Classic Match: Liverpool 2-1 Arsenal
“We knew that we were playing against pretty much the best side in England…”
A glance at the teamsheet supports Neil Mellor’s statement.
In opposition: Lehmann, Lauren, Campbell, Toure, Cole, Vieira, Fabregas, Ljungberg, Pires, Reyes, Henry.
The nucleus of a squad that had gone the entire previous season unbeaten and a group who were, once again, very much protagonists in the battle for the title.
But Thierry Henry or Patrick Vieira wouldn’t dominate Monday morning’s back pages - and neither, for that matter, would teammates such as Steven Gerrard or Xabi Alonso.
Mellor would.
Sunday November 28, 2004. Liverpool 2-1 Arsenal.
Watch: Mellor stuns Arsenal's 'Invincibles'
“We were competing to be in the top four, we were way off the pace of the likes of Arsenal and Chelsea, and there was a real ‘big game’ feel to it because it was a Super Sunday and back then that was the only game on TV,” the Reds’ match-winner recalls to Liverpoolfc.com.
“It was a great atmosphere and my family and friends were there watching. We knew it was a big game at Anfield and injuries meant that I got my chance.
“They were that ‘Invincibles’ team and the thing about them was the resilience they had to not lose football matches.
“They had great players in there but they had the mentality as well so it was really difficult to beat them, which is perhaps why that result was so great to achieve because they were the top side with the likes of Henry and Vieira.
“It was a good, settled team and they were going really well although I think they’d been beaten at Old Trafford a few weeks before. It was just great to be a part of the game.”
That defeat to Manchester United represented Arsenal’s only loss in their previous 54 top-flight fixtures prior to their arrival on Merseyside.
But it was injury-hit Liverpool, driven on by the fit-again Gerrard, who began the contest in the ascendancy, playing with a verve and intensity that would become a hallmark of their Anfield performances against high-class foes during the Rafa Benitez era.
The captain was denied an early penalty when he appeared to be fouled by Kolo Toure, and Harry Kewell’s header forced Jens Lehmann into a save as Arsene Wenger’s visitors desperately clung on to parity.
Four minutes before half-time, though, the hosts’ enterprise was rewarded when Gerrard’s expertly weighted pass was nonchalantly stroked into the top corner by Alonso.
“It was a brilliant goal,” Mellor says.
“I remember making a run to make the space for Xabi to hit the ball, and when he scored I remember thinking: ‘This could be the only goal in the game so get to him first for the celebration for all the pictures in the papers the next day!’
“If you see the replay I’m actually first there to celebrate with him, but obviously I was delighted that he’d scored.
“It was just before half-time and we’d played alright in the game as well, we’d certainly held our own and it was outstanding finish: side foot, top corner. Brilliant.”
There was to be no let up immediately after the break, either, with Liverpool’s superiority in every department remaining evident.
However, the second goal would not come - not yet, anyway - and, just before the hour, the Reds were caught flush by a startling, sublime counter-punch.
“It was one-touch football. That was Arsenal probably at their best in terms of the goals they scored,” Mellor remembers of the equaliser.
“That was the big players linking up and showing the quality that they possessed and it was a lovely little finish from Vieira. You’re thinking ‘could Carra have got there?’ but the spin of the ball was too much.
“I suppose at that point the momentum was with them and not many people would’ve fancied us to have gone on to win the game.”
Wenger, perhaps smelling blood, introduced Robin van Persie from the bench.
But any fears inside Anfield that the reigning champions would now slip through the gears proved unfounded. Instead, the earlier pattern of the match resumed and Gerrard called Lehmann into action again late on.
With that save, it appeared the Germany international had preserved a fortunate point for the Gunners.
Not so, with Mellor subsequently angling a swerving half-volley into the bottom corner of the Kop-end net from distance deep into stoppage time.
Cue delirium.
“Growing up, you want play as many games as you can and win as many trophies as you can, but you want memories as well that you can reflect on after your career and for me, that is one of those moments,” Mellor states.
“My family were all in the crowd, it was against the best side around, the winning goal, in front of the Kop: it was something that I’d always dreamed about. I think it was likened to a ‘Roy of the Rovers’ moment and it felt like that for me.
“I remember asking Sol Campbell for his shirt because we had a free-kick by our own corner flag and he went ‘yeah, no problem’. Even to this day I have no idea why I asked, I’d never asked anybody previously for their shirt. I never got his shirt in the end either!
“The ball went up, me and Vieira challenged for it and missed it, Kewell got pole-axed by a couple of Arsenal defenders and it just fell nicely for me to hit. I wasn’t renowned for scoring many long-distance goals but it was there to be hit and it was an instinct to hit it.
“It was just great to share a moment like that with the Kop and even now it’s quite emotional when I see the pictures, to see the connection with the fans at that moment was really, really strong.
“I think that’s what I remember more than anything - that connection, celebrating, seeing the fans going mad. It was brilliant.”
Benitez’s first season at Anfield would, of course, end in unimaginable glory - and Mellor feels that this memorable victory over Arsenal can be considered a significant stepping stone en route to Istanbul.
“I think if you beat any of the top sides then for confidence it’s huge,” the former striker concludes.
“It gives you belief that you can achieve results against the best sides and for us, we were not at Arsenal’s level at that time so it gave us the confidence and the belief for what we went on to achieve that season.
“We didn’t finish in the top four that season but we went on to win the Champions League and some of the big nights that we had that season, this game may well have given the players the confidence to go on and win the big games that we did.”