August 26, 2025 • 11 mins
Episode 2 – 1993–94: Souness Out, Evans In, and Fowler Arrives
In Episode 2 of You’ll Never Pod Alone, we head back to the 1993–94 season — a year of turmoil, transition, and the birth of a new Liverpool hero.
Graeme Souness began the campaign under pressure, bringing in Nigel Clough and Neil Ruddock, but the Reds stumbled through inconsistency and frustration. A humiliating FA Cup defeat to Bristol City at Anfield sealed his fate, and by January, Souness was gone.
Enter Roy Evans, the last of the Boot Room boys, who steadied the ship and restored hope. Most importantly, a teenage Robbie Fowler exploded onto the scene, announcing himself with goals, swagger, and a connection with the Kop that would define the decade.
Expect:
⚽ Month-by-month breakdown of key wins, defeats & turning points
⭐ Spotlight on Robbie Fowler’s breakthrough and Ian Rush’s final years
📺 Cultural throwbacks — the music, films & TV of 1993–94
📊 Season stats, biggest results, and the iconic Carlsberg kit
Liverpool finished 8th in the league, with no silverware — but this was the season that set the stage for the next chapter.
Because through the highs and lows… You’ll Never Pod Alone.
In Episode 2 of You’ll Never Pod Alone, we head back to the 1993–94 season — a year of turmoil, transition, and the birth of a new Liverpool hero.
Graeme Souness began the campaign under pressure, bringing in Nigel Clough and Neil Ruddock, but the Reds stumbled through inconsistency and frustration. A humiliating FA Cup defeat to Bristol City at Anfield sealed his fate, and by January, Souness was gone.
Enter Roy Evans, the last of the Boot Room boys, who steadied the ship and restored hope. Most importantly, a teenage Robbie Fowler exploded onto the scene, announcing himself with goals, swagger, and a connection with the Kop that would define the decade.
Expect:
⚽ Month-by-month breakdown of key wins, defeats & turning points
⭐ Spotlight on Robbie Fowler’s breakthrough and Ian Rush’s final years
📺 Cultural throwbacks — the music, films & TV of 1993–94
📊 Season stats, biggest results, and the iconic Carlsberg kit
Liverpool finished 8th in the league, with no silverware — but this was the season that set the stage for the next chapter.
Because through the highs and lows… You’ll Never Pod Alone.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:36):
Hello, and welcome back to your Never Pod alone, the
show where we relive every Liverpool season from the Premier
League era from ninety two all the way through to
present day. Last time we kicked things off of ninety
two ninety three, Liverpool's first season in the Premier League.
It was messy, inconsistent and left the fans wondering why
(00:58):
the club was heading This week, It's ninety three ninety four,
a season of change, the end of Graham Sooness, the
rise of Robbie Fowler in the beginning of Roy Evans's reign.
So what was happening in nineteen ninety three? On the
music scene, Mister Bobby somehow made it to Christmas number one,
(01:19):
but we'll forgive you if you prefer meat loafs. I
do anything for love, but I won't do that or
ace of bases all that she wants. At the cinema,
Jurassic Park ruled the box office, while Missus Doubtfire and
Schindler's List made waves on TV. The X Files debuted
in the UK and you couldn't escape men behaving badly,
(01:40):
And in football, Manchester Unit had just lifted the very
first Premier League title. Meanwhile, Liverpool were looking their wounds
after a disappointing sixth place place to finish. The fans
wanted better and Graham Sooness was under serious pressure pressure
to deliver soon. This had been ruthless in reshaping the squad,
(02:02):
moving older players on and bringing in youth. In came
Nigril Club from Nottingham Forest, Neil Ruddick from Spurs and
a teenage striker named Robbie Fowler who was already talked
with the training ground. The question was simple, could Soonest
get Liverpool back to competing at the top. The answer,
as it turned out, was no. So to the transfers
(02:24):
in Ny Cloth came from Nottingham Forest for two point
two five seventy five million pounds, Noil Roddick came from
Spurs for two two million, two point five million pounds
and Julian Dix came from West Hand in a pay
player exchange. It's Dan Krossmer came from Hungary for free.
(02:47):
David Burrows and Mike Marsh were included in the player exchange.
They all went to West Ham. Mike Cooper, the goalkeeper
went to Newcastle United for five hundred and fifty pounds.
Ronnie Rosenthal was sold to Spairs for two hundred and
fifty pounds doing this segment as well. In terms of
(03:07):
the actual first team squad, so we had Bruce Grobola,
it was our goalie, Rob Jones, Julia Dix, Steve Nickel,
Mark Wright were the our top four defenders. Don Hutchinson,
Nigel Clough, Paul Stewart, Ian Rush, John Barnes, Mark Waters
and Ronnie Wheeling all featured. Yeah, Jan Mulby still in
(03:29):
the squad, Jamie red DApp, Michael Thomas, Steve McManaman, Phil Charnock,
Torby and Piknick was still there stigging a Beyonnabe, Dominic
Mattheo was coming through, Steve Hartners was also coming through.
Robbie Fowler made his debut, Neil Ruddick just signed for US,
and David James of course was our second choice keeper
(03:53):
at the time. But obviously Bruce Groboler's time ended during
this season rele so that's what the season through mark
by month. In August nineteen ninety three, Liverpool opened brightly
a two nil win over Sheffild Wednesday at Anfield, with
Nigel Cluff scoring twice on his debut, gave fans some hope,
(04:13):
but that feeling didn't last long a two to one
home defeat by Spurs and inconsistency was back. By the
end of August, we were sitting in mid table. September
nineteen ninety three it saw the emergence of Robbie Fowler
from the League Cup. Against Fulham. He scored five goals
in the away match at the home match, sorry, announcing
(04:37):
himself as a superstar in the making. In the League, though,
results were terrible defeats against Coventry, Everton, Chelsea and a
lost of Blackburn and left us around eighth place. October
nineteen ninety three and Neil Neil drawer at home to
Arsenal showed Deliverable's toughness. Wins against Oldham and Southampton followed,
(04:58):
along with a drawer against man City. By Halloween, though
Liverpool were down. In twelve November nineteen ninety three, the
slide continued a three nil loss away at Newcastle. The
cop was restless and soon Es was looking already like
a beaten man. December nineteen ninety three, the festive period
(05:18):
of no reprieve a free free draw with Spurs where
Fowler against Gord was entertaining. But didn't hide the problems.
Draws to Sheffield United, Swindon and Wimbledon, both of those
at home at Anfield. It left us thirteenth and table
at Christmas, an embarrassment for a climb of this stature.
(05:42):
In January nineteen ninety four, the new year, this was
the breaking point. Liverpool were knocked out with the FA
Cup by Bristol City at Anfielder after a replay a
one nil, humiliating one deal defeat. The cop turned and
within days soon Et resigned. His reign was over. February
(06:03):
nineteen ninety four, ray Evans was promoted from within and
the mood immediately lifted. But results picked up a little
but were still inconsistent. With a four to two defeat
at the Dow to Southampton and a two neil defeat
at ellen Road against Leeds didn't help us trying to
climb up the table. March nineteen ninety four, a two
(06:24):
to one win over Everton in the Mads Derby was
the highlight rush and foul of both on the scores sheet.
It did feel like something new, but defeat still happened.
April nineteen ninety four, the spring run was solid, if spectacular,
Winds over Ipswitch in Sheffield. Wednesdays Sorry Winds over Ipswich
(06:44):
in west ham steadied the ship. Their defeats to Norwich
and Newcastle reminded everyone that the rebuild was still in
the progress. May nineteen ninety four, there were whended the
season on a positive note, finishing eighth. It wasn't good
enough for Europe, but after the chaos of Sooness Evans
has restored some belief. More importantly, Robbie Fowler had scored
(07:07):
eighteen goals in all competitions in his debut season. The
future look bright now. This season belongs to one player.
Robbie Fowler, the lad from Toxif burst onto the scene
like a wild fuck, like a whirlwind, five goals in
one game against Fulham, eighteen goals in his debut season
(07:28):
and that natural strike his instinct that had the copyite's
dreaming of another Rush or del Leiche Elsewhere. Steven Wadawan
continued to develop, dazzling with his dribbling and creativity, and
while the defense was leaky, new something Neil Ruddick added grit,
if not always composure off the pitch. This season was
(07:49):
defined by Soon as his downfall, his decision making. His
fall outs with players and the infamous son interviewed the
year before they poisoned his relationship with the fans. By January,
his departure was inevitable. Ray Evans's arrival, though, brought stability.
A boot room boy, Roy understood the club. He's been
(08:11):
there since Shankly. His calm, friendly style was a breath
of fresh air after soon as his abrasive rain. So
where did we end up? We ended up eighth from
the Premier League, out of the FA Cup in the
third round, replayed to Bristol City and out of the
league up to the fourth round to Wimbledon, again, also
in a replay on paper poor, but by the end
(08:35):
of the season fans were looking ahead with optimism. Evans
Fowl mcmadamon gave hopes for better days to come. Looking back.
Nineteen ninety three ninety four was a transitional season in
marked the end of one era and the start of another. Soon,
as his failure showed that ripping up the Bootroom's traditions
(08:56):
didn't work, Ray Evans brought back the Bootroom for lotosophy
and Roy Evans rise gave us and Robbie Fowler's rise
gave us a new hero to believe in. It wasn't silverware,
it wasn't glory, but it was the first step towards
restoring pride at Anfield. Here's someth of the key stats
(09:17):
from nineteen ninety three ninety four. Our final position was
eighth with sixty points. Our top goal scorers we had
Ian Rush with nineteen in all competitions and the boy
Wonder Robbie Fowler with eighteen in all competitions. Our biggest
wing came in August when we beat Swindon five nil away.
Our heaviest defeat was three nil away to Newcastle in
(09:40):
November ninety three. FA Cup again, that humiliating third round
exit to Bristolle City. The League Cup fourth round exit
to Wimbledon. Average attendant at outfield around thirty six thousand,
Mikey of the year, the red added ass home kit
with the Carlsburg sponsor design that will become iconic through
(10:01):
the nineties. And there we have it. That's it for
this episode of your Never Podly Alone. The nineteen ninety
three ninety four season, the end of Graham Sooness, the
rise of Robbie Fowler and the beginning of Roy Evans,
boot Room revival. Next week we'll look at ninety four
ninety five, Roy's first full season, the Coca Coda Cup triumph,
(10:25):
and the Red's chasing glory again. Until then, thanks for listening,
and remember you'll never pod alone. A new n
Hello, and welcome back to your Never Pod alone, the
show where we relive every Liverpool season from the Premier
League era from ninety two all the way through to
present day. Last time we kicked things off of ninety
two ninety three, Liverpool's first season in the Premier League.
It was messy, inconsistent and left the fans wondering why
(00:58):
the club was heading This week, It's ninety three ninety four,
a season of change, the end of Graham Sooness, the
rise of Robbie Fowler in the beginning of Roy Evans's reign.
So what was happening in nineteen ninety three? On the
music scene, Mister Bobby somehow made it to Christmas number one,
(01:19):
but we'll forgive you if you prefer meat loafs. I
do anything for love, but I won't do that or
ace of bases all that she wants. At the cinema,
Jurassic Park ruled the box office, while Missus Doubtfire and
Schindler's List made waves on TV. The X Files debuted
in the UK and you couldn't escape men behaving badly,
(01:40):
And in football, Manchester Unit had just lifted the very
first Premier League title. Meanwhile, Liverpool were looking their wounds
after a disappointing sixth place place to finish. The fans
wanted better and Graham Sooness was under serious pressure pressure
to deliver soon. This had been ruthless in reshaping the squad,
(02:02):
moving older players on and bringing in youth. In came
Nigril Club from Nottingham Forest, Neil Ruddick from Spurs and
a teenage striker named Robbie Fowler who was already talked
with the training ground. The question was simple, could Soonest
get Liverpool back to competing at the top. The answer,
as it turned out, was no. So to the transfers
(02:24):
in Ny Cloth came from Nottingham Forest for two point
two five seventy five million pounds, Noil Roddick came from
Spurs for two two million, two point five million pounds
and Julian Dix came from West Hand in a pay
player exchange. It's Dan Krossmer came from Hungary for free.
(02:47):
David Burrows and Mike Marsh were included in the player exchange.
They all went to West Ham. Mike Cooper, the goalkeeper
went to Newcastle United for five hundred and fifty pounds.
Ronnie Rosenthal was sold to Spairs for two hundred and
fifty pounds doing this segment as well. In terms of
(03:07):
the actual first team squad, so we had Bruce Grobola,
it was our goalie, Rob Jones, Julia Dix, Steve Nickel,
Mark Wright were the our top four defenders. Don Hutchinson,
Nigel Clough, Paul Stewart, Ian Rush, John Barnes, Mark Waters
and Ronnie Wheeling all featured. Yeah, Jan Mulby still in
(03:29):
the squad, Jamie red DApp, Michael Thomas, Steve McManaman, Phil Charnock,
Torby and Piknick was still there stigging a Beyonnabe, Dominic
Mattheo was coming through, Steve Hartners was also coming through.
Robbie Fowler made his debut, Neil Ruddick just signed for US,
and David James of course was our second choice keeper
(03:53):
at the time. But obviously Bruce Groboler's time ended during
this season rele so that's what the season through mark
by month. In August nineteen ninety three, Liverpool opened brightly
a two nil win over Sheffild Wednesday at Anfield, with
Nigel Cluff scoring twice on his debut, gave fans some hope,
(04:13):
but that feeling didn't last long a two to one
home defeat by Spurs and inconsistency was back. By the
end of August, we were sitting in mid table. September
nineteen ninety three it saw the emergence of Robbie Fowler
from the League Cup. Against Fulham. He scored five goals
in the away match at the home match, sorry, announcing
(04:37):
himself as a superstar in the making. In the League, though,
results were terrible defeats against Coventry, Everton, Chelsea and a
lost of Blackburn and left us around eighth place. October
nineteen ninety three and Neil Neil drawer at home to
Arsenal showed Deliverable's toughness. Wins against Oldham and Southampton followed,
(04:58):
along with a drawer against man City. By Halloween, though
Liverpool were down. In twelve November nineteen ninety three, the
slide continued a three nil loss away at Newcastle. The
cop was restless and soon Es was looking already like
a beaten man. December nineteen ninety three, the festive period
(05:18):
of no reprieve a free free draw with Spurs where
Fowler against Gord was entertaining. But didn't hide the problems.
Draws to Sheffield United, Swindon and Wimbledon, both of those
at home at Anfield. It left us thirteenth and table
at Christmas, an embarrassment for a climb of this stature.
(05:42):
In January nineteen ninety four, the new year, this was
the breaking point. Liverpool were knocked out with the FA
Cup by Bristol City at Anfielder after a replay a
one nil, humiliating one deal defeat. The cop turned and
within days soon Et resigned. His reign was over. February
(06:03):
nineteen ninety four, ray Evans was promoted from within and
the mood immediately lifted. But results picked up a little
but were still inconsistent. With a four to two defeat
at the Dow to Southampton and a two neil defeat
at ellen Road against Leeds didn't help us trying to
climb up the table. March nineteen ninety four, a two
(06:24):
to one win over Everton in the Mads Derby was
the highlight rush and foul of both on the scores sheet.
It did feel like something new, but defeat still happened.
April nineteen ninety four, the spring run was solid, if spectacular,
Winds over Ipswitch in Sheffield. Wednesdays Sorry Winds over Ipswich
(06:44):
in west ham steadied the ship. Their defeats to Norwich
and Newcastle reminded everyone that the rebuild was still in
the progress. May nineteen ninety four, there were whended the
season on a positive note, finishing eighth. It wasn't good
enough for Europe, but after the chaos of Sooness Evans
has restored some belief. More importantly, Robbie Fowler had scored
(07:07):
eighteen goals in all competitions in his debut season. The
future look bright now. This season belongs to one player.
Robbie Fowler, the lad from Toxif burst onto the scene
like a wild fuck, like a whirlwind, five goals in
one game against Fulham, eighteen goals in his debut season
(07:28):
and that natural strike his instinct that had the copyite's
dreaming of another Rush or del Leiche Elsewhere. Steven Wadawan
continued to develop, dazzling with his dribbling and creativity, and
while the defense was leaky, new something Neil Ruddick added grit,
if not always composure off the pitch. This season was
(07:49):
defined by Soon as his downfall, his decision making. His
fall outs with players and the infamous son interviewed the
year before they poisoned his relationship with the fans. By January,
his departure was inevitable. Ray Evans's arrival, though, brought stability.
A boot room boy, Roy understood the club. He's been
(08:11):
there since Shankly. His calm, friendly style was a breath
of fresh air after soon as his abrasive rain. So
where did we end up? We ended up eighth from
the Premier League, out of the FA Cup in the
third round, replayed to Bristol City and out of the
league up to the fourth round to Wimbledon, again, also
in a replay on paper poor, but by the end
(08:35):
of the season fans were looking ahead with optimism. Evans
Fowl mcmadamon gave hopes for better days to come. Looking back.
Nineteen ninety three ninety four was a transitional season in
marked the end of one era and the start of another. Soon,
as his failure showed that ripping up the Bootroom's traditions
(08:56):
didn't work, Ray Evans brought back the Bootroom for lotosophy
and Roy Evans rise gave us and Robbie Fowler's rise
gave us a new hero to believe in. It wasn't silverware,
it wasn't glory, but it was the first step towards
restoring pride at Anfield. Here's someth of the key stats
(09:17):
from nineteen ninety three ninety four. Our final position was
eighth with sixty points. Our top goal scorers we had
Ian Rush with nineteen in all competitions and the boy
Wonder Robbie Fowler with eighteen in all competitions. Our biggest
wing came in August when we beat Swindon five nil away.
Our heaviest defeat was three nil away to Newcastle in
(09:40):
November ninety three. FA Cup again, that humiliating third round
exit to Bristolle City. The League Cup fourth round exit
to Wimbledon. Average attendant at outfield around thirty six thousand,
Mikey of the year, the red added ass home kit
with the Carlsburg sponsor design that will become iconic through
(10:01):
the nineties. And there we have it. That's it for
this episode of your Never Podly Alone. The nineteen ninety
three ninety four season, the end of Graham Sooness, the
rise of Robbie Fowler and the beginning of Roy Evans,
boot Room revival. Next week we'll look at ninety four
ninety five, Roy's first full season, the Coca Coda Cup triumph,
(10:25):
and the Red's chasing glory again. Until then, thanks for listening,
and remember you'll never pod alone. A new n
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
New Heights with Jason & Travis Kelce
Football’s funniest family duo — Jason Kelce of the Philadelphia Eagles and Travis Kelce of the Kansas City Chiefs — team up to provide next-level access to life in the league as it unfolds. The two brothers and Super Bowl champions drop weekly insights about the weekly slate of games and share their INSIDE perspectives on trending NFL news and sports headlines. They also endlessly rag on each other as brothers do, chat the latest in pop culture and welcome some very popular and well-known friends to chat with them. Check out new episodes every Wednesday. Follow New Heights on the Wondery App, YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts. You can listen to new episodes early and ad-free, and get exclusive content on Wondery+. Join Wondery+ in the Wondery App, Apple Podcasts or Spotify. And join our new membership for a unique fan experience by going to the New Heights YouTube channel now!
24/7 News: The Latest
The latest news in 4 minutes updated every hour, every day.