Liverpool have an extended historical past of piling on the targets and inflicting distress, and one should spare a thought for Stoke, who have been on the receiving finish of a file that also stands 24 years later.
It’s a completely different feeling when your facet feels virtually invincible, that all the things they contact turns to gold – we’ve had that have with virtually each supervisor on the helm.
Bob Paisley had the 11-0 win over Stromsgodset, Invoice Shankly the 10-0 overcome Dundalk, Kenny Dalglish with one other 10-0 vs. Fulham, Jurgen Klopp with a 9-0 over Bournemouth and Rafa Benitez loved an 8-0 rout of Besiktas.
Gerard Houllier may attest to seeing his facet activate the magic and have Liverpool followers in dreamland whereas the opposition dwell out a nightmare.
It was November 29 within the yr 2000, a season it’s possible you’ll recall ending with a historic cup treble, however earlier than any trophy was lifted that marketing campaign, Houllier’s males romped to an 8-0 win at Stoke.
It stays the most important win away from Anfield within the membership’s historical past.
Can they do it on a chilly, wet evening in Stoke? The reply was an emphatic sure!
A double hat-trick
A League Cup fourth-round tie took Liverpool to Stoke, who have been within the Championship, and what unfolded was nothing in need of a demolition job.
Houllier named Richie Partridge in his beginning XI at hand him the primary of three first-team video games, Stephen Wright would come off the bench and make his debut, and a sure Robbie Fowler ran riot.
Between minute six and 85, the No. 9 scored three and assisted three in a charming particular person efficiency.
Christian Ziege (1-0), Markus Babbel (3-0) and Danny Murphy (6-0) all had the striker to thank for teeing up their strikes, and Fowler himself netted the sport’s fourth, seventh and eighth targets.
Vladimir Smicer and Sami Hyypia bought in on the motion, too, making it six completely different goalscorers on the evening – and all this occurred with out Steven Gerrard and Michael Owen!
Liverpool XI: Arphexad; Babbel, Carragher, Henchoz, Hyypia, Ziege; McAllister, Murphy, Partridge; Fowler, Smicer
The Britannia Stadium hosted 27,109 followers that November evening, its file crowd on the time, and because it started to empty, followers sang their anthem – it was poignant that they might utter “I simply couldn’t take any extra.”
So, Liverpool progressed within the League Cup and would go on to carry the trophy on the finish of the season, and this outcome away from dwelling has not been bettered within the virtually 24 years since.
It has been near being equalled on three completely different events – 7-0 vs. Birmingham (2006), 7-0 vs. Maribor (2017) and 7-0 vs. Crystal Palace (2020) – however Houllier’s males stay untouched.
Will it ever be overwhelmed?
