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.

PAST PLAYER PROFILE - John Welsh

John Welsh. : Midfield 2003-2005


Date of Birth: 10th January 1984
Birthplace: Liverpool
1st team games: 10
1st team goals: 0





PROFILE
England Under-21 international John Welsh completed a move to Hull City on the first day of 2006 in a swap deal that saw winger Paul Anderson arrive at Liverpool.
A boyhood Liverpudlian who hails from Childwall, Welsh came through the Academy having joined Liverpool at the age of 10.

Welsh made his first team debut as a second half replacement for Vladimir Smicer in a Worthington Cup fourth round tie at home to Ipswich in 2003. He then made his Premiership debut for the Reds as a substitute in the 2-1 Anfield defeat by Arsenal but made just one more appearance for the first team in 2003/04, despite previous manager Gerard Houllier insisting he would play at least 15 games.

A former captain of the Liverpool Reserve team Welsh made seven appearances in the 2004/05 season under the management of Rafael Benitez before he made the move to Hull after an initial successful loan spell.

PAST PLAYER PROFILE - Stephen Wright

Stephen Wright : Defender
Date of Birth: 08/02/1980
Birthplace: Liverpool
Debut : 29 November 2000 v Stoke City (a) (Worthington Cup) won 8-0.
1st team games: 21
1st team goals: 1
Other clubs: Trainee
International caps while with Liverpool: 9 (England U-21)
International goals while with Liverpool: 1
Honours with Liverpool: -

PROFILE
Talented defender Stephen Wright worked his way through the ranks at Anfield and finally made his Liverpool debut in the 8-0 Worthington Cup record victory against Stoke City in November 2000. Wright came on as a half time replacement for Markus Babbel at right back and played his part in the Reds record away victory.

His desire to break into the Reds first team was whetted following a successful spell on loan to Division One side Crewe Alexandra during the 1999/2000 season. Although sidelined early on with damaged ankle ligaments, Wright returned to the Gresty Road outfit following a rehabilitation programme back at Liverpool's Melwood training complex, and went on to gain a valuable taste of first team experience.

Wright made his Premiership debut as a substitute for the injured Markus Babbel in the 3-0 win over West Ham United at Anfield in February 2001. He made a good impression too, helping set up the second goal for Robbie Fowler, and he is fast establishing himself as a regular member of the current first team squad.

He made his first start in the Premiership for Liverpool at Filbert Street in the 4-1 win at Leicester on October 20th, 2001. His first goal arrived for the Reds at Anfield in front of the Kop in the 2-0 Champions League win over Borussia Dortmund.

A bright future at Anfield seemingly beckoned for Wright but with no guarantee of first team football Gerard Houllier accepted a bid from Sunderland for him in August 2002.