Steve Nicol recalls heartbreaking Liverpool vs. Arsenal 1989 title race finish | Extra Time

Alejandro Moreno, Dan Thomas, Steve Nicol, Craig Burely and Paolo Bandini head to ESPN FC Extra Time to answer fan questions, including (0:00) whether Liverpool vs. Manchester City will be the best Premier League title race ever, leading Stevie to recall the heartbreaking finish to the 1989 race, featuring LFC vs. Arsenal with Michael Thomas scoring an incredible last-ditch goal; whether (2:08) Ale is backtracking on the appointment of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer as permanent manager of Manchester United following their loss vs. Wolves; (4:29) who goes first from Inter Milan, Luciano Spalletti or Mauro Icardi; (6:00) whether Callum Hudson-Odoi or Ruben Loftus-Cheek are the keys to Chelsea making the PL UEFA Champions League places; and (7:10) where the best place to get lasagna in Italy.
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[@saradmatthewtigga4413]

And that's why steve hates Arsenal. Lol.

[@avb6100]

He should hate loserpool for bottling the title.

[@fifalegend6298]

@@avb6100 Calm down nigga

[@mitch6065]

avb6100 the only bottlers are united they we’re 2nd last season behind city and now there’s trying to get into top 4

[@MajikBoxx]

Exactly! Liverpool were so confident that they'd kept it to 0-1 with a couple of minutes left and Nicol (and Barnes?) were telling their team mates to stay cool...then Thomas scored. Then Liverpool bought Thomas. Nicol's constant sniping commentary on Arsenal suggests the man' is _still_ suffering nightmares.

[@sidwhite7330]

@@avb6100 MORON ALERT. GET BACK TO TAKING IT UP THE ARSE SCUMBAG

[@eddiepower3876]

It wasn't goal difference Steve ....the goal difference was exactly the same .. it went down to the fact liverpool conceded 7 goals less and Arsenal scored 7 goals more

[@MC-bi4vk]

THOMAS, IT'S UP FOR GRABS NOWWWWWWW

[@peterwest4965]

Greatest line in football commentary

[@lavielemond]

@@peterwest4965 Also-freaking-lutely, my friend...I'd definitely put this one ahead of Wolstenholme's "They think it's all over...it is now!" from the '66 World Cup, which also serves as the start of New Order's phenomenal "World In Motion" single for the '90 World Cup...

[@macker33]

I remember it. Wasnt even goal difference, it went down to goals scored.

[@literallytylerdurden]

macker33 yeah

[@iiisss2700]

I mean still kinda of a goal difference lol

[@patrickseplay]

Every Arsenal fan will know about this massive victory. Already born or not.

[@ethiozare8001]

Michael Thomas, 1989.

[@robertexley5193]

The gap was 9 days, not 2 and a half weeks. And no, it wasn't a terrible game, if you watch the 2nd half on KZbin, its an incredible game

[@BalllKnowledgeFC]

89 hasn't still moved over Stevie Nicol. It shows in everything he says about arsenal. What a complete prick! But it's okay everybody hates coz we are the royal arsenal.

[@eldio2124]

4 league titles, 3 fa cups, 1 European cup. Nicol is a true legend of the game

[@damnson6556]

Fr I don’t think ppl who watch this show realize that there’s a legend on the panel

[@sidwhite7330]

@@damnson6556 He was a fantastic player , a big part of that 87/88 team that were playing some fantastic football with Barnes the standout

[@waynehigham6504]

Met stevie a few times top man

[@robmason9038]

He was a class player. Shame he is so poor as a pundit. He comes out with some rubbish. But still was a great player.

[@brrrrrtenjoyer]

He's such a fraud as a pundit though

[@mattdevereux5940]

ha ha nothing will ever beat that moment, 30th anniversary this year

[@lewiyonas3255]

Before that infamous match: Arsenal 45+ gd Liverpool 49+ gd If only they didn’t have to play each other in the final day lol

[@emirates111]

thats why hes so sour about arsenal 24/7

[@RecencyBiasRadio]

People criticize Stevie often but you have to not know who he was as a player to dismiss his opinions....in alot of ways...he was Andy Robertson before Andy. He was rugged, tough, a CAPTAIN, a LEADER...theres a reason he's on ESPNFC but I think people forget that. He was easily one of my favorites because of the ability to do everything. Pass, shoot, get the ball back, switch the play, carry the ball, etc... Cheers, Chico! 🍻 #YNWA

[@BurnsTennis]

I think Andy Robertson has to improve his goal scoring before he can be compared to Steve Nicol. Nicol scored a hat-trick against Newcastle in 1987 and played in a variety of positions including right back, left back, right midfield and centre defence and scored around 45 goals. More similar to Millner who can also play different positions although probably more ability than Millner on and off the ball. The other problem is Liverpool are overly reliant on Roberston and Arnold to create goals with assists. Nicol played in a completely different system where the midfielders were part of the attacking set up. Willing to make long runs off the ball to get into centre forward positions, or be around the penalty area to have shots from outside of the box. This is why Houghton, McMahon, McDermott, Ray Kennedy, Ronnie Whelan and others consistently scored 10 goals a season, that makes a huge difference when you are going for the title. Jan Molby scored 22 goals in 1985/86 when Liverpool won the double. Liverpool's current midfielders not only don't score enough but don't score at all. They will have to address that over the summer. Oxlade Chamberlain will be back in August, he's the kind of midfield player they need along with one or two additions.

[@DogsOrlaNugget]

He is the only Liverpool player I have heard talk about it. Kudos to Stevie. My fav is mcmahon saying “1 minute” to everyone, that’s all the time Mickey needed. Then Mickey was sold to Liverpool.

[@caitlinchampion796]

89th to be precise Nicholas 😂 see why he hates Arsenal now

[@lewiyonas3255]

The interesting thing bout this match: Arsenal ended up getting the title over goals scored… but that’s only because they tied Liverpool on GD, arsenal needed to win by 2 (which increased their gd and lowered Liverpool’s in the process)

[@YidSlayer]

But Liverpool regained the title a year after that (their last league title btw). United lost the 2012 title due to last minute goal by City. However, they're not facing each other on the last day. United also regained the title next year. So United won't win the league again until year 2040s.

[@fifalegend6298]

Haha 🤣😭

[@emirates111]

and? the hillsboroug disaster also happened so they were playing even harder.

[@eamoncrawford2527]

But Steve didn't say what happened the year after when arsenal won it back again

[@lavielemond]

And then we (Arsenal) won by a rather comfortable 7 points the following season, in what was the penultimate season of the old First Division...although the thrilling conclusion of 88-89 will ALWAYS give me tingles up the spine, I definitely preferred our team & the way that we played the game 2 seasons later...

[@jonblazeinc]

Well Liverpool have now won league again finally....man u will go 40 years without winning the league. 10 years counting so far lol

[@ani4226]

Fluid situation 😅😂

[@myhoose90]

I was 16 and suffer from PTSD from this 😁 but I was at St James Park to see Stevie grab a hat-trick and have a fourth ruled out for offside

[@xxitactical_8723]

89 ❤

[@aviator-kn8zq]

Wow what ?! That year not the best teams compared to the current but surely the best title race then.

[@BurnsTennis]

The interesting thing about this title race from a Liverpool perspective is that this is their best team probably since 1990 and yet at the same time this team has serious defiencies which they have to overcome and are still 50-50 to win the title (although perhaps 40-60 in Man City's favour), This Liverpool team plays a totally different style to the Liverpool team of the 1980s. The Liverpool team of the 1980s especially from 1987 to 1991 played a much more fluid game. The midfielders interchanged positions all the time, were willing to make long runs off the ball creating space for others, and a lot of one-two interplays and scored a lot of goals from the midfield positions. Defenders like Hansen, Gillespie, Nicol would join in and score goals in open play as opposed to just free kicks or corners. In that decade of the 1980s, Liverpool, Holland of 1988, France of 1982 to 1986 and Brazil of 1982 to 1986 pioneered that kind of football which when performed properly was breathtaking to watch. They kind of switched to a 4-3-3 when Barnes, Beardsley and Aldridge turned up, although the system doesn't really matter when players are intelligent enough to pop up in all sorts of positions on the pitch. Jan Molby played with Cruyff at Ajax in the early 1980s and Cruyff tried to sign Molby from Liverpool in 1989, both clubs had a similar outlook on how to approach football. The current Liverpool team plays a much more rigid system where the midfielders, sometimes three of them are expected to hold, not make many runs forward off the ball consistently and hence do not contribute any goals to speak of. Consequently the full backs are expected to assist the majority of goals and / or the front free are expected to conjure magic between them. Personally, I am not sure how sustainable this type of football is over a long period. With Oxlade Chamberlain to come back next season, and a replacement of Coutinho needed to be found, if Liverpool really want to win a few trophies over the coming seasons, they will need to improve their midfield dramatically. Ironically, when Guardiola calls Liverpool the true legends of English football, his philosophy is more similar to how Liverpool played over a 20 year period up till 1990 than how they play now, plus they won the trophies to back it up back then. Guardiola's City contribute goals from more areas right now. The Wolves manager Espirito was waxing lyrical recently about showing his players videos of the last great Liverpool team from that period. Let's see if Klopp can get Liverpool to that level over the next 24 months.

[@kurtsudheim825]

Not the best teams? Are you high, they were two of the best teams around in that decade

[@KryptonitetoallBS]

On that night there were only 2 fan-bases in England wanting a Liverpool win. Liverpool and Spurs. The other 90 teams were all singing and dancing in the pubs and streets when Michael Thomas slotted home the winner 🤣🤣🤣

[@IveJustSeenAFace23]

Nicol is a potato. Reminds me of my grandad though. And for that, bless him.

[@olaeriksen953]

Are should have won the league with many points that season. Should not have been a close race

[@04foreverinvincible69]

This is why he hates arsenal 😹😹😹😹😹😹😹😹😹😹😹

[@DreamChaser1366]

This 2018/19 season has been the best in terms of the title race and competition. La Liga & Bayernsliga doesn't even come close

[@eldio2124]

Not a big fan of klopp but I’m impressed how he’s hanging onto city with clearly an inferior squad. If mourinho had that City team, he’d be like 10 points clear of klopp. Pep is showing himself to be overrated

[@runrafarunthebestintheworld]

@@eldio2124 Mourinho is a finished manager. He doesn't compare to Pep or Klopp. Pep and Klopp are Elite coaches. They destory Mourinho's garbage tactics.

[@avb6100]

@@runrafarunthebestintheworld Dont compare Flopp to Mourinho. Mou has four different league titles in four different countries. Flopp best achievement in England is hugging players and blaming losses on wind and grass

[@ananth7865]

bundesliga and la liga are for football lovers. PL is for drama .simple.

[@rohithraman6488]

Imagine being a Liverpool player in the dressing room after the game

[@slickus]

nicol has got to be one of the best surnames i ever heard

[@L3OS27]

Slickus FC in the U.S. Nicol is a thot name

[@woodyedwards1555]

Love it how he makes excuses typical kopite

[@lyndoncmp5751]

Nearly 100 people dying and the resulting fixture congestion is an "excuse"? Give your head a wobble mate.

[@andreamanning1257]

Jeez Nicol is so bitter 😂😂😂😂

[@joshuaarawole8589]

2009/10 La Liga Barca had 99 points Madrid finished with 96 points

[@mariotheodoulou2990]

Goals scored ..not goal difference..Goal difference was the same 4 both teams ..So then it goes to who scored the most goals..that's how close it was..Steve Nicol still don't know lol ..and he was playing lol

[@brianwhitby2703]

nicol is the reason i love this show, YNWA

[@avb6100]

You will never win anything, Loserpool fan

[@paulmcnamara4774]

@@avb6100 We won a lot more than your shit ever did lol

[@jerzydudekvandriyshevchenk1807]

@Speedy 4-0😂

[@swadbodhy9242]

If Liverpool end up, empty hands...klopp will surely walk alone ,out of the door!!!

[@ulisescalderon2471]

Swad Bodhy no...

[@Robomonkey101]

With 90+ points I don't think so

[@avb6100]

He spent 400m still no trophy for Klippity Flopp

[@jamesmichaels4979]

No he won't. Klopp is a football purest

[@jerzydudekvandriyshevchenk1807]

@@avb6100 champion's league bitch

[@garthhancox7436]

Hey nel9,didn't it take an ex Liverpool player,Matt Busby, to make manure great?

[@lilacmaninapurpleworld538]

Whine Whine Whine Chester Cheese Cat Ken Livingston of a voice. Please tell the anchor to go get himself illocution coaching. It detracts from the show. Please!!!

[@terranceparsons5185]

Or failing that, he could try elocution

[@fineplayer2]

Every time he gives excuses about Arsenal 🤣 6 games in 15 days ,it doesn't matter, u lost,u bottled the title, end of story. 🤣🤣🤣

[@avb6100]

Loserpool fan. What did you expect? Always excuses with them. Their cheerleader manager Flopp blames wind and grass

[@fifalegend6298]

He's won the league 5 times himself. More than any ARSE ANAL player. Not to mention he's won the European cup and a treble. Two things Arsenal have never accomplished 🤣 so i think he's good

[@micah0190]

Fifa Legend For someone who has won so many titles you wouldn’t think he’d make an excuse on why they lost the title, don’t you think?

[@chisengamambwe57]

Yeah...he bottled he’s 5 league titles too you muppet..have some respect for an actual legend of the game

[@chisengamambwe57]

avb6100 you’re not very intelligent

[@86MarcusP]

The Prem' is the Apex of League football, bar none...CR7 have dominated it, Messi come and prove yourself with the Elites 😁

[@Xani41]

What is Apex?

[@henrykasenburg1115]

How people still doubt Messi after everything he did in his career is beyond me. Y’all might as well go ahead and doubt every single player of this generation

[@henrykasenburg1115]

Speedy for real bro it’s just sad at this point

[@sayantandas2403]

This is literally every year in LaLiga smh.

[@glennoconnor1130]

Lol no it isn't. The two top teams had to play last game of the season against EACH OTHER and Arsenal had to go to ANFIELD and win 0-2 which was back then considered impossible. And we scored in the 90th minute to win 0-2. Nothing in any league in any season has come close to this

[@RayJacksonbighmw]

@@glennoconnor1130 ...and also add in the fact that we hadn't won at Anfield in NEARLY 15 YEARS AND had to win by TWO CLEAR GOALS AT THAT!!!

[@niallmaca5670]

Nicol is a fool.

[@googlereviewer1944]

Why the fuck do they constantly have Burley on this show? He adds absolutely nothing except irritating viewers.

[@nel9357]

Last time loserpool won the league , a guy called Noah started work on a really big boat .................⚽.....United forever!

[@jerzydudekvandriyshevchenk1807]

Manure utd lol

[@harvickfan100]

This is the worst “pundit” show in football. Incredibly boring! And the guests have a CV where they played in the Championship or MLS. Like an MLS former player is an authority on absolutely nothing!

[@fineplayer2]

They bottled the Epl already, u leading 7 point now u chasing by 1 points. Man.city will not loose a match, Liverpool will drop points soon.

[@fifalegend6298]

Good joke

[@avb6100]

Exactly. Loserpool fans celebrated the league in December and then right on schedule their bottling team bottled the 7 pt lead. You just love to see it. City are miles better

[@frankjohnson2705]

@@avb6100 clearly you're miles off normal reasoning.

[@avb6100]

@@frankjohnson2705 Not a lie in anything I said. Loserpool fans did celebrate the title. The team did bottle the lead they had over and City are miles better. All facts.

[@eddiepower3876]

@@avb6100 another fact you forgot: Liverpool are going to win the big double this year

[@avb6100]

Same heartbreak is going to happen again to Loserpool bottlers lmaoo

[@jamesmichaels4979]

How old are you foreign fan? Bottlers? .... How?

[@avb6100]

@@jamesmichaels4979 How is surrendering a 7-pt lead isn't bottling lmaooo and foreign fan? Who cares even if I was. Bottling is bottling

[@jamesmichaels4979]

@@avb6100 That is not bottling it. Because Liverpool are still in the run in. Were city bottlers when they fell 7pts behind? When they lost their 4 games? Learn the term before using it.

[@nel9357]

Loserpool not won league for 30 years! = proof they've been bottling it every season............ For 30 years!

[@avb6100]

@@jamesmichaels4979 They have been bottling for years now. It was in their hands before, now they have to hope City drop points for them to even have a chance and City ain't dropping points anymore while you can't guarantee that Flopp and Loserpool won't drop points themselves.

[@jonpowell8503]

Wonder why Liverpool had to play so many games and Arsenal had a break??? Maybe time spent scapegoat hunting