2002 Liverpool Home – Michael Owen #10 XL

The 2001–02 season (concluding in 2002) was a year of ambition and near glory for Liverpool Football Club, managed by Gérard Houllier. Following their treble-winning campaign the previous year — which saw them lift the FA Cup, League Cup, and UEFA Cup — Liverpool entered this season with renewed confidence and aspirations of reclaiming the Premier League title for the first time in the modern era.

In the Premier League, Liverpool finished 2nd, behind a dominant Arsenal side led by Thierry Henry and Patrick Vieira. The Reds amassed 80 points, their highest total in over a decade, and briefly led the league in the winter months before losing momentum in the final stretch. Despite falling short of the title, it was a season that confirmed Liverpool’s resurgence as one of England’s elite clubs once more.

In Europe, Liverpool reached the quarter-finals of the UEFA Champions League, their first appearance in the competition since 1985. They progressed from a group featuring Roma, Dynamo Kyiv, and Boavista, before being eliminated by Bayer Leverkusen in a thrilling 4–3 aggregate defeat. Domestically, the team also reached the FA Cup fifth round and League Cup fourth round, showing consistency across all fronts.

The 2001–02 Liverpool home kit, manufactured by Reebok, remains one of the most beloved designs of the early 2000s. Featuring a classic red base with white trim on the collar and sleeves, it introduced a cleaner, more modern template while retaining the club’s traditional aesthetic. The Carlsberg sponsor appeared prominently, and the shirt incorporated a subtle pinstripe texture across the fabric. This kit became iconic not only for its sharp look but also because it represented Liverpool’s return to the European elite and the prime years of their talismanic striker, Michael Owen.

2. Player’s Impact – Michael Owen

The 2001–02 season was one of the defining chapters in Michael Owen’s career — a year that established him as one of Europe’s most lethal strikers and culminated in him winning the 2001 Ballon d’Or, becoming the first Englishman to receive the award since Kevin Keegan in 1979.

Owen made 43 appearances across all competitions, scoring 28 goals, including 19 in the Premier League, as Liverpool pushed Arsenal and Manchester United deep into the title race. His explosive pace, intelligent movement, and clinical finishing made him virtually unstoppable on the counterattack — the perfect weapon in Houllier’s compact, organized system.

One of his standout performances came in a 3–1 win over Newcastle, where Owen scored twice with his trademark precision. He also delivered key goals in Europe, notably in the Champions League against Roma and Dynamo Kyiv. By this stage, Owen had evolved from teenage prodigy into a seasoned striker — refining his instincts, timing, and ability to find space behind defensive lines.

Beyond his goals, Owen’s mentality and work rate symbolized the fighting spirit of early-2000s Liverpool. As vice-captain, he carried immense responsibility at just 22 years old, leading the line for a club rediscovering its identity. His lethal partnership with Emile Heskey and creative support from Steven Gerrard and John Arne Riise formed the spine of a dynamic attacking unit.

Although Liverpool ultimately finished second, Owen’s consistency and professionalism during this season reinforced his reputation as one of Europe’s premier forwards — quick, clinical, and unerring in front of goal. The 2001–02 campaign remains one of the finest of his club career, both statistically and symbolically.

3. Full Squad List (Liverpool – 2001–02 Season)

Manager: Gérard Houllier
Assistant Manager: Phil Thompson

Goalkeepers:
Jerzy Dudek, Sander Westerveld, Chris Kirkland, Pegguy Arphexad

Defenders:
Sami Hyypiä (captain), Stéphane Henchoz, Jamie Carragher, John Arne Riise, Markus Babbel, Abel Xavier, Djimi Traoré, Vegard Heggem, Gregory Vignal

Midfielders:
Steven Gerrard, Dietmar Hamann, Danny Murphy, Vladimir Šmicer, Patrik Berger, Gary McAllister, Jari Litmanen, Igor Bišćan, Nick Barmby

Forwards:
Michael Owen, Emile Heskey, Robbie Fowler (departed mid-season to Leeds United), Milan Baroš, Nicolas Anelka (loan from PSG)