In brief
In 2003, Jamie Carragher almost took revenge on Neill for the vicious challenge.
Neill was banned, and Carragher missed six months of action because of a leg injury.
Carragher’s revenge scheme was thwarted in large part by a former Liverpool coach.
The notion that having a calm disposition is a requirement for employment with Sky Sports is completely untrue. Roy Keane established himself as one of the toughest, most unyielding players to ever set foot on a football ground, Jamie Carragher has never shied away from controversy, and Graeme Souness frequently caused a stir with his straightforward, traditional mindset.
The horrifying 2018 spitting incident in which the former Liverpool defender spat against a taunting supporter is the most notorious of his many headline-grabbing outbursts. Long before then, though, Carragher’s fiery nature was apparent. He reacted to provocation by throwing a coin into the crowd during a heated FA Cup match against Arsenal at Highbury in 2002, which led to his red card and much criticism. However, his career might have taken an even more dire turn if events had transpired differently the following year.
Carragher was sidelined for six months after Lucas Neill broke his right leg during a league game against Blackburn Rovers. He was so angry that he considered taking retribution. In retrospect, Carragher can be thankful that his plan never came to pass because if it had, he might have found himself on our screens for all the wrong reasons.
Lucas Neill’s Brutal Leg-Breaker on Carragher in 2003
When it comes to straight red cards, this one was as clear-cut as they come
When Liverpool and Blackburn Rovers were tied 1-1 at Ewood Park in the 17th minute, Neill was sent off for a vicious high-lunge on Carragher that was perhaps too naughty for today’s camera teams to replay. View the incident below:
Lucas Neill's leg breaking tackle on Jamie Carragher during Liverpool's 3 – 1 win over #BlackburnRovers at #EwoodPark on 13th September 2003.@Carra23 pic.twitter.com/COltmHeHME
— Football Past & Present (@FootballPastPr1) May 10, 2022
Milan Baros of Liverpool was going to be joined on the treatment table after being substituted out after only six minutes due to a broken ankle. However, Carragher wouldn’t know the full degree of his injury until a day later. He first tried to play despite the discomfort, but Liverpool persisted and won the 2003 Premier League match 3-1. He was determined to keep going.
Carragher wasn’t treated until the following morning because the club medics were concentrating on Baros. “Everyone is saying, ‘Oh, you’re lucky it was a terrible tackle,’ while I’m on crutches on the coach.” In 2025, the defender remarked, “My leg felt like it had a heartbeat in it when I got home that night” (see the video at 30:50 below).
“After ten seconds of looking at me, our doctor informed me that I had broken my leg when I initially met him the following morning. It wasn’t until the next day that I realised I had broken my leg.
In the aftermath, manager Gerard Houllier was furious and publicly criticised Blackburn manager Souness and Neill for their seeming indifference to the harsh challenge. The Frenchman told the Liverpool Echo two days later:
“I wish Graeme Souness had approached me after the game and apologised for the poor tackle. However, he took no action. I was genuinely enraged by that. Although I consider myself to be a good guy, their actions during the event, the game, and the post-game period have really disappointed me.
Carragher was out of action for six months, the longest period of time in his career, while Neill was given a three-match suspension for his expulsion. He would go on to play 737 games for the Reds between 1996 and 2013, making him the team’s highest appearance-maker in the Premier League era.
How Carragher Had Planned To Seek Retribution
Things could have taken a very dark turn
Though he refrained from expressing regret for the tackle, Neill made a type of remark. “I feel very sorry for Jamie, and it is very sad,” he remarked. Nobody like hearing about a player getting hurt, especially if it’s a long-term injury, but I just went to play the ball with no intention whatsoever.
“I went in tough and was committed, so I can’t really apologise for the tackle. Part of my game is being aggressive and dedicated, but I play it fairly. I hope to visit Jamie and shake his hand at some point, and I send my best wishes for a quick recovery…”
Carragher’s thirst for vengeance must have been heightened by Neill’s failure to offer an apology. He detailed how close he was to implementing his payback scheme in his 2008 autobiography. “My mates were ready to hunt him down if I gave the go-ahead,” Carragher clarified. A few weeks after that, I got a call. “Jay, you won’t believe this.” Lucas Neill is approaching us directly while we are in the Trafford Centre. What do you think?
Was it really my intention for Neill to try? “There’s just one issue,” the voice continued. “He is accompanied by Little Davey Thommo.” That was it. It would be impossible for me to let David Thompson, one of my closest friends and a current Blackburn player, to watch such assault. In addition, he would have identified the assailants. After the spontaneous expedition was called off, I texted Thommo to let him know that Neill should give him a heartfelt hug..
One
Within the confines of Ewood Park, news of the near-miss spread in the days after the abortive ambush. Terry Darracott, a former Everton defender who was coaching at Blackburn at the time, intervened as a mediator in an attempt to ease tensions between his fellow Scousers.
He asked one of my friends to cancel the boys’ plans. “I concurred,” Carragher subsequently disclosed.
Fortunately, Neill was spared what would have been Carragher’s most heinous deed, which was sparked by a challenge so reckless that it would be nearly impossible to imagine in today’s game, thanks to the appearance of former Liverpool midfielder David Thompson.
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