1997–98 Liverpool F.C. season

Liverpool's season saw them feature regularly in the title race, though in the end they just couldn't get the better of champions Arsenal 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.

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Position Player 26 GK Jørgen Nielsen 27 FW Paul Dalglish 28 MF Nicky Rizzo 30 MF Haukur Ingi Guðnason 31 DF Gareth Roberts 32 MF Danny Williams DF Neil Murphy DF Stephen Wright

No. Position Player DF Eifion Jones DF Paul O'Mara MF Jamie Cassidy MF Steven Gerrard MF Adriano Rigoglioso MF Leyton Maxwell FW Jon Newby

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