2002–03 Liverpool F.C. season


During the 2002–03 English football season, Liverpool F.C. competed in the FA Premier League.

Season summary

Having finished second the previous season, Liverpool had high hopes to win their first league title since 1990. Indeed, they topped the Premier League table after their first 12 games, picking up 30 points out of a possible 36, a run which saw them four points clear at the top from reigning champions Arsenal. However, on 9 November 2002, they suffered a surprise 1–0 away defeat at the hands of high-fliers Middlesbrough. This wasn't completely disastrous; it did see their lead cut to one point but three days later, they completed a miserable week after they bowed out of the Champions League after failure to beat Basel. That week's two results started a freefall of 13 matches without victory and a dismal run of only two wins in 16 league matches which ended such title hopes. They were, in fact, out of the top 4 altogether never to return after a shock 2-1 defeat at struggling Sunderland. However, their first home league win in four months came in a 2–0 win over Bolton Wanderers on 8 March 2003, starting a more promising run of seven wins in eight league games which almost took the club to Champions League qualification anyway, but defeats at the hands of Manchester City and Chelsea in the final two games of the season buried those hopes. A League Cup win following a 2–0 victory over arch-rivals Manchester United was the sole glorious moment of a disappointing season.
CompetitionResultTop scorer
Premier League5th Michael Owen, 19
Champions LeagueFirst group stage Michael Owen, 4
UEFA CupQuarter-finals Michael Owen, 3
FA CupFourth round Danny Murphy, 1
League CupWinners El Hadji Diouf, 3
Overall Michael Owen, 28

Final league table

First-team squad

Left club during season

Statistics

Appearances

Transfers

In

Out

Premier League

Results by round

Champions League

Group B

UEFA Cup

FA Cup

League Cup