Football’s Greatest Goals No.46
This week’s ‘Greatest Goal’ was scored by Gary McAllister for Leeds United against Liverpool on 29th August 1992.
Leeds were the reigning league champions and Liverpool had won the FA Cup the previous season. The two clubs had played out a thrilling seven-goal thriller in the Charity Shield three weeks earlier, with Leeds winning 4-3.
Gary Mc Allister opened the scoring after only seven minutes in this league game with an absolute thunderbolt.
A long throw-in came in from the left and was chested down by Leeds striker Lee Chapman. Liverpool’s defender Mark Wright held onto Chapman from behind but the target man was able to break free from his clutches, before he took a touch and scooped the ball out to Gary McAllister at the edge of the box.
The ball dropped slightly in front of Mc Allister and to his right and so the Scottish international ran towards the ball. The Scottish international caught the ball on the volley and thumped the ball towards goal.
Liverpool’s Paul Stewart was nearest to McAllister but had no chance of blocking the shot. Three of McAllister’s team mates were also in the flight path and cowered to avoid serious injury as the ball zipped over their heads and into the top corner of the net. Liverpool’s goalkeeper David James had no chance.
The game ended 2-2. Both teams had an indifferent season, Liverpool finished sixth but were 25 points behind eventual champions Manchester United. Their fans viewed this as a failure and called for manager Graeme Sounness to resign. They would get their wish in January 1994.
Leeds on the other hand, had a terrible season. They finished two points clear of relegation and didn’t win a single away game all season!
McAllister later joined Liverpool, signing from Coventry City on a free transfer at the age of 35. He stayed at Anfield for two years and won five trophies before moving back to Coventry where he ended his career aged 39.
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