FeatureKop 10: Liverpool's best Premier League free-kicks
Four years ago today, Liverpool delivered a 4-0 victory over Crystal Palace in a clash played behind closed doors at Anfield as the 2019-20 season resumed amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Mohamed Salah, Fabinho and Sadio Mane were all on target as the Reds moved to the brink of their first league title since 1990.
But it was a spectacular free-kick from Trent Alexander-Arnold that set Jürgen Klopp’s side on their way, with the No.66 curling home a brilliant 25-yard effort midway through the first half.
To mark the anniversary of that stunning strike, here are 10 more of the best free-kick goals scored by Liverpool during the Premier League era…
Trent Alexander-Arnold (v Chelsea, September 2019)
A player who has built up quite the collection of free-kick goals, among the most important Alexander-Arnold has scored came at Stamford Bridge early in that title-winning season of 2019-20.
It was a well-worked one, too, Alexander-Arnold sweeping home after Salah had backheeled the ball into his path.
Roberto Firmino added a second before half-time as Liverpool recorded a vital victory en route to becoming champions.
Philippe Coutinho (v Arsenal, August 2016)
An opening-day masterpiece from Philippe Coutinho lit up Emirates Stadium as the 2016-17 campaign got under way.
The Reds looked set to go in at the break trailing to Theo Walcott’s strike, but on the stroke of half-time Coutinho bent a magnificent 30-yarder past Petr Cech to change the complexion of the game.
Liverpool came out swinging after the break, with Coutinho scoring again and both Adam Lallana and Mane on target as Klopp’s side began the season with an eye-catching 4-3 victory – only their second ever at the Emirates.
Fabio Aurelio (v Manchester United, March 2009)
Liverpool’s victory at Old Trafford in March 2009 fired them firmly back into the title race, and saw both Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres at their devastating best.
Both were on the scoresheet already, giving Rafael Benitez’s team a 2-1 lead, when Gerrard was upended by Nemanja Vidic, who was sent off.
From the resulting free-kick, Fabio Aurelio left Edwin van der Sar rooted with a sublime strike into the top corner.
Substitute Andrea Dossena added a late fourth as the Reds recorded a memorable success at the home of their fierce rivals.
Steven Gerrard (v Aston Villa, August 2007)
Gerrard could have his very own Kop 10 of spectacular goals, but perhaps his best and most memorable free-kick came at Villa Park on the opening day of the 2007-08 season.
After Martin Laursen’s own goal had given the Reds the lead, Gareth Barry’s late penalty looked to have secured a point for the home side.
But deep into stoppage time, Gerrard stepped up to whip a quite wonderful effort into Stuart Taylor’s top left-hand corner and ensure Benitez’s men began the campaign with all three points.
John Arne Riise (v Manchester United, November 2001)
Few goals in Liverpool’s history have been struck with such ferocity as John Arne Riise’s first at Anfield, which set the Reds on their way to a convincing 3-1 win over reigning champions Manchester United in the 2001-02 season.
Riise’s rocket, fired past Fabian Barthez via the underside of the crossbar, was followed by a brace from Michael Owen and ensured that the Norwegian’s name is still sung by the Kop to this day.
‘John Arne Riise, ooh, aah. I wanna know, how you scored that goal…’
Gary McAllister (v Everton, April 2001)
One of the great Merseyside derby moments came on Easter Monday in 2001, as Liverpool edged a remarkable Goodison Park contest courtesy of a moment of ingenuity from the veteran Gary McAllister.
The game was locked at 2-2 when, in stoppage time, Liverpool were awarded a free-kick, some 44 yards from goal.
As Everton’s defence and goalkeeper Paul Gerrard anticipated a cross into the penalty area, McAllister spotted a gap at the near post, whipping his effort perfectly into the bottom corner.
The celebrations that followed, and manager Gerard Houllier’s face in particular, will live long in the memory.
Danny Murphy (v Manchester United, December 2000)
Old Trafford has witnessed several classic Liverpool free-kicks down the years, and few have been more significant than Danny Murphy’s effort just before Christmas in 2000.
The Reds hadn’t won away to United in 10 years, but when Gary Neville was penalised for handball just before half-time, Murphy kept his composure superbly to steer a perfectly placed strike into the corner.
Liverpool went on to win 1-0 and would repeat the trick in two of the next three seasons, too, each time with Murphy netting the winning goal.
Patrik Berger (v Manchester United, March 2000)
What is it about Manchester United and free-kick goals for Liverpool?
Patrik Berger was known for his penchant for the spectacular, and perhaps his best Reds goal came at Old Trafford in 2000 as he smashed in a brilliant left-footed effort from 30 yards.
It wasn’t enough to secure all three points, with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer scrambling an equaliser, but it was certainly one of the more memorable goals the Reds have scored against United in the Premier League era.
Robbie Fowler (v Manchester United, December 1995)
Liverpool scored four times against Manchester United in the 1995-96 season, and Robbie Fowler netted all of them.
He had already struck twice in a 2-2 draw at Old Trafford in October when Alex Ferguson’s side visited Anfield in December, and he set the Reds on their way to a deserved 2-0 victory with a super effort in front of the Kop.
Fowler’s 25-yard curler left United goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel completely wrong-footed, and he would follow that up with a clinical finish in the second half to give Roy Evans and his team a big three points.
Jamie Redknapp (v Blackburn Rovers, May 1995)
One of the most dramatic days in Premier League history ended with a stunning Jamie Redknapp strike.
Blackburn Rovers arrived at Anfield knowing a win would guarantee them the title at the end of the 1994-95 season, but after John Barnes had cancelled out Alan Shearer’s early effort, Kenny Dalglish’s visitors were nervously holding on by the 90th minute, praying that rivals Manchester United didn’t find a winning goal at West Ham United to snatch away the crown.
Then came Redknapp, arcing a fabulous free-kick past Tim Flowers to leave Rovers fans stunned.
Their panic lasted only a few seconds, however, as the final whistle from Upton Park confirmed Blackburn as champions.
This article has been automatically translated and, while all reasonable efforts have been made to ensure accuracy, some errors in translation are possible. Please refer to the original English-language version of the article for the official version.