This game was arguably Crewe’s biggest of the season, as a packed Gresty Road anticipated the skills of some of English football’s most famous faces.
The Alex line up was as follows:
1 Dean Greygoose
2 Gus Wilson
3 David McKearney
4 Darren Carr
5 Aaron Callaghan
6 Steve Walters
7 Craig Hignett
8 Tony Naylor
9 Dale Jasper
10 Mark Gardiner (captain)
11 Rob Edwards
On the bench was a young Neil Sorvel joined by Colin Rose.
Craig Hignett began his career at Liverpool, but failed to make the grade and was keen to show his former employers of his strides forward at Crewe. Tony Naylor joined him in attack.
The Liverpool line-up consisted of two former Alex favourites; Rob Jones was playing at right back for the Reds after his £500,000 transfer to Anfield only three months previously. He made 90 Alex appearances. In goal was the eccentric Zimbabwean Bruce Grobelaar who began his Football League career at Gresty Road in 1979 after moving from Vancouver Whitecaps. The reds also boasted England ace John Barnes, who was making his comeback from a 5-month lay-off.
The game was ultimately depressing for Crewe, as Jan Molby and Barnes exploited the space that inexperienced Alex midfield left for their superior opponents. A young Steve McManaman was the first to beat the ‘original Deano’ - Greygoose - in the fifth minute. However, the young attacking duo of Hignett and Naylor did force ‘Brucie’ into three or four saves before John Barnes cheekily flicked Liverpool two ahead after a Dean Saunders pile driver had ripped through the Crewe defence.
Greygoose had to make two class stops to deny both Mark Walters and then Barnes from adding to the score line, but eventually Steve Nicol’s cross beat Aaron Callaghan in the air and Barnes found it simple to beat Deano from six yards.
Dario immediately brought Colin Rose on for Jasper, and Rose nearly scored after Rob Edwards’ burst beat off Jones and he had a shot at goal. Edwards’ shot was wonderfully saved by Grobelaar, but Rose’s subsequent header somehow went over from only one yard out. Naylor threatened again when he took on Mike Marsh and forced a corner from Grobelaar’s save. Callaghan’s volley across the face of the goal, but the Dubliner was unlucky as it agonisingly flew wide.
Dario Gradi introduced an eighteen year old Neil Sorvel replacing Carr, and the now Alex stalwart cleared a Dean Saunders effort off the line at the Gresty Road end after only a minute of being on.
The Alex really got a hold on the game, and began to match the Liverpool side, with Greygoose denying Barnes his hat trick on numerous occasions, but in the 93rd minute when McKearney brought down Jones, Barnes dispatched the penalty to complete his hat trick.
Man of the match Barnes was clapped off the field by a generous Alex paddock as it ended 0-4. Liverpool went on to win the competition and Crewe finished a creditable sixth in the old Division Four, eventually gaining promotion to the Second Division in 1994 (after the change of format in 1992).
WHERE ARE THEY NOW?
Dean Greygoose: ‘Deano’ currently plays for non-league AFC Sudbury after spells at Kings Lynn, Canvey Island, Efe Sodje’s former club Stevenage Borough, Chester, Altrincham and Northwich Victoria.
Gus Wilson: Eugene 'Gus' Wilson was last known as the captain of Manchester-based non-league side Hyde United, a former club of both Wayne Collins and Colin Little. He had a spell at Runcorn, and has been assistant manager at Radcliffe Borough, Flixton and Winsford in recent years.
David McKearney: Dave left the Alex in 1993 for Wigan after his short spell at Gresty Road, but was sold onto non-league Greater Manchester side Chorley after eighteen months. He now plays for Morecambe, where he’s been for seven years. He is 35 years old.
Darren Carr: Big centre-half Darren is a well-seasoned campaigner, who was bought for £35,000 from Sheffield United aged 22. He made 124 appearances between 1990 and 1993 before leaving for Chesterfield for £30,000. He has since covered the length of the country playing for Brighton, Rotherham, Lincoln, Carlisle, Dover, Rushden and Diamonds and currently Bath City aged 34.
Aaron Callaghan: Dubliner Callaghan moved to Preston North End in 1993 after his spell at Gresty Road. His current whereabouts are unknown!
Steve Walters: Midfielder Walts is currently plying his trade at Rhyl Town in North Wales after playing for Kidsgrove Athletic. He previously had short spells
at Stevenage Borough, Morecambe and Northwich Victoria. He is still only 31 years old and Kidsgrove paid £10,000 for 
his services.
Craig Hignett: The most famous of the starting eleven. Likeable scouser Craig has gone onto grace the Premiership with Middlesbrough, Barnsley and Blackburn Rovers, as well as representing Aberdeen in the Scottish Premier League. He was loaned out from Rovers to Gary McAllister’s Coventry City at the end of last season. His four-year spell at Crewe Alexandra saw him score 57 goals in 160 games was his most successful part of his career, before securing a £500,000 move to Middlesbrough in November 1992. He is currently in the process of a move to Leicester City from Blackburn Rovers. Many Crewe fans consider him as one of the clubs' greatest strikers, including me.
Dale Jasper: I know very little about the whereabouts of Dale Jasper. If you have any information on him, e-mail me here.
Tony Naylor: Naylor was a small, pacy forward who Dario Gradi plucked from
the non-league obscurity of Droylsden for a bargain £20,000 in March 1990. He
went on to score 66 goals in 152 games in his four-year stay at Gresty Road. Near neighbours Port Vale paid £150,000 in 1994, where he went on to score 90 in 152 matches. In 2001 he joined Cheltenham, but after scoring 26 goals, the 36 year old was left jobless this summer and is looking for a new club.
Mark Gardiner: Captain Gardiner has done the local rounds after his Crewe exit in 1995. He joined Chester City, but after only fifteen days at the Deva Stadium, he joined fellow Cheshire side Macclesfield Town. He went on to play for Northwich Victoria and currently plays for Nantwich Town, previously playing for Staffordshire non-league side Leek Town, aged 36. He played against the Alex last Friday in the 6-0 friendly win.
Rob Edwards: Edwards signed professional papers, after coming through the youth ranks, in 1988 and was the last Alex player to score fifty goals before Rob Hulse. His six-year Alex stay saw him score a total of 58 Crewe goals in 140 games as a striker-cum-attacking midfielder. He joined Yorkshire side Huddersfield Town for £150,000 in March 1996, where he was converted into a central defender. A three year spell at Chesterfield between
2000 and now preceded his return to the Alfred McAlpine Stadium, which he made two weeks ago. He’s still a defender and he’s 33 years of age.
Colin Rose: Colin was born in nearby Winsford, and was at Gresty Road for a period in the late 80s-early 90s. He played for Unibond League outfit Witton Albion last season, but a cartilage injury is expected to end his once promising career. He represented England youth, and also played for Macclesfield Town for eight months in the 1997-98 season alongside Neil Sorvel. He played for Gateshead for a spell as well as Northwich Victoria and Winsford Town. He is still only 31and starred for Witton Albion against Colchester at Wembley in the FA Trophy a few years ago.