1892

John Houlding forms Liverpool Football Club in this year, with Anfield becoming the home of the club (Related Article). John McKenna and William Barclay were instrumental in leading the club in the early days . A win in their first competitive game 8-0 against Higher Walton set the tone for the season. Liverpool FC were crowned Lancashire League Champions before the club’s first birthday.

1893

Liverpool start their second season in The Football League Second Division. A big step up for a club barely 12months old. Or maybe not as Liverpool FC won the league with eight points to spare. Liverpool FC earned themselves a first taste of English top flight football.

1901

Tom Watson had been brought in as manager by Liverpool Chief John McKenna in 1896 and he delivered Liverpool FC their first ever English League Championship in 1901.

1906

Tom Watson added a second English League Title to the clubs honour list and the manager had an enormous impact on laying the foundations of success within the club.

1922

Liverpool FC now with David Ashworth in the hot seat picked up their third English League Championship. Six points ahead of second place Tottenham.

1923

Despite Liverpool FC being on the brink of back to back Title successes, David Ashworth decided to return to a former club, Oldham Athletic. It was obvious the affect on the players was minimal as Championship number four was still secured.

1947

After the war and like every other club in the country, rebuilding was priority. Liverpool FC did this the only way they knew how, by taking the first post-war title in a season that also saw Bob Paisley make his first league debut.

1954

This year marks the start of possibly Liverpool FC’s darkest football days. Relegation ended 50 consecutive seasons in top flight football. Over the next five years Liverpool FC would attempt but each time ultimately fail to re-enter the country’s top division. It was clear something needed to be done!

1959

That special something came in the way of one Mr Bill Shankly. Shanks set about transforming Liverpool FC’s fortunes, revolutionising training schedules, modernising the facilities and radically shaking up playing staff.

1962

Shankly now firmly in charge ensured promotion was confirmed with five games remaining thanks to a 2-0 win over Southampton. Eight years after Don Welsh oversaw one of the darkest days in the club’s history, Liverpool were back were they belonged.

1964

It was a run of seven straight wins through March and April which ultimately secured Liverpool FC’s sixth title, a time in which Shank’s watertight defence proved its worth by conceding just two goals. This was a side full of future legends: Tommy Lawrence between the sticks, Ron Yeats, Chris Lawler and Tommy Smith seemingly impregnable at the back, and Thompson and Ian Callaghan flying down the wings to set up Ian St John and Hunt up front. The club also made their European debut this year wining 5-0 in Reykjavik.

1964 Nov

In November Shankly in a moment of genius changed the club’s colours from red and white to all red. He decided it was more intimidating; it worked as six months later, Liverpool stepped out onto the Wembley turf dressed all in red and won the FA Cup for the first time.

1966

Bill Shankly put his trust in his Cup heroes of 1965 – the likes of Ian St John, Ron Yeats, Ian Callaghan, Roger Hunt, Peter Thompson and Tommy Smith to win the club’s seventh League title.

1973

Gone were the stalwarts of Shank’s first red revolution with the likes of Ron Yeats and Ian St John replaced by a new breed that included Anfield legends in the making, such as Emlyn Hughes and Kevin Keegan. League title number eight was secured this year along with UEFA Cup. Liverpool’s first but certainly not to be the last European Trophy.

1974

Kevin Keegan’s second half brace inspired Liverpool to their second ever FA Cup success as Bill Shankly’s side tore Newcastle United to shreds at Wembley. Liverpool’s high lasted little over two months until the unthinkable happened. Stunned silence and disbelief fell across Anfield and those in support of this great club as Bill Shankly announced his retirement. Bob Paisley was then promoted from Bootroom Staff to manager as he reluctantly accepted the role. He claimed he was unsure whether he could do the job vacated by the larger than life Shanks but the board would not take no for an answer.

1976

An impressive run saw the Reds notch up eight wins in their final nine games. This was enough to clinch title number nine and remove any doubt that Paisley was indeed the right man for the job. This was backed up instantly with the Reds also picking up The UEFA Cup for the second time in their history.

1977

Retaining the English League Title made it ten for the club and all could see Paisley’s Red Machine was now in full flow. A European Cup Final in Rome now awaited the best England had to offer, Kevin Keegan made sure the trophy came to Anfield. During the closed season it was no secret but it still hurt, as Kop idol Keegan completed his transfer to Hamburg. Fans saw him as irreplaceable and feared the clubs glory days could be on the decline. Paisley already had a replacement in mind and Kenny Dalglish broke the British transfer record joining from Celtic for a fee of £440,000. Keegan would return earlier than expected; now fronting his new club Hamburg with the small matter of the Super Cup at stake. A 1-1 draw in Germany set up a winner takes all second leg at Anfield, the battle of the number seven shirt, formerly of Keegan now held by Dalglish. It was obvious Dalglish was a more than worthy owner of the Kop’s most famous shirt, scoring the final goal in a match that ended 6-0.

1978

Keegan would always be a Kop idol but it was now clear Dalglish was King; his goal at Wembley ensured Liverpool FC would retain The European Cup.

1979

68 points – a football league record under the old two points for a win system was easily enough for Liverpool to pick up League Title eleven. Newly crowned Footballer of the Year, Dalglish, led an attack that netted 85 goals and was instrumental to the Red’s successful season.

1980

Terry McDermott became the first player to be named PFA Player of the Year and Football Writer’s Footballer of the Year in the same season Liverpool retained the title for a record-breaking 12th time.

1981

A year all about cups for Liverpool, winning the League Cup for the first ever time and beating Real Madrid in Paris to win three European Cups in five years.

1982

Another triumphant year under Paisley that included retaining the League Cup, the 13th League Title and 9th Charity Shield success.

1983

The League Cup curse was well and truly broken as The Reds came from behind to beat Manchester United 2-1 in the final. Back-to-back titles, making it fourteen for the club was Paisley’s final blow to his Anfield faithful – after nine years and 13 major honours, fellow Bootroomer Joe Fagan took the reins.

1984

Fagan simply carried on where Paisley left off; League Cup win over arch rivals Everton, Liverpool FC’s 15th League Title and The European Cup. As Shankly and Paisley before him, Fagan would undoubtedly write himself into Liverpool’s history books if this kind of success continued.

1985

No-one will ever forget the tragic events at the Heysel Stadium in Brussels on May 29, 1985. Liverpool verses Juventus in the European Cup final and what should have been one of the greatest nights in the club’s history turned into the lowest. A retaining wall separating the Liverpool followers from Juventus supporters in sector ‘Z’ collapsed under the pressure as poor organisation allowed violent fans to clash. Thirty-nine Italian and Belgian fans died and hundreds were injured. Liverpool lost 1-0 although barely even relevant in light of what happened on that poignant evening. Fagan stepped down in wake of this tragic incident. UEFA acted swiftly to ban all English clubs indefinitely from participating in any of the three European competitions in the wake of the tragedy. This restriction was gradually lifted five years later. May 29 will forever be a day of remembrance for both Juventus and Liverpool supporters alike.

1986

Kenny Dalglish answers the club’s call and steps up to his Liverpool role as player-manager. Fittingly it was his goal at Stamford Bridge that secured the club’s 16th League Title. The FA Cup final against Everton was the icing on the season’s cake; two goals and an assist from goal machine Ian Rush saw the Reds come from 0-1 down at half time to win 3-1. A trophy Liverpool had not won since 1974.

1988

Liverpool went on a Football League record-equaling 29-game unbeaten run from the start of the season, and by January were 17 points clear of Man Utd at the top. A fearsome attack that now included summer signings Peter Beardsley, John Aldridge and John Barnes tore through the opposition defences. League Title Seventeen was never in doubt.

1989

On April 15, 1989 more than 25,000 Liverpool supporters travelled down to Hillsborough to watch the FA Cup semi-final match with Nottingham Forest. Ninety-six never returned. Liverpool lost ninety-six sons and daughters, crushed to death during the most horrific football disaster the English game has ever seen. This loss that devastated all, united a city which then created a line of blue and red scarves from Anfield to Goodison. The bond that emerged as fans and club supported each other throughout this tragic time is what separates Liverpool FC from all others. The ensuing Taylor Report led to the end of terraces in the Football League, while a campaign for justice and accountability continues to this day. Ninety-six gone but never forgotten.
Liverpool went on to lift the FA Cup and before kick-off gave tribute to supporters that lost their lives only five weeks earlier.

1990

Liverpool clearly still hurting from the events of last April, start the season poorly. It was down to a strong finish that they would be crowned league champions of England for the eighteenth time.

1991

Kenny Dalglish steps down as Liverpool manager. The King of The Kop, a servant to the club since 1977 announces his retirement from active participation in professional football. It is later revealed in his autobiography that, the stress of Hillsborough had finally taken its toll. A Liverpool Legend none the less.

1992

Graeme Souness took up the post and with Ian Rush firing on all cylinders making him Liverpool’s top scorer of all time, the club brought The FA Cup back to Anfield.

1995

A fairly baron spell by Liverpool’s high standards was broken when Steve McManaman hit a brace to land the club its fifth League Cup. This the only trophy won during the Roy Evan reign.

1998

Gerard Houllier’s arrival as joint manager alongside Roy Evans was a sign of the changing times in English football. Houllier’s passion for all things red and his success in overseeing France’s World Cup triumph as technical director did nothing but bode well for the future.

2001

Gerard Houllier now solely in-charge delivered much needed silverware to Anfield. The League Cup, The FA Cup, UEFA Cup, Super Cup and Charity Shield all graced the reds trophy room during this triumphant season.

2003

There are few things as sweet as a cup win over Manchester United and that is exactly what Houllier gave the fans. The League Cup, Anfield bound thanks to goals from Steven Gerrard and Michael Owen.

2004

Rafael Benitez charged with ending the club’s 14-year wait for the league title, became the first Spaniard to have the honour of managing Liverpool Football Club.

2005

The Reds first appearance in a European Cup Final for 20 years and, despite defeating Juventus and Chelsea during a memorable run to the final, they went into the game as overwhelming underdogs against AC Milan. An estimated 40,000 Liverpool fans followed their heroes to Istanbul but when Milan raced into a 3-0 interval lead it looked as though their trip had been in vain. Cue an inspirational half-time team talk from the boss, a passionate rallying cry from the fans and the most amazing comeback of all time. The comeback of all comebacks began in the 54th minute. Riise crossed from the left and Captain Steven Gerrard glanced a header past Dida. Liverpool’s first goal may, at the time, have seemed nothing but a mere consolation but when Vladimir Smicer added a second, hope appeared. With the Milan defence visibly rocking the all-important equaliser duly came when Xabi Alonso converted on the rebound after Dida had saved his spot-kick. The score line stayed at 3-3 throughout the remaining game including extra time. The tension heightened as the penalty shoot-out commenced but just like in Rome 21 years before the Reds held their nerve to triumph. On what will go down as THE most incredible night in this club’s illustrious history, Liverpool reclaimed their crown as ‘Kings of Europe’ and won the trophy for the fifth time (Related Article). Liverpool also claimed The Super Cup with a 3-1 win over CSKA Moscow.

2006

Liverpool captures The FA Cup via a penalty shoot-out. Steven Gerrard scores a brace including a wonder goal equalizer in injury time to force the shoot-out. The Liverpool Captain has now scored in every major club football competition final.

2007

It was an historic day at Anfield as owner David Moores sold the club he loved to American duo Tom Hicks and George Gillett.

2010

Roy Hodgson replaces Rafael Benitez as manager after a six year reign. On Friday, 15 October 2010, New England Sports Ventures (NESV) announced that it had completed the purchase of Liverpool Football Club. NESV were able to finalise the transaction, which valued the Club at £300m and eliminated all of the acquisition debt placed on LFC by its previous owners, reducing the Club’s debt servicing obligations from £25m-£30m a year to £2m-£3m.

2011

Kenny Dalglish is reinstated as caretaker manager after a string of poor results led to Roy Hodgson leaving by mutual consent, just six months on (Related Article). Liverpool break the British transfer record splashing out £35,000,000 on Newcastle United forward Andy Carroll. Liverpool finish the season in 6th spot just missing out on a place in the Europa League.

The detail and research for much of the above was kindly provided by Jay Hutchinson who we thank sincerely for the time and effort he put into assembling this information together. You can contact Jay via his twitter account @jayhutch_LFC. YNWA

If you think any information needs to be added or changed please email us.