PAST PLAYER PROFILE - Neil Mellor

Neil Mellor: Striker 2002-2006

Date of Birth: 4/11/1982
Birthplace: Sheffield
Debut : v Ipswich Town. 4th December 2002
1st team games: 21
1st team goals: 6





PROFILE

A product of the Liverpool Academy Neil Mellor will always be remembered by Liverpool fans for the vital part he played in helping the Reds beat Olympiacos in a vital Champions League clash at Anfield in 2004, and a last minute winner at the Kop end against Arsenal.

Mellor came off the bench to score and then set up Steven Gerrard for the never to be forgotten winner that saw Liverpool go on to win the Champions League in Istanbul.

Mellor had a phenomenal scoring run in the youth and reserve teams and when he got a first team chance he didn't let anyone down. Unfortunately after his heroics against Olympiacos injury was just around the corner and he spent almost the whole of 2005 on the sidelines after having a double knee operation to cure tendonitis.

To say the injury came at a bad time for the striker was an understatement. However his vital goals and contribution were recognised by the fans when he was voted in at number 90 in our highly acclaimed 100 Players Who Shook the Kop series.

Before he got his first team chance Mellor's scoring record was something else. In 2000-2001 he hit 56 goals in all competitions for the reserve and youth team and scored eight goals in four games during Liverpool's run to the FA Youth Cup semi-final. Then the following season he scored 20 goals for the reserves, made his first team debut and scored his first senior goal against Sheffield United in the Worthington Cup semi-final.

After scoring twice in a pre-season friendly his scoring record prompted then manager Gerard Houllier to label him a "goal machine" before the next day he sent him on loan to West Ham. After an injury hit spell at Upton Park Mellor returned to score 10 goals in four reserve team appearances. It was under Rafael Benitez that Mellor was given his chance and in the Spaniard's first season at Anfield the Sheffield born striker certainly left a lasting impression in front of goal.

Mellor left Liverpool in August 2006 when he joined Championship side Preston North End.