Les Ferdinand of Newcastle celebrates after scoring the equaliser against Liverpool in April 1996
Les Ferdinand of Newcastle celebrates after scoring the equaliser against Liverpool in April 1996
It was justifiably hailed as the Game Of The Century, written into legend as the best ever played under the Premier League flag and he significantly scored one of the momentous seven goals.
Les Ferdinand was Newcastle United's swashbuckling centre-forward that epic day of April 3, 1996 when the Entertainers swaggered into Kevin Keegan's old lair Anfield and confronted Liverpool. Just 97 seconds in the net rippled as Robbie Fowler opened the scoring. The gloves were off between two teams who only knew one way to play and that was attack. It was to be a slugfest.
For an hour and a half momentum ebbed and flowed as the two heavyweights staged a masterclass in swashbuckling, breathless attacking football. End to end, momentum transferring in the flick of a boot, it took until the 92nd minute for one team to find the killer blow. It was, quite simply, one of the most stunning games of football ever seen.
The only trouble was the scoreline: Liverpool 4-3 Newcastle.
Now 29 years later Ferdinand will be at Wembley on Sunday for the Carabao Cup final against Liverpool praying that at last his old club can overcome the Mersey Red Arrows and end their long wait for silverware even though the odds have been stacking up against them on almost a daily basis.
"I'll be at Wembley to cover the final for Sky just as I was a couple of years back," Ferdie told me. "I felt they weren't quite ready against Manchester United but this time it can be different because they have better players. Yes, Newcastle have been dealt massive blows with Anthony Gordon, Lewis Hall and Sven Botman but they still have the likes of Alexander Isak who is as good a centre-forward as there is in the world.
"I spent the best two years of my career at St James Park and it has been a love affair ever since. The Geordies are my people and I'm desperate for them to win something. They so deserve it."
Ferdie was the centre-forward who almost led United to the ultimate success back in 96 - it was the season before Alan Shearer arrived - when his thunderous goals saw United storm clear of the PL field only to be pegged back by Man U. The Liverpool extravaganza epitomised their season.
The dye was cast inside two minutes when United fell behind with Fowler, still not 21, nodding home Stan Collymore's peach of a cross from close range. By the quarter-hour Newcastle were in front - Neil Ruddock was made to look foolish by Tino Asprilla who set up Ferdinand. Sir Les then turned provider for David Ginola to stroke home United's second.
On 55 minutes Steve McManaman got away down the right and slipped a pass inside for his pal Fowler rammed home an equaliser from the edge of the box. Less than two minutes later Asprilla was sprung clear down the right channel by Rob Lee and sprayed a preposterous curler around a stranded David James from 25 yards. Instinctive, astonishing brilliance.
Ten more minutes passed before Jason McAteer barrelled down the right and teed up Collymore to force the ball home at the far post. Both teams ping-ponged in search of a winner which eventually came with John Barnes setting up Collymore, Liverpool’s record £8.5m signing. Keegan slumped over the advertising hoardings in theatrical despair, the defining image of the Premier League's defining game.
Ferdie recalls the match with utmost clarity: "We had developed a habit of giving away early goals and we had spoken about it in the dressing-room. We decided to keep it tight early on, to make the natives restless, and then strike. The only trouble was Liverpool scored inside two minutes and that plan was out of the window!
"So we decided to revert to nature and attack them. Asprilla nutmegged Razor Ruddock to pull the ball back. I took a touch, swivelled and hit it all in one movement and we were level. Then I played it to Ginola who ran half the length of the field and scored. I thought 'This is us. This is what we do.'
"We were every neutral's favourite team and no wonder. The brand of football we played was breathtaking. We had a 12-point lead over Fergie's team at one stage but still got pegged back. It was a tragedy because if we had won the title that year we would have changed the history of Newcastle United."
How do you follow that? Well 341 days later - on March 11, 1997 - the Magpies were back at Anfield and did it all over again. Unbelievably it once more ended 4-3 though the match was not quite so dramatic.
Liverpool cruised to 3–0 before half-time with goals from McManaman, Fowler and Patrick Berger before United roared back scoring three goals in 17 minutes. First Keith Gillespie, then Asprilla, and finally Warren Barton on 88 minutes. Some sort of revenge? Naw, Fowler headed the winner in stoppage time.
"Things had changed since last time," explained Ferdinand. "Unfortunately Keegan had walked and Kenny Dalglish was manager when we went back. I had injured my hamstring and could only make the bench. I was sent on at half-time when we were three down but I was shot and lasted little more than quarter of an hour."
Maybe Ferdie enjoyed just two seasons with Newcastle but he collected PL runners-up medals in both, still United's best league finishes since they last won the title almost 100 years ago in 1927.
That Sir Les is remembered with such affection is hardly surprising. He scored 50 goals in only 84 games for us and in his final season formed a devastating partnership with Shearer. Now he is witnessing another great centre-forward in black and white - Isak.
"The man is on fire, he is absolute quality," Ferdinand told me. "The fans love their legends and he is definitely one. He can impact the final. Sure, United have been dealt cruel blows which leave them as outsiders but it is up to the likes of Harvey Barnes and others to turn a disadvantage into personal glory."
Ferdie returns 'home' whenever he can and he will walk among United fans again next month. I am hosting an afternoon with Sir Les at the 02 City Hall on Sunday April 6 (12 noon to 4pm). Ticket prices and availability can be obtained at www.ticketmaster.co.uk or www.wowcher.co.uk
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Carabao Cup final
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