Fowler under Evans

"When Roy Evans left Liverpool, it was easy to do him down... because that made the job of his successor so much simpler. If you portray the previous regime as a disaster that will take years to sort out, then it buys you time. "If there was a fault with our mentality it was that we always wanted to win in style, always looked to play exciting, attacking football. When it came off, believe me, we were the best team in the Premiership by a mile.

"We made mistakes but it was a learning process. Arsenal and Manchester United were wilder than us. They got away with it because they won.

"Under Roy Evans, Liverpool came fourth, third, fourth, and third in the Premiership, won the Carling Cup, got to the FA Cup Final and European Cup Winners' Cup semi. We also played some of the best football in the club's history at times, even though we were rubbish at other times.

"For me, the problem wasn't discipline or the manager not being tough enough, it was simply the board didn't back Roy Evans. They gave Houllier £140m and Roy a fraction of that.

"In particular, I remember two strikers he was trying to buy that he thought would complement me when it became clear Stan Collymore wasn't the answer.

"Teddy Sheringham was one when he was looking to leave Spurs, but the board said they couldn't spend money on such an old player. Manchester United weren't so short-sighted.

"I would have end to have Teddy providing service for me. There was also Jari Litmanen, but again the board didn't back the manager properly. He got a better offer from Barcelona.

"The same happened with Marcel Desailly when he had to choose between Liverpool and Chelsea. And Lilian Thuram. They wouldn't let Roy buy Dion Dublin, Jaap Stam or Matt Elliott either. Even Emile Heskey had to wait for Houllier to arrive before the money was put up, which had been agreed when Roy was manager.

"I can also remember Roy approached Juninho. But there wasn't the money to make it happen. If the gaffer had been able to get a couple of those players, then we could have converted some of those top-four placings into Premiership triumphs."

Evans' time was up by November 1998. Fowler's medal collection grew under the leadership of his successor, but it's clear his fondest memories are from the period between 1994-97.

"Don't get me wrong, things happened and they shouldn't have," he says. "But don't give me the Spice Boy bo***cks. I scored 30 goals every year for Roy Evans. Only Rushie and Roger Hunt have done that for Liverpool.

"I look back now and see how close we were to becoming a truly great side. The fact it didn't happen is a real regret. I could have been more professional, followed a better diet, drunk less, stayed out of trouble. But would that have made me a better player?

"I scored 30 goals in each of my first three full seasons. I won awards, caps, finished top of the scoring lists, all that stuff that when you trot it out makes you sound big-headed. I know I was a bit cocky, but I honestly don't believe I really let the manager down."