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The name of Michael Thomas was imprinted upon Liverpool's history a
couple of years before his arrival at Anfield in December 1991 for all
the wrong reasons. He was a key member of the Arsenal side which
presented a challenge to The Reds' domination of the game a few years
earlier and the commanding midfielder scored the goal which sealed The
Gunners' dramatic title win at the end of the 1988-89 season with
virtually the last kick of the game. In the process The Reds were pipped
to the title by the narrowest of margins.
By the time Graeme Souness
decided to add him to the Anfield ranks he had dropped out of first team
plans at Highbury but he managed to write himself into folklore for the
right reasons as far as his new club was concerned within six months of
his arrival by notching the opener in the FA Cup final win over
Sunderland. The acrobatic volley rounded off an impressive start to his
Anfield career but an Achilles tendon snap kept him out of the reckoning
for much of the next two and a half seasons. Talented youngsters were
amongst those who took his place in the side and were obstacles which
proved hard to shift but, despite all the transfer rumours, he remained
and took his chance after Jamie Redknapp saw his development subjected
to a lengthy stay on the treatment table.
Many saw him as the perfect
foil to John Barnes as his ability to hold the middle of the park
allowed the winger enough freedom to fuel The Reds attacking ambitions.
Suspension proved another hindrance to his continued presence in the
side as did the acquisition of further players including Paul Ince, who
operated in a similar role to that Thomas had been practising. An
extended loan with Middlesbrough signalled that his days as a Liverpool
player were effectively over but an end to his stay only came when the
man who brought him to Anfield, Grame Souness, signed him for Benfica. (Darren Williams)
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