referenced because of all the titles they won. There were so many good players there. So a lot got spoken about at the time. Listen, football was different back then. and footballers were living their lives, slightly different back then, going out and enjoying themselves.

53:20I think all teams were doing that, but I think ultimately, you know, it just comes down to maybe small margins, and United had some unbelievable players, but they also had a guy, the figurehead, who'd been there and done it. You know, the two managers in charge of these two teams, Kevin Keegan and Roy Evans, they were relatively young managers at the time. You know, Keegan had took over in 92, Roy in 94. Ferguson had been there for 10 years at United. He'd won two Premier Leagues already. He'd had the success with Aberdeen, both domestically and in Europe. So maybe when it gets to that real crunch point of the season, to have someone in charge of the football club who just knows how to navigate the landscape and knows what to say, who to pick, who to rest.

53:59I think all that stuff comes into it. And there's no doubt, obviously, in terms of the mind games and the psychology, Ferguson was the master of that. But there was also one kind of sliding doors, maybe moment in that 4-3 game. At 3-3, Les Ferdinand wriggles free and he could have made it 4-3. Now, David James has a particularly poor night, in fairness. Probably should do better with the first and third goal by his own admission. But he makes a really, really good save at a really, really important moment. Now, if that goes in, maybe history changes and it's a totally different outcome.

54:31Alistair Bruce-Ball:Yeah. Last one and quick one then, because the hour is almost up. You know, I build it at the start. It goes down as one of the greatest Premier League games ever. So we're going, you know, Premier League starts in 1992. too. Jason, can you think of a, I mean, you played in it as well, so it's slightly different for you and Steve, but can you think of a better one than that? I am biased and obviously I'm a Liverpool fan and it worked out well for us, but I just can't think of one. I mean, there have been some classics and over the years, of course there have, but I just think what Steve touched on before, and I totally agree with him, it was when players had total autonomy on the pitch to be themselves and to express themselves and to figure problems out for themselves.

55:13You know, we weren't always looking across to the bench for tactics or for reasons for help. It was, we figured it out and we were allowed to express ourselves. If we made a mistake, it was right, we go again. And we, you know, football was a joy to play back then. It has changed over the years, but I just think that all played into the fixture, the timing, the night, the floodlights and the scoreline and the players delivered. It was, I don't think it'll be beaten. It was such a great game to play in, and it is a classic. George? Yeah, I mean, I saw Newcastle come back from 4-0 down to Arsenal at halftime.

55:48That was pretty special. But yeah, I mean, I don't want to talk about this game. That's enough. That's enough now. But if this is effectively the trophy for that team, then I would accept it. And Liverpool, phenomenal. That Newcastle team deserves recognition. and it deserves Claudette. So, yeah, I'll take that.

56:10Alistair Bruce-Ball:Yeah. And Steve, I mean, in that team, you'd have been playing in belters every week. I mean, is there any other games that particularly stand out to you? Not as much as that one. I think just purely and simply as well, as I touched on before, the state of the pitch, but the quality of football that was played. Yes, there's some very, very good players on show, but, wow, did they not give a performance for everybody to enjoy. Yeah. Do you know what? We did it again the year after as well. I know, 4-3. Yeah, that's right. No VAR either. Imagine if VAR had been involved 30 years ago. I mean, you know, I was actually, not serious thinking about that, but for example, you know, the Colliemore moment with VAR, you're still, as a fan, you're possibly waiting on, is that, you know, The entire game would have lasted three hours.

57:10Alistair Bruce-Ball:It was an amazing night. I'm really, really grateful to you all for an hour of your time to discuss that. And like I say, if you're not aware of this game, you're only just learning about it now, or your kids aren't aware of it, go and find the clips or listen to this show again, because it was an absolute epic. So Steve Howey, who played on the night for Newcastle, Jason McAteer, who played for Liverpool, Ian Ryan from the Anfield Wrap, and George Culkin from The Athletic. Thank you very much indeed. And, George, I'm sorry. I'm sorry. But thank you. It's been good therapy. Yeah.

57:49Alistair Bruce-Ball:New teams. New rules. A new era. Formula One returns. The engines are revving. People are getting excited. Hear every race live on BBC Sounds. It's all eyes on the lights. Hands for the floor. On 5 Live Sports.