Alisson: Liverpool Look Ready
Rafael Benitez once claimed that managing a small club was akin to owning a short blanket. In a chat following a match, he told the former West Brom manager Tony Mowbray, that a small blanket is of no use to anyone. You can cover your head to keep out the cold, but it will leave your feet sticking out, or, you cover them up and leave your head exposed to the elements. Ultimately, a short blanket will always be cold.
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The Souness Years - In Their Own Words (Part 8) - Thank Evans, it's over!
This is the eighth and final instalment of our Souness Years series, looking behind-the-scenes of what went on at Liverpool during the Souness era of the early 90s.
You can find the first seven parts here: Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6 Part 7
STEVE NICOL: On a positive note, he did introduce two of Liverpool’s greatest players in the modern era into the first team – Robbie Fowler and Steve McManaman.
ROBBIE FOWLER: Macca, Rob Jones, Mike …
The Souness Years - In Their Own Words (Part 7) - Temper, Temper
This is the seventh instalment of our Souness Years series, looking behind-the-scenes of what went on at Liverpool during the Souness era of the early 90s.
You can find the first six parts here: Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6
IAN RUSH: He had learned a lot from his time in Italy, and was introducing ideas and methods that just about every manager since has adopted. Wenger changed the training, diet and lifestyle of Arsenal when he …
The Souness Years - In Their Own Words (Part 6) - Ahead of his Time?
This is the sixth instalment of our Souness Years series, looking behind-the-scenes of what went on at Liverpool during the Souness era of the early 90s.
You can find the first five parts here: Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5
ROY EVANS: I tried to talk Graeme out of sacking Thommo. I told him to get him in the office, sit him down and have the whole thing out, face to face. Both of them could have got …
The Souness Years - In Their Own Words (Part 5) - The Unforgivable Interview
This is the fifth instalment of our Souness Years series, looking behind-the-scenes of what went on at Liverpool during the Souness era of the early 90s.
You can find the first four parts here: Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4
RONNIE WHELAN: Dicks and Ruddock were bought because Souey wanted strong, hard men in his team. And that’s fine – Souey was a strong, hard man too. But he was a top-class ball-player as well.
JAN MOLBY: As a …
The Souness Years - In Their Own Words (Part 4) - More Transfer Woe for the Reds
This is the fourth instalment of our Souness Years series, looking behind-the-scenes of what went on at Liverpool during the Souness era of the early 90s. You can find the first three parts here: Part 1 Part 2 Part 3
GRAEME SOUNESS: I bought Paul Stewart to provide the muscle in midfield. He moved to Spurs and they converted him into a midfield player.
JAMIE CARRAGHER: He welcomed me into the reserve side with a ‘What the fuck are you doing …
The Souness Years - Rebuilding & Rob Jones (Part 3)
In this third instalment of our Souness Years series, we delve deeper into the behind-the-scenes activities during the turbulent Souness era of the early 90s. You can find the first two parts here: Part 1 Part 2
RONNIE WHELAN: You had a team now that wasn’t stable and united. There was a lot of individual play. Different players were doing different things. They weren’t fitting into a system.
JOHN BARNES: When Kenny bought me and Peter Beardsley into the side, …
The Souness Years - In Their Own Words: Part 2 - Too Much Too Soon?
In this second instalment of our Souness Years series, we delve deeper into the behind-the-scenes activities during the turbulent Souness era of the early 90s. Part 1 - The Souness Years: In Their Own Words - The Change of Guard was released earlier this week.
GRAEME SOUNESS: McMahon and Beardsley came into my office and hinted they were ready to move on unless there were guarantees of regular first-team football and improved terms to go with it. I was impetuous …
The Souness Years - In Their Own Words: Part 1 - The Change of Guard
The rise and fall of Liverpool football club is one of the most unique in the footballing world. Built ‘up and up and up’, in both Bill Shankly’s words, actions and design, Liverpool dominated British and European football for the best part of two decades.
In the eighteen years marking 1973 to 1991, Liverpool finished in the top two of the English top flight no fewer than seventeen times and were crowned champions of England eleven times. They also collected …
Reviewing A Banquet Without Wine - A History of the Reds in the PL Era
When offered the opportunity to read an advance copy of A Banquet Without Wine, I eagerly accepted; it was a welcome break from the academic historical literature which my studies demand, and, given my experience with previous works from The Tomkins Times, my qualitative expectations were high. Beyond that, I remained open to hearing an interpretation of Liverpool's recent history, that I, like many fans, have lived through, and is well versed in.
For Liverpool fans, the story detailed within A Banquet …