The prodigy Michael Owen made his mark against Manchester City, catching them completely off guard.
Did Liverpool ever lack talent compared to other teams?
Definitely not.
They were seen as favourites for the Premier League, but their problem was consistency—they often dropped crucial points, especially against higher-ranked sides. To be honest, Liverpool played exciting, attacking football, but their defence, along with goalkeeper David James, was error-prone.
Roy Evans was respected for keeping harmony in the squad and encouraging attacking play, but some argued he lacked the ruthless tactical edge needed to push Liverpool over the line.
Take Owen's goal as an example.
Phil Babb was the only one left at the back, while the rest of the team had pushed forward into City's box, neglecting their defensive shape. Thanks to this, Owen spotted the opening and exploited the gap, running onto the ball behind the defence with his trademark blistering acceleration.
