Episode 14 – 2005–06: The Gerrard Final

In Episode 14 of You’ll Never Pod Alone, we move from the miracle of Istanbul into a season of evolution, reinvention, and another unforgettable moment in Liverpool history.

The 2005–06 campaign marks Rafa Benítez’s second season, and this time Liverpool build — not dream. New arrivals such as Pepe Reina, Momo Sissoko, Bolo Zenden, and Peter Crouch reshape the squad, with Steven Gerrard rejecting Chelsea in the summer to continue leading the club he loves.

Liverpool improve dramatically in the Premier League, recording their highest points total of the modern era up to that point and smashing club defensive records, including 11 consecutive clean sheets. Reina becomes a wall, Carragher turns into a cult hero, and Gerrard reaches his peak powers.

But the campaign is defined by one date:

13 May 2006 — Cardiff.
The FA Cup Final.
Liverpool vs West Ham.

West Ham lead 3–2. Gerrard is cramping, exhausted, barely able to move.
Then, in stoppage time, from 35 yards…

THUNDERSTRIKE.

3–3. One of the greatest goals in FA Cup history.
Penalties. Reina saves three.
Liverpool lift the trophy.

The match is instantly nicknamed:

> “The Gerrard Final.”



In this episode:
🔥 A month-by-month breakdown of the season
🧠 How Rafa’s tactical evolution transformed Liverpool
🧤 Reina’s arrival and the new defensive backbone
⭐ Player focus: Gerrard, Carragher, Alonso, and Crouch
🎬 Cultural rewind to 2005–06 (Batman Begins, Pon de Replay, Lost, Nokia bricks*)
🏆 Full retelling of the FA Cup Final — emotion, commentary, goosebumps

Liverpool didn’t rely on miracles this year.

They relied on a legend.

Because whether it’s Istanbul or Cardiff…
You’ll Never Pod Alone.

Episode 13 – 2004–05: The Miracle of IstanbulIn Episode 13 of You’ll Never Pod Alone, we relive one of the greatest football stories ever told — Liverpool’s journey to the 2005 Champions League title.The season begins with a seismic change: Gérard Houllier’s era ends, and Rafa Benítez arrives from Valencia armed with tactical discipline, European pedigree, and a vision to rebuild the club. Xabi Alonso and Luis García join the squad, bringing intelligence and flair.Liverpool struggle for consistency in the league — injuries, squad transition, and a lack of depth keep them hovering around mid-table for much of the season.
But in Europe?
Different story.
Benítez turns Liverpool into a tactical machine.From the Olympiakos miracle — “You beauty… what a hit, son!” — to the emotional victory over Chelsea in the semi-final, Anfield becomes electric again.And then…
Istanbul.Three goals down at halftime.
Dead and buried.
Then Gerrard, Smicer, Alonso… six minutes of pure belief.3–3.
Penalty shootout.
Jerzy Dudek’s wobbly-leg mind games.Liverpool lift the European Cup for the fifth time — and footballing history labels it:The Miracle of Istanbul.In this episode you’ll hear:
⚽ Season breakdown, month by month
🧠 Rafa’s tactical changes
⭐ How Gerrard became a legend
🏆 Full retelling of the final — with goosebumps guaranteed
📺 Cultural rewind to 2004–05 (Beyoncé, Green Day, Lost, Saw)It wasn’t just a season.
It was destiny.Because through miracles and madness…
✨ You’ll Never Pod Alone.

Episode 12 – 2003–04: Houllier’s Final Chapter

In Episode 12 of You’ll Never Pod Alone, we close the book on the Gérard Houllier era — a season that began with quiet optimism and ended with an emotional farewell.

After years of discipline, silverware, and steady progress, the 2003–04 campaign proved to be the end of the road for Houllier’s Liverpool. A summer of new arrivals — including Harry Kewell and Steve Finnan — promised attacking football and a push for the title. But what followed was a frustrating, stop-start season filled with missed chances, stale tactics, and familiar flaws.

Liverpool’s football lacked spark, the cups offered little comfort, and the fans’ patience began to fade. Yet, through all the ups and downs, Steven Gerrard emerged as the true leader of the next generation, and a vital fourth-place finish ensured Liverpool would be back among Europe’s elite.

Expect:
⚽ Month-by-month breakdown of the season’s highs and lows
📉 Cup heartbreak and inconsistency in the league
⭐ Player focus on Gerrard, Owen, and Kewell
🏁 Reflection on Houllier’s impact and emotional departure
📺 Early-2000s nostalgia — Hey Ya!, Return of the King, Little Britain

It wasn’t a season of glory — but it was a season of transition. The old chapter closed, and a new one was about to begin… led by a Spaniard who would take Liverpool to the summit of Europe.

Because even through change, triumph, and tears… You’ll Never Pod Alone.

Episode 11 – 2002–03: From Hope to Heartbreak

In Episode 11 of You’ll Never Pod Alone, we look back at Liverpool’s 2002–03 season — a campaign that started full of promise but spiralled into one of the most frustrating years of Gérard Houllier’s reign.

After finishing 2nd the year before, optimism was high. New arrivals from the World Cup, including El Hadji Diouf and Salif Diao, were expected to fire the Reds into a title challenge. And at first, it all looked good — Liverpool went top of the table by November.

Then came the collapse.
An 11-game winless run wrecked their season, European dreams faded, and the football turned flat. The pressure mounted, but there was at least one bright moment: victory over Manchester United in the League Cup Final, courtesy of goals from Gerrard and Owen.

Expect:
⚽ Month-by-month breakdown of the highs and lows
🏆 League Cup glory in Cardiff
😬 The collapse that cost Liverpool a Champions League place
⭐ Player spotlights on Gerrard and Owen
📺 Cultural flashbacks — The Matrix Reloaded, Coldplay’s Clocks, and The Office finale

Liverpool finished 5th in the league, won the League Cup, and watched a golden opportunity slip away. It was the beginning of the end for Houllier’s Liverpool — a team caught between past glories and future promise.

Because through every triumph and heartbreak… You’ll Never Pod Alone.

Episode 10 – 2001–02: The Follow-Up to Glory

In Episode 10 of You’ll Never Pod Alone, we revisit the 2001–02 season — the campaign that followed Gérard Houllier’s treble-winning triumph and saw Liverpool push for the Premier League title while conquering Europe’s biggest stage once again.

It was a season of ambition, emotion, and resilience.
Liverpool returned to the Champions League for the first time in 16 years, fought for the Premier League crown, and overcame one of the most emotional moments in modern club history — Houllier’s life-threatening illness and inspirational return to the dugout.

Expect:
⚽ A month-by-month recap of Liverpool’s league and European exploits
🏆 The story of the UEFA Super Cup win over Bayern Munich
❤️ Houllier’s health battle and the team’s response under Phil Thompson
⭐ Player spotlights on Owen, Gerrard, and Riise’s thunderbolt debut season
📺 Cultural throwbacks — The Office, Harry Potter, and Fellowship of the Ring
📊 Full season stats, key results, and that sharp all-red Reebok kit

Liverpool finished 2nd in the Premier League and made the Champions League quarter-finals, proving that the treble wasn’t a one-off — it was the foundation of a club reborn.

Because through every triumph and trial… You’ll Never Pod Alone.

Episode 9 – 2000–01: The Cup Treble

In Episode 9 of You’ll Never Pod Alone, we relive one of the greatest seasons in Liverpool’s modern history — 2000–01, Gérard Houllier’s masterpiece.

After years of transition, Liverpool finally found their winning edge. This was the season the Reds lifted three trophies — the FA Cup, League Cup, and UEFA Cup — and secured a top-four finish to return to the Champions League.

Michael Owen’s late heroics in the FA Cup Final, Gary McAllister’s legendary 44-yard derby free-kick, and the unforgettable 5–4 UEFA Cup Final in Dortmund all made this campaign one for the ages.

Expect:
🏆 Full breakdown of the treble triumph
⚽ Player spotlights on Owen, Gerrard, McAllister & Heskey
📺 Cultural throwbacks — Gladiator, Coldplay’s Parachutes, and Big Brother
📊 Season stats, biggest wins, and that iconic amber-and-navy away kit

The 2000–01 season was more than silverware — it was the rebirth of Liverpool as serial winners in the modern era.

Because through every trophy and every triumph… You’ll Never Pod Alone.

Episode 8 – 1999–2000: Houllier’s Rebuild Begins

In Episode 8 of You’ll Never Pod Alone, we revisit the 1999–2000 season — Gérard Houllier’s first full campaign in sole charge, and the year he tore up the old Liverpool and began building something new.

Out went the likes of Paul Ince, David James, and Jason McAteer. In came the new spine: Sami Hyypiä, Stéphane Henchoz, Dietmar Hamann, Vladimír Šmicer, and goalkeeper Sander Westerveld. The changes brought defensive stability and a glimpse of the future, but inconsistency still haunted the Reds.

Liverpool flirted with Champions League qualification but missed out on the final day, finishing 4th — level on points with Leeds but edged out on goal difference.

Expect:
⚽ Month-by-month breakdown of results and key moments
⭐ Spotlights on Hyypiä’s instant impact and Owen’s injury-hit campaign
📺 Cultural throwbacks — The Matrix, Britney Spears, Fight Club, and Who Wants to Be a Millionaire
📊 Season stats, biggest wins, worst defeats, and those iconic Reebok kits

No trophies this year — but the rebuild was underway, and Houllier’s Liverpool were laying the foundations for the treble-winning season to come.

Because through the ups, downs, and rebuilds… You’ll Never Pod Alone.

Episode 7 – 1998–99: The End of Evans, the Arrival of Houllier

In Episode 7 of You’ll Never Pod Alone, we revisit the 1998–99 season — a year of change, upheaval, and transition at Anfield.

Roy Evans began the campaign in charge, but by November, the last of the Boot Room boys had stepped aside, leaving Gérard Houllier to take full control. It was the end of an era and the start of a cultural revolution.

On the pitch, Michael Owen shone as Liverpool’s new star, fresh from his World Cup heroics, scoring 23 goals despite the team’s struggles. Robbie Fowler battled injury, Steve McManaman sparkled but prepared for his controversial free transfer to Real Madrid, and defensive weaknesses once again cost Liverpool dearly.

Expect:
⚽ Month-by-month highlights of highs, lows, and turning points
⭐ Owen’s rise, Fowler’s frustrations, McManaman’s farewell season
📺 Cultural throwbacks — Britney Spears, Lock, Stock, Who Wants to Be a Millionaire
📊 Season stats, biggest results, and that famous yellow away kit

Liverpool finished 7th in the Premier League, endured early cup exits, and ended another season without silverware. But 1998–99 was the campaign that cleared the way for Houllier’s rebuild — the first step towards a new era.

Because through every change and challenge… You’ll Never Pod Alone.

🎙️ You’ll Never Pod Alone – Episode 6
Liverpool 1997–98: Owen Explodes, Fowler Falters, Defence Collapses

In this episode, we revisit Liverpool’s 1997–98 season — a campaign remembered for the breathtaking rise of Michael Owen, the struggles of Robbie Fowler, and the all-too-familiar fragility at the back.

🔴 We’ll cover:

Michael Owen’s breakthrough – 18 league goals at just 18 years old, PFA Young Player of the Year

Robbie Fowler’s injury-hit season – only 9 league goals, as Owen stole the spotlight.

Paul Ince, Patrik Berger, and McManaman – the engine room of goals, grit, and guile in midfield.

David James’ mistakes & defensive woes – why “Calamity” James and the back line cost Liverpool another title challenge.

Cup humiliation & league frustration – FA Cup 3rd round exit to Coventry, and finishing 3rd behind Arsenal & United.

The changing of the guard – with legends like Rush and Barnes gone, Owen became the new face of the Reds.


It was a season of dazzling flair, wasted opportunities, and the birth of a new superstar.

🎧 Join us as we relive the highs, lows, and lasting legacy of 1997–98.

Episode 5 – 1996–97: So Near, Yet So Far

In Episode 5 of You’ll Never Pod Alone, we look back at the 1996–97 season — a campaign where Roy Evans’ Liverpool thrilled fans with attacking football, pushed for honours on multiple fronts, but ultimately fell short when it mattered most.

With Robbie Fowler at his lethal best, firing in 31 goals, and Steve McManaman dazzling as the creative heartbeat, the Reds looked like genuine title contenders. They lit up the league with big wins and unforgettable classics, including another legendary 4–3 against Newcastle.

But inconsistency, defensive frailties, and costly slip-ups derailed the challenge. Liverpool ended the season empty-handed — finishing 4th in the league, exiting both domestic cups early, and falling in the Cup Winners’ Cup semi-final to PSG.

Expect:
⚽ Month-by-month highlights of key wins, defeats & turning points
⭐ Spotlights on Fowler, McManaman, and the so-called “Spice Boys” era
📺 Cultural throwbacks — Britpop, Trainspotting, Independence Day, and Euro ’96 fever
📊 Season stats, biggest results, and the iconic cream & red kit

A season of breathtaking football, unforgettable moments, but ultimately… what might have been.

Because no matter the highs or lows… You’ll Never Pod Alone.