Stephen Warnock names his greatest goal and the manager who changed his mind completely
- Peter Kenny Jones
- May 11
- 3 min read
Stephen Warnock’s best goal was never really about the finish, it was about where it happened.
The former Liverpool defender scored just once for the club, but for a boyhood Red who grew up standing on the Kop, that late strike in a 5-1 win over Fulham in March 2006 remains the one that means more than any other.
Speaking exclusively to The Football Historian on behalf of BetWright who provide Premier League Odds, Warnock was asked to name the greatest goal of his career and immediately pointed back to Anfield.
Stephen Warnock explains why Liverpool goal against Fulham meant everything
Warnock’s goal came in the final minute against Fulham, after Robbie Fowler, Fernando Morientes and Peter Crouch had already found the net, with Michael Brown also scoring an own goal.
For some, it may have been the fifth goal in a comfortable home win.
For Warnock, it was the moment he had dreamed about long before becoming a professional footballer.
He said: “It was probably the goal in front of the Kop, against Fulham, purely because, growing up as a Liverpool fan and standing on the Kop, it was always a dream to score in front of the Kop.
“Whether it was a two-yard tap-in or a 30-yard screamer, it wouldn’t have mattered.
“When I scored that goal, if you’ve ever seen it, you’ll see the delight in my face.
“That meant everything to me, just to be able to say that I scored for Liverpool in front of the Kop. It was a huge moment.
“I’ve probably scored more important goals, but none more important to me than that, because of what it meant growing up as a Liverpool fan.”
Warnock had come off the bench late on, replacing Harry Kewell in the 88th minute, before driving home Liverpool’s fifth.
Robbie Fowler’s goal that day also carried emotion, as it was his first since returning to Anfield, but for Warnock, the night became personal history.
One goal for Liverpool, one goal at the Kop end and one celebration that told the full story.
Stephen Warnock reveals why Sam Allardyce was the best manager he played under
Warnock also gave a perhaps unexpected answer when asked to name the best manager he played under.
Rather than choosing Rafa Benitez, Martin O’Neill or another high-profile figure from his career, the former left-back selected Sam Allardyce.
Warnock worked under Allardyce at Blackburn Rovers, where he had joined from Liverpool in January 2007.
He admitted his first reaction to Allardyce’s arrival was not positive, mainly because of the reputation that followed him.
Warnock said: “This will probably surprise a few, or probably annoy a few, but Sam Allardyce.
“I remember when Sam joined Blackburn, I was really against it, if I’m being completely honest, because I was probably the same as everyone else. I thought long-ball mentality, direct style of football — and it was anything but that.
“It was well thought out, it was well structured. There were no chances in the back third, but you could go and express yourself in the final third.”
What stood out most, though, was Allardyce’s ability to handle players psychologically.
Warnock added: “The one thing that Sam had over most managers was a man-management style like no other.
“He could make you feel on top of the world. He could make a defeat feel like a positive when you went into the next game, that you’d done things well in the previous game and that the game was so close to being the other way.
“Psychologically, he was streets ahead of all the managers.”
Warnock went on to say that Allardyce’s work on the training ground and in meetings gave players belief even before facing the best sides in the division.
He said: “The feeling he gave around the training ground was just incredible.
“The level of detail that went into meetings, and the way he held the meeting, made you feel walking out onto the pitch that even if you were playing top of the league, you felt you could get a result.
“You believed in what he was asking you to do. So yeah, I’d go with Sam.”
It is not the most obvious answer, but that is probably what makes it interesting.
Warnock’s greatest goal came from emotion and his best manager answer came from experience.
And both say plenty about a career shaped by Liverpool, Blackburn and the managers who left a mark.
Comments