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LIVERPOOL FOOTBALL CLUB'S HISTORY
The history of Liverpool Football Club is an incredibly rich one; a truly comprehensive history would run to many volumes. This concise history traces the major developments in the club's fortunes over the past century.
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A BRIGHT BEGINNING
In 1888 the Football League kicked off for the first time and at Anfield, Everton, Liverpool's biggest club of the day were the home side.
John Houlding, 'King' of Everton, a brewer of 'sparkling ales', a mover and shaker in Liverpool politics and a good part of the brains and money behind Everton Football Club was the owner of the Anfield Road ground. In 1892, Everton parted company with Houlding over the issue of the rent paid on the ground.
After a modest double in their first season when they took the Lancashire League title and the Liverpool District Cup, Liverpool entered the new football league Second Division. The Macs romped to the title, unbeaten in the division. Something was happening at Anfield...gates rose from a few hundred to over 3,000 once word got around about the side's high scoring habits.
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THE YO-YO YEARS
The 1920s are often described as the Roaring 20s and the beginning of the decade, at least, was certainly an exciting time for Liverpool. The club entered the post-war era determined to improve on their pre-war record.
After retaining the title in 1923, there was less and less to shout about at Anfield as the Roaring 20s gave way to the Hungry 30s. But the fans on the Kop did at least get to have their say out of the rain as the Kop end was expanded and covered to house 28,000 people in 1928.
The 1946-7 season marked the debut of two exciting young players; Billy Liddell and Bob Paisley, both signed from amateur clubs by manager George Kay before the war.
The Liddell and Paisley partnership was to reach fruition 3 years later, when goals from each of them against Everton took Liverpool into an FA Cup final against Arsenal, a final which Arsenal would go on to win. Paisley was bitterly disappointed to learn that he was dropped for the final and considered leaving the club.
Dropping Paisley for the final was a decision made by the board, who, incredibly, still picked the team at this time.
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THE SHANKLY REVOLUTION
For many Liverpool supporters, 'Shanks' and 'King Kenny' share the honour of being the club's twin deities, towering above the many legends who have graced the pitch or the backroom at Anfield. In the wider footballing world, however, Shankly's legend eclipses even Dalglish's incredible record as a player and a coach.Ditching the white shorts in favour of the now familiar red Shankly's team, with the addition of extra defensive backbone courtesy of Tommy Smith, were determined to claim back the league title. They went top in November and stayed there. Again Hunt would bag 30 goals along the way.
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THE BACKROOM EVOLUTION
Bob Paisley took the over as manager with a show of reluctance, perhaps as a way of deflating the expectations placed upon him.
Having successfully integrated old talent with new, Stepping out of the shadows of the back room to become manager was Joe Fagan, a man as much part of the Shankly Revolution as Paisley had been.
In one incredible season, 1983-4, Fagan and his team would add the European Cup to the domestic double of First Division title and League Cup, completed for a third successive season. It took all the nerve of Alan Kennedy to slot home the penalty which gave Liverpool victory over Roma on their own home ground.
A year later, in Brussels, a single Platini penalty for Juventus would deny Liverpool another European Cup triumph.
Haunted by the horrific events in Belgium, Fagan retired from the game.
Kenny Dalglish took on the role of Player/Manager.
'King Kenny' orchestrated a League and FA Cup Double, scoring the goal that gave Liverpool the Championship himself.
A glorious time had come to an end, overshadowed by a sense of grief, and it would take time to come to terms with what had happened and move on.
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DECLINE AND REGENERATION
The Souness shake-up left the side vulnerable, as was the case in a shock League Cup defeat to Peterborough and a quarter-final exit from the UEFA Cup. Although this new vulnerability resulted in a 6th place League finish, the FA Cup provided cause for celebration.
After defeat by Bristol City at Anfield in the FA Cup proved the last straw for Souness, who promptly handed in his resignation.
In an attempt to turn back the clock, the club looked inwards to find a replacement and appointed Roy Evans, the 'last of the Shankly Boys'.
1994-5, Evans' first full season in charge the reds won the Coca-Cola Final, with Steve McManaman scoring both goals in a 2-1 defeat of Bolton.
An FA Cup Final defeat to Manchester United, when a late Cantona effort was deflected off Ian Rush, was typical of a season in which Liverpool played the role of the nearly men.
In an attempt to improve upon Liverpool's increasingly familiar role as the nearly men, French coach Gerard Houllier was brought in to work alongside Evans.
The Evans-Houllier partnership foundered in November 1998, after only four months.
Finishing 4th in his first full season in charge, Houllier's side, as expected, took time to gel and only narrowly missed out on a Champion's league place. |
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HOULLIER BRINGS BACK THE GOOD TIMES
Season 2000-2001 is a season that will be remembered as the historic treble season and qualifying for the Champions League.
The Worthington Cup, the FA Cup and the UEFA Cup on a never to be forgotten night in Dortmund signalled Liverpool are back and a force to be reckoned with once again.
Sunday, February 5th 2001 started it all off with the Worthington Cup Final at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium, and the important first trophy for Gerard Houllier as Liverpool manager as Liverpool beat Birmingham City on penalties.
Satuday, May 12th 2001 will forever be known as the Michael Owen FA Cup Final, as the Reds number 10 two late goals won the FA Cup Final, 2-1 against Arsenal.
Four days later and Dortmund on Wednesday, May 16th. An evening where the Reds fans went through every emotion, eventually saw Liverpool beat Spanish side Alaves 5-4 to clinch the UEFA Cup.
Three days later Liverpool won 4-0 at Charlton to clinch qualification for the Champions League.
Season 2000-2001 is also a campaign that saw Liverpool win at Old Trafford for the first time in 10 years and back to back victories over Manchester United and Everton.
Gary McAllister's stunning 94th minute winner against Everton at Goodison Park is often recalled as the turning point in Liverpool's end to the campaign on April 16th.
Gerard Houllier made the people happy again and the message to the footballing world was a firm 'Liverpool are back!'
The 2001/2002 season got off to a flyer with a 2-1 win over Manchester United to win the Charity Shield before more silverware arrived when Liverpool beat Bayern Munich 3-2 in Monaco to win the Super Cup.
Saturday, 13th October 2001 is a day that turned Gerard Houllier's world upside down, literally! The manager suffered a heart scare and was rushed to hospital for an emergency life saving operation.
Phil Thompson took charge of team affairs and did a marvellous job keeping the club in contention for honours in the Premiership and Champions League. Again Liverpool did the double over Manchester United in the Premiership.
Gerard Houllier returned to managerial duties on an emotionally charged night at Anfield on March 19th, 2002 to guide Liverpool to a 2-0 victory over Roma to clinch a Champions League quarter-final spot.
Houllier and Thompson picked the Reds up from that defeat and Liverpool ended the season second behind champions Arsenal
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