10 Magical Robbie Fowler Moments for Liverpool at Anfield

Robbie Fowler turns 40 on April 9, and the legendary Liverpool striker reaches another milestone in what has been a lifetime of achievements—many of which came at the Reds' home, Anfield.

Fowler scored 183 goals in 369 games for the club over two spells and represents one of the Premier League's finest goalscorers.

But how did Fowler make his mark on Merseyside?

Here are 10 magical Fowler moments at Anfield, listed in chronological order, including some sensational strikes and a host of emotional receptions.

Putting 5 Past Fulham

After making his Liverpool debut in a League Cup first-leg clash away to Fulham in 1993, Fowler achieved a remarkable goalscoring feat in his first Anfield bow in the return fixture.

Fowler scored all five goals in the Reds' 5-0 victory over the Cottagers, including a perfect hat-trick, consisting of a left-footed, a right-footed and a headed goal. 

For a player so young, at just 18 years old, Fowler boasted intelligent movement and exceptional finishing.

At Anfield that night, in front of a crowd of just 12,541, Fowler announced himself as one of the club's most promising young talents in many years.

The 4-Minute Hat-Trick

Five goals in the League Cup was a sensational achievement for Fowler, but the striker would go on to top this with a hat-trick in just four minutes and 33 seconds in a Premier League victory over Arsenal at Anfield.

Latching on to a Martin Keown error for a simple tap-in for his opener, Fowler rounded off his trio with a drilled effort from near the edge of the box after some fine off-the-shoulder movement and then a reward of persistence for his third on the rebound.

The hat-trick was recalled by The Guardian's Sachin Nakrani last year: "On 28 August 1994, Liverpool not only beat Arsenal 3-0 via a first-half blitz, but history was made and God was born."

It was clear that Liverpool had a devastating goalscorer on their hands.

Fowler's record for the fastest Premier League hat-trick still remains untouched, over 20 years on.

A Phenomenal Strike Against Aston Villa

Fowler is widely renowned as a fearsome poacher, but the striker scored a plethora of different goals during his time for Liverpool.

One of his very best came in a 3-0 win over Aston Villa in 1996.

Leaving Reds defender-to-be Steve Staunton behind for a clever flicked turn, Fowler fired a 25-yard strike beyond the reach of goalkeeper Mark Bosnich.

That victory put Liverpool on their way towards a fourth-placed finish in the Premier League, with Villa ending the 1996/97 season just seven points behind the Reds in fifth.

Scoring 2 in the Premier League's Greatest Game

Still regarded as one of the very best games in the Premier League's history, Liverpool's 4-3 Anfield win over Newcastle United was helped by a Fowler brace.

The striker opened the scoring after just two minutes by heading in a Stan Collymore cross, before bringing the game back to 2-2 on 55 minutes, kicking off a flurry of strikes including an exceptional conversion from Faustino Asprilla.

Collymore won the three points for Liverpool and rounded off his own double with a dramatic late winner after some great work by John Barnes and Ian Rush.

Then-Reds manager Roy Evans claimed after the game, as relayed by The Independent, that: "To be fair, it was kamikaze defending. Managers would be dead within six months if every game was like that."

Reaching His Liverpool Century

On leaving Liverpool for the second time in May 1996, fellow Reds striking legend Rush produced a glowing testimony to Fowler's talents, as reported by The Independent.

"I leave Liverpool in good hands," Rush claimed. "Robbie will probably eclipse all that I achieved at Liverpool."

Rush had scored 346 goals in 660 games for Liverpool, so Fowler didn't quite manage to surpass his tally—but Rush's successor did break one of his Reds records by reaching 100 goals for the club in a 5-1 victory over Middlesbrough at Anfield in December of 1996.

Fowler's four-goal haul ensured that he reached his Liverpool century just one game quicker than Rush had.

Supporting the Liverpool Dockers

Michael Cooper/Getty Images

Largely revered for his goalscoring heroics, Fowler was also idolised by the Anfield faithful for his affinity as a local lad, and this was confirmed with a gesture of solidarity in 1997.

Following an ugly dispute involving a group of loyal Liverpool dockers and the Mersey Docks and Harbour Company beginning in 1995, Fowler joined a host of high-profile names in showing their support for the men that refused to cross the picket line upheld by fellow industry workers.

After scoring a goal in Liverpool's 3-0 victory at home to SK Brann in a UEFA Cup Winners' Cup clash, Fowler lifted his shirt to reveal a T-shirt supporting the dockers' cause.

The striker was reprimanded and fined £900 by UEFA, The Independent reported, with the publication adding: "Its imposition further strengthens Fowler's new status as a man of conscience."

Fowler's bond with the city of Liverpool was reinforced.

His 2006 Return

Christopher Furlong/Getty Images

The end of Fowler's first spell was a disappointing one, with the striker substituted at half-time in a 1-0 victory over Sunderland in what was his last appearance before he left for Leeds United in a £12 million deal in 2001.

Fowler's return, however, placated this disappointment.

Revealed alongside manager Rafa Benitez in a low-key event at Anfield after rejoining the club on a free transfer from Manchester City in January 2006, Fowler revealed his joy, as reported by BBC Sport.

"Leaving was probably one of my biggest regrets I have had in football," Fowler said. "I'm chuffed to bits. I mean, I can't really believe it's happened again so I'm ecstatic to be honest."

Fowler returned to a standing ovation in his first appearance back, in a 1-1 draw at home to Birmingham City.

Final Appearance, Captain and a Standing Ovation

Phil Cole/Getty Images

After suffering the disappointment of a half-time substitution in the last appearance of his first spell in Liverpool red, Benitez awarded Fowler a more fitting farewell in his final league game for the Reds against Charlton Athletic at Anfield in 2007.

Fowler was withdrawn on 88 minutes to a rapturous reception from many present at the game, including some Charlton players, before a late Harry Kewell penalty earned a 2-2 draw for Liverpool.

After the game, Benitez told BBC Sport that: "We wanted to pay tribute to Robbie and the supporters were fantastic as they always are.

"It was really good for a legend like him to say goodbye in front of the supporters. It was important to give him this opportunity."

Back in Cardiff Blue

Alex Livesey/Getty Images

After leaving Liverpool once again in 2007, Fowler joined Championship side Cardiff City on a free transfer.

Cardiff's 4-2 victory, aided by a Fowler brace, over West Bromwich Albion in the League Cup set up a dream clash for the striker away to Liverpool in the fourth round.

Though he wasn't in a Liverpool shirt, Fowler's return was lauded by the entire stadium, with many Reds supporters even urging the striker to score against their own side.

Steven Gerrard's Testimonial

Clive Brunskill/Getty Images

Another return?

After Fowler's dream arrival back at Anfield as a Liverpool player in 2006, and his unofficial retirement in 2012, the legendary striker made one more appearance in a Reds shirt at Anfield as part of Steven Gerrard's testimonial game against Olympiakos in 2013.

Introduced by Brendan Rodgers in the 73rd minute, Fowler was once again celebrated on Merseyside.

Fowler lined up alongside then-Reds striker Luis Suarez, but the two Anfield favourites failed to truly connect—perhaps largely down to Fowler's waning fitness.

Ahead of the game Rodgers told the club's official website of his pleasure of welcoming back Fowler, along with the recently retired Jamie Carragher, claiming: "Two great legends of the football club I'll welcome with open arms. They trained this morning and Carra looks like he's never been away. Robbie looks like he has been away!"

It was Gerrard's day, but Fowler received the biggest ovation.

Statistics via LFCHistory.net and LiverpoolFC.com.

Follow @jacklusby