The 1996–97 season was encouraging but ultimately frustrating for Liverpool under Roy Evans. The team, dubbed the “Spice Boys,” played exciting, attacking football and spent much of the campaign challenging for the Premier League title. Led by Robbie Fowler, Stan Collymore, and Steve McManaman, Liverpool scored heavily, with Fowler netting 18 league goals. However, inconsistency and defensive lapses cost them, and they eventually finished 4th, seven points behind champions Manchester United. In the FA Cup, Liverpool were knocked out in the fourth round by Chelsea, and they fell early in the League Cup. It was a season of unfulfilled promise.
