Martin Tyler was a staple of football commentary before he retired in 2023.
The Chester-born broadcaster was synonymous with Sky Sports, becoming the voice of the channel from 1990 until he finished his career.
Now, the 80-year-old has hung up his microphone and headphones; he has spoken about his career as a broadcaster in multiple interviews.
What has always been interesting with the former commentator is the criticism he has garnered from some fans for what some have described as bias towards certain clubs.
Tyler to Liverpool fans will be remembered for some great lines in support of the club, but also for some of his reactions, or lack thereof, for others.
Martin Tyler says the Liverpool vs Newcastle 4-3 game in 1996 was his best ever to commentate
Some had accused him of a ‘bored’ reaction to the overhead kick by Christian Benteke, which he hit back at, and his lauding of Anthony Martial’s goal against the Reds.
However, it does not really matter given the fact that his favourite match to commentate on was a Liverpool game from 1996 against Newcastle United.
READ MORE: Steve Nicol names the long-term answer to Liverpool’s centre-back issues and who they should avoid
It was a memorable game which ended 4-3 between the sides at Anfield, as Stan Collymore scored twice to seal a victory for the Reds, with one in stoppage time.
Speaking to The Mixer, the ex-commentator said: “This has been a stock answer for the period of time since it happened. It was 1996. It was Liverpool four, Newcastle three, which ended with Stan Collymore scoring the winner in added time, and Liverpool, I think Robbie Fowler got two, Stan got two and Ginola scored for Newcastle.
“Asprilla scored. I think Les got the other one and I think it really epitomized everything that’s good about football. Both teams were going for the title. Neither of them won it. They almost punched themselves out, really, in that night. There was Kevin Keegan hanging over the advertising boards. A famous shot when the seventh goal of the game went in.”
It was one of those iconic games that is sure to live long in the memory of older Reds after Collymore sent the crowd into delirium when he scored the winning goal.
Martin Tyler recalls a funny story involving Stan Collymore and Faustino Asprilla
In the interview, he also recalled a moment between two men who scored in that game during the 2014 World Cup.
Collymore, after retiring from football, took jobs as a pundit and did most of his work with talkSPORT during his punditry career.
Tyler talked about how much of an impact the match made on Collymore and Faustino Asprilla, the Colombian winger who scored for Newcastle that day.
He said: “I’ve told this story a few times, but I’ll share it with you again. 2014 World Cup first game in Brazil, in Sao Paulo. Stan’s working for talkSPORT. Unusual for a ground they had a lift up to the top high commentary position. So Stan and I are going up in the lift to start our work, and the lift door opens up at the gantry level.
“Staring us in the face to come into the lift is Faustino Asprilla, and he goes to Stan without thinking, like he goes ‘You cost me my Premier League winners medal’. They just both burst out laughing. I thought that it meant that much that an instinctive reaction goes back to that game.”
It is brilliant how games like this still stick with the players, as it does for fans long after it has happened, and it is a great story between two ex-pros.
Receive a digest of our best Liverpool content each week direct to your mailbox
