Retro game of the week

Wednesday, 26/10/2011

by Ger McCarthy

Date: April 3, 1996
Venue: Anfield
Competition: Premier League
Final Score: Liverpool 4 Newcastle United 3

Newcastle United are currently enjoying a terrific start to the 201-12 Premier League campaign and remain unbeaten after nine fixtures.

Not since 1996 have Newcastle looked anyway menacing when it comes to the Premier League title race or European qualification berths. The year football came home to England (Euro 96’) was also the last time the Magpies had a squad and manager capable of challenging for top honours.

Former St. James’ Park legend Kevin Keegan was in charge of a star-studded Newcastle side for the 1995-96 campaign which included the mercurial talents of David Ginola, Faustino Asprilla and Peter Beardsley. United played a swash buckling style of all-out attacking football in a mirror image of their manager and enjoyed a 12-point lead in the early stages of the campaign.

Manchester United and Liverpool were the only serious challengers to Newcastle for the Championship that year and Sir Alex Ferguson’s new-look side that included former youth team players Paul Scholes, David Beckham and Gary Neville slowly closed the gap heading into the final months of the season.

Newcastle travelled to Anfield on April 3 having stuttered in the weeks leading up to the crunch encounter and lay three points behind leaders Manchester United at kick-off.

Liverpool entered the fixture still firmly involved in the title hunt and boasted a vast array of attacking talent that included Robbie Fowler, Stan Collymore and Steve McManaman.

What followed next was a fixture that went on to become the Match of the Decade for the Premier League (1990s) and left every fan lucky enough to present or watching on television drained from the wonderful seven-goal spectacular.

Liverpool got off to the best possible start with Robbie Fowler firing the home side in front inside two minutes. A move begun by Jamie Redknapp and that also involved Rob Jones and Stan Collymore ended with Fowler rising to head the ball past Pavel Srnicek.

Newcastle refused to panic and were level eight minutes later when Colombian sensation Faustino Asprilla nutmegged Neil Ruddock and nonchalantly pulled the ball back for Les Ferdinand whose shot evaded the grasp of David James.

Ferdinand was involved once again shortly afterwards with the England international expertly shielding the ball into the path of the in-rushing David Ginola who flew beyond Jason McAteer and found the net for a 2-1 lead.

Both sides continued to surge forward at the earliest opportunity with Liverpool roared on by a heaving 40,000-capacity crowd and Newcastle counter-attacking at pace whenever the chance arose. It was breathtaking stuff but the visitors were pegged back in the 54th minute when Liverpool conjured up an equaliser through Fowler who dived into the net in celebration.

A magnificent encounter took another twist a minute later when the long, loping strides of Asprilla sauntered on to a Robert Lee through ball before beautifully curling the ball into the net with the outside of his foot. Newcastle looked like holding on for a famous 3-2 win but Liverpool had other ideas and equalised a magical encounter with Stan Collymore tapping home to make it 3-3.

There was still time for one final twist as Liverpool attacked the Kop end deep into injury time and Collymore was on hand to thump the ball home to win it 4-3 for the home side.

Anfield erupted, Kevin Keegan’s head dropped behind an advertising hoarding and Stan Collymore raced away to the adulation of the home supporters with a stupid grin on his face.

Manchester United went on to win the Premier League that title year but the 1995-96 season will always be remembered for the thrilling encounter between Liverpool and Newcastle.

Liverpool: David James, John Scales, Mark Wright, Neil Ruddock, Jason McAteer, Jamie Redknapp, John Barnes, Rob Jones, Steve McManaman, Stan Collymore, Robbie Fowler. Substitutes: Tony Warner, Steve Harkness and Ian Rush.

Newcastle United: Pavel Srnicek, Steve Watson, Steve Howey, Phillippe Albert, John Beresford, Peter Beardsley, David Batty, Robert Lee, David Ginola, Faustino Asprilla, Les Ferdinand. Substitutes: Darren Peacock, Keith Gillespie and Lee Clark.

Referee: Mike Reid

Follow Ger on Twitter: @offcentrecircle

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