‘I became an all-time great at Liverpool – but I still have one career regret’

Robbie Fowler has opened up connected his footballing vocation and departure from Liverpool but insisted determination is 1 happening that inactive bugs him to this day.

Despite increasing up arsenic an Everton fan, Fowler joined the Reds’ academy astatine the property of 11 and went connected to marque his debut for the nine 7 years aboriginal successful a League Cup triumph against Fulham.

And the striker soon made headlines successful the 2nd limb of the cupful necktie a fortnight later, scoring each 5 goals successful his side’s 5-0 triumph astatine Anfield.

From there, Fowler blossomed into 1 of England’s astir earthy finishers of the mid-to-late 1990s, mounting records arsenic helium scored 30-plus goals successful his archetypal 3 afloat seasons successful England.

But contempt his proficiency successful beforehand of goal, Fowler saw his power astatine Liverpool wane erstwhile Gerard Houllier joined Liverpool arsenic associated manager in July 1998.

By the 2000-01 season, the Englishman had been relegated to 3rd choice, with Houllier preferring the concern of Emile Heskey and Michael Owen to pb the enactment for the Reds.

Despite his presumption with the fans, the deficiency of crippled clip yet led Fowler to question the exit, with the striker joining Leeds United successful December of the pursuing campaign.

Reflecting backmost connected his archetypal departure from Liverpool, Fowler said helium would perpetually reason with Houlier astir his deficiency of crippled clip but doesn’t resent the Frenchman for his decisions.

‘It wasn’t hard but erstwhile I’m not playing, I’ll beryllium honest, I wasn’t the nicest antheral successful the world,’ helium told BetMGM’s The LineUp.

‘I utilized to deliberation I should beryllium playing. When you’re not playing, I don’t privation to beryllium sitting determination with a large grin connected my look – I’m upset and distraught that I’m not playing.

‘I wanted to bid each time but with that carrot that astatine the extremity of the week, I get to play and people goals and I ne'er got the accidental to bash that arsenic overmuch arsenic I would person liked nether Gerad Houllier.

‘He wanted to bring successful his ain methods and mode of playing. I fell retired with him each azygous time and I volition ne'er ever apologise for that due to the fact that I wanted to play. That doesn’t maine I disliked Houllier.’

Two seasons astatine Elland Road and 4 years with Manchester City followed earlier Fowler returned to Anfield for 2 further seasons towards the extremity of his career.

But injuries and a deficiency of signifier meant Fowler failed to deed the heights of his early-career exploits, lone doubly scoring much than 10 league goals successful a azygous play pursuing his archetypal exit from Liverpool successful 2001.

Despite that, Fowler’s grounds of 163 goals successful 379 appearances means lone 8 players person scored much than him successful Premier League history.

But having burned truthful agleam successful the aboriginal information of his career, Fowler is inactive near resenting the injuries and signifier which outgo him a higher spot successful the grounds books.

‘I’m ninth connected the all-time database and that’s what I truly regret due to the fact that I should beryllium higher,’ helium added.

‘When I deliberation of my career, I scored tons of goals astatine the commencement – 30 goals successful each of my archetypal 3 afloat seasons – but I ne'er realised until aft I finished however overmuch injuries played a large part.

‘I had hip, knee, and ankle operations, I suffered with my back, and it decently pains maine to deliberation that I wasn’t the aforesaid subordinate arsenic I was astatine the commencement of my career.

‘I inactive wanted to play and people goals, I believed I inactive would person scored goals if I played arsenic galore games. That astir apt hurts maine much than thing that I’m not higher connected that database due to the fact that I should be.’

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