Players - Michael Thomas

Michael Thomas
Birthdate: 24 August 1967
Birthplace: Lambeth, England
Other clubs: Arsenal (1982-91), Portsmouth (loan 1986-87), Middlesbrough (loan 1998), Benfica (1998-2000), Wimbledon (2000-01)
Signed from: Arsenal
Signed for LFC: £1.5m, 13.12.1991
International debut: 16.11.1988 vs. Saudi Arabia
International caps: 2/0 - 13.12.1989
Liverpool debut: 18.12.1991
Last appearance: 10.05.1998
Debut goal: 18.01.1992
Last goal: 13.09.1997
Contract expiry: 01.08.1998
Win ratio: 50.31% W:82 D:41 L:40
Games/assists ratio: 18.11
Honours: FA Cup 1992; League Cup 1995
Total games/goals opposite LFC: 16 / 1
League games / goals / assists: 124 / 9 / 6
Total games / goals / assists: 163 / 12 / 9

Player Profile

Many Liverpool fans got the shock of a lifetime when the Arsenal player who ruined the club's title dreams in the most dramatic fashion in May 1989 joined the Reds. If ever you wanted to run on to Anfield and rugby-tackle somebody as a last resort it was when Thomas slipped past the Liverpool defence in the very last minute to secure the League Championship for the Gunners. It was certainly a dream come true for Thomas who had joined the club as a schoolboy in 1982 and had gone on to forge a tremendous career. Thomas made some amends though when he scored a fantastic goal for Liverpool in the 2-0 win over Sunderland in the FA Cup final at the end of his first season. Souness liked his versatility as Thomas was able to play as a right-back, centre-half or a midfielder. Thomas snapped his Achilles tendon in January 1993 and was effectively out for a season and a half. His Liverpool career took off again in the 1995/96 season, now under the management of Roy Evans, when he displayed his box-to-box athleticism and played a holding role in midfield allowing Barnes the freedom to attack. Thomas rejoined Souness at Benfica in 1998.
Appearances per season
Season League FA LC Europe Other Total
Totals 124 17 10 12 0 163
1991-1992 17 5 0 0 0 22
1992-1993 8 2 1 2 0 13
1993-1994 7 0 0 0 0 7
1994-1995 23 3 3 0 0 29
1995-1996 27 6 1 3 0 37
1996-1997 31 1 4 6 0 42
1997-1998 11 0 1 1 0 13
A more detailed look at the player's appearances
Apps Minutes Opponent
11 622 Arsenal
10 641 Tottenham
9 583 Manchester United
7 625 Aston Villa
7 558 Wimbledon
7 502 Leeds United
7 410 Everton
6 520 West Ham United
6 470 Chelsea
6 458 Blackburn Rovers
6 457 Sheffield Wednesday
5 377 Nottingham Forest
5 353 Sheffield United
5 352 Middlesbrough
5 351 Leicester City
4 298 Coventry City
4 297 Sunderland
4 283 Southampton
3 270 Charlton Athletic
3 270 Manchester City
3 246 QPR
3 211 Derby
3 204 Burnley
3 183 Crystal Palace
3 123 Newcastle United
2 210 Portsmouth
2 180 Norwich City
2 180 Spartak Moscow
2 180 Spartak Vladi.
2 180 Mypa 47
2 180 Sion
2 134 Paris St Germain
2 105 Bolton Wanderers
2 94 Oldham Athletic
1 90 Luton Town
1 90 Ipswich Town
1 90 WBA
1 90 Celtic
1 90 Birmingham City
1 90 Notts County
1 90 Crewe
1 90 Rochdale
1 90 Shrewsbury Town
1 7 Brøndby
Total Started/substitutions
128 Started
28 On the bench
35 Substitute
14 Substituted
Total Venue
81 Away
78 Home
4 Neutral
Total Competition
107 Premier League
17 League
17 FA Cup
10 League Cup
8 European Cup Winners Cup
4 UEFA Cup
Total W D L Win % Manager
127 66 32 29 52% Roy Evans
36 16 9 11 44.4% Graeme Souness
Goals per season
Season League FA LC Europe Other Total
Totals 9 2 1 0 0 12
1991-1992 3 2 0 0 0 5
1992-1993 1 0 0 0 0 1
1993-1994 0 0 0 0 0 0
1994-1995 0 0 0 0 0 0
1995-1996 1 0 1 0 0 2
1996-1997 3 0 0 0 0 3
1997-1998 1 0 0 0 0 1
A more detailed look at the player's goalscoring
Total Started/substitutions
11 Started
1 Substitute
Total Competition
6 Premier League
3 League
2 FA Cup
1 League Cup
Total Goal minute period
3 1-15 minutes
1 31-45 minutes
2 46-60 minutes
6 61-75 minutes
Total Goal origin
12 Open play
Assists per season
Season League FA LC Europe Other Total
Totals 6 3 0 0 0 9
1991-1992 1 1 0 0 0 2
1992-1993 2 0 0 0 0 2
1993-1994 0 0 0 0 0 0
1994-1995 1 0 0 0 0 1
1995-1996 1 2 0 0 0 3
1996-1997 0 0 0 0 0 0
1997-1998 1 0 0 0 0 1
A more detailed look at the player's assists
Milestone Appearances
# Date Against Stadium Competition
1 18.12.1991 Tottenham White Hart Lane League
50 18.12.1994 Chelsea Stamford Bridge League
100 16.03.1996 Chelsea Anfield League
150 11.05.1997 Sheffield Wednesday Hillsborough League
Milestone Goals
# Minute Date Against Stadium Competition
1 73 18.01.1992 Oldham Athletic Boundary Park League
Related Articles
Thomas gives Sunderland Roker Choker

Press Association report on Liverpool 2 - 0 Sunderland on 20 September 1995.

That's the best yet, says boss

Match report from British Soccer Week on Liverpool - Nottingham Forest on 14.12.1991.

Michael Thomas - So tell us about that goal...

LFChistory interviewed Michael Thomas. He scored an infamous goal for Arsenal against Liverpool in 1989 but later delivered for Liverpool.

Scrapbook
Michael Thomas on the cover of Shoot! 16 May 1992
Michael Thomas on the cover of Shoot! 16 May 1992
Michael Thomas on the cover of Shoot! 2 June 1989
Michael Thomas on the cover of Shoot! 2 June 1989
Michael Thomas on the cover of Shoot! 9 May 1992
Michael Thomas on the cover of Shoot! 9 May 1992
Thomas the Arsenal hero
Thomas the Arsenal hero
Thomas wants to leave - from LFC matchday magazine 1995/96
Thomas wants to leave - from LFC matchday magazine 1995/96
Other Clubs
Club Season Club rank League apps League goals Total apps Total goals
Arsenal 1986-1987 England First Division 11 0 17 0
Portsmouth 1986-1987 England Second Division 3 0 3 0
Arsenal 1987-1988 England First Division 37 9 46 11
Arsenal 1988-1989 England First Division 37 9 44 9
Arsenal 1989-1990 England First Division 36 5 43 8
Arsenal 1990-1991 England First Division 31 2 41 3
Arsenal 1991-1992 England First Division 10 1 15 1
Middlesbrough 1997-1998 England First Division 10 0 10 0
Benfica 1998-1999 Portugal 1 18 1 24 1
Wimbledon 2000-2001 England First Division 8 0 9 0
Total 201 27 252 33