On This Day: Robbie Fowler makes Liverpool debut

One of a number of traditions throughout the years, Liverpool have made a habit of having their attack spearheaded by a clinical centre-forward.

Currently, Ian Rush's 346 strikes for the Reds means that he is top of the club's goalscoring chart, trailed by Roger Hunt, Gordon Hodgson and Billy Liddell. After that trio, with 183 goals to his name, comes the player that made his Liverpool debut in a League Cup tie away at Fulham 21 years ago today.

With a reputation as a striker that thrived on scoring goals at youth level for both club and country, there was much excitement when Robbie Fowler was included in the senior side's starting lineup for the first time by Graeme Souness at Craven Cottage.

Aged 18, Fowler was often heavily involved in proceedings as goals from Rush and Nigel Clough put the away team in the ascendancy before the break.

Then, after the restart, the Football League hosts reduced the deficit through midfielder Udo Onwere, who found the back of the net from inside the area.

The defining moment, though, would belong to debutant Fowler as he gave the travelling supporters a taste of what was to come in five minutes time. Don Hutchinson sent over a cross towards the back post for the youngster and instead of controlling the ball, he sent an instant left-footed volley beyond the reach of home goalkeeper Jim Stannard and into the top corner of the net.

Speaking about Fowler's impact after the final whistle, Souness said: "We will do our best to make sure his life does not change one bit, I do not want to go overboard about him, but I think he's going to be very special."

Meanwhile, his teammate Neil Ruddock added: "I haven't seen much of him, to be honest. He trained with us for the last week and he looks a great prospect. He's getting better all the time and he's learning, so he will be a good player."

Fowler would go on to become a regular fixture in the Liverpool side over the remainder of the 1993-94 campaign, during which he scored 18 goals in all competitions. Five of those would come the week after his debut in the second leg of the tie against Fulham.

FULHAM: Stannard; Jupp, Thomas, Eckhardt, Morgan; Pike, Ferney, Onwere (Farrell), Halls; Brazil, Baah

LIVERPOOL: Grobbelaar; Dicks, Wright, Ruddock, Jones; Stewart, Redknapp (McManaman), Clough, Hutchinson; Rush, Fowler