1989–90 Liverpool F.C. season

The 1989–90 season was the 98th season in Liverpool F.C.'s existence, and their 28th consecutive year in the top flight. This article covers the period from 1 July 1989 to 30 June 1990.

Liverpool
1989–90 season
ManagerKenny Dalglish
First DivisionChampions
FA CupSemi-finals
League CupThird round
FA Charity ShieldWinners
Top goalscorerLeague: John Barnes (22)
All: John Barnes (28)
Highest home attendance38,730 (vs. Everton, League, 3 February)
Lowest home attendance19,231 (vs. Wigan Athletic, League Cup, 19 September)
Average home league attendance36,690

Liverpool finished the season as league champions for the 18th time, and looked on course for another double, only to be knocked off course in the final stages for the third season running – this time by a dramatic 4–3 semi-final defeat against a Crystal Palace side they had beaten 9–0 in the league earlier in the season. They did finish the season nine points ahead of runners-up Aston Villa in the league, but had faced a stiff challenge from Villa for much of the season and earlier in the season from neighbouring Everton.[1] This would be Liverpool's last title for 30 years, with the club embarking on an at the time unthinkable drought until 2020.

The autumn of 1989 saw the departure of striker John Aldridge to Spain. Aldridge had lost his place in the starting line-up to a resurgent Ian Rush, who had returned to the club a year earlier after an unhappy season in Italy. Injury-plagued defender Jim Beglin was transferred to Leeds United just before the start of the season, with the defence being bolstered by the arrival of Swedish star Glenn Hysén.

Pre-season friendlies

Liverpool's entered the four-team Makita International Tournament, played at Wembley Stadium, where they lost against Arsenal in the final, having beaten Dinamo Kiev. This was followed by a tour of Scandinavia which saw wins against Malmö FF and Halmstads BK and draws with Vasalunds IF and HJK Helsinki.

Regular season

August

As FA Cup holders, Liverpool entered the Charity Shield, facing league champions Arsenal, in a rematch of the last game of the previous season when Arsenal had won the title at Anfield in dramatic circumstances. Liverpool gained some small revenge with a 1–0 win, thanks to a Peter Beardsley goal. The league campaign began with a 3–1 win over Manchester City, followed by away draws against Luton Town and Aston Villa. The month ended with a trip to Spain with a friendly against Real Madrid for the Santiago Bernabeu Trophy. The Reds lost 2–0.

The month ended with Liverpool fifth in the table, with newly promoted Chelsea top of the league, Millwall (in only their second top flight campaign) second, local rivals Everton third and Coventry City fourth.[2]

September

September began with a third consecutive away game, this time a 3–0 win at Derby County, followed by a 9–0 hammering of Crystal Palace at Anfield. Eight different players scored in this game, which was also notable as John Aldridge's last game for the club. Aldridge, who was leaving to join Real Sociedad, came off the bench to convert a penalty, and threw his boots and kit into the Kop at the end of the game. Aldridge had remained a first-choice player in 1988–89 after Rush's return, either playing in a three-man attack alongside Rush and Beardsley or alongside Beardsley in a two-man attack in the 14 league games that Rush was unfit for, but for 1989–90 Dalglish had decided to stick with a two-man attack of Rush and Beardsley, and Aldridge knew that leaving Anfield would be his best chance of regular first team action.

After a 0–0 home draw with Norwich City, Wigan Athletic were defeated 5–2 in the League Cup, before the first Merseyside derby of the season. Just as in the previous season's FA Cup final, and in so many derbies before, Ian Rush was the match winner, as the Reds won 3–1 at Goodison Park.

October

First up in October were Wigan in the so-called "away" leg (played at Anfield because Wigan's pitch was unplayable) of the League Cup second round. Liverpool won 3–0, with substitute Steve Staunton scoring a hat-trick to secure an 8–2 aggregate victory. Back in the league, Wimbledon were beaten 2–1 at Plough Lane before Southampton dealt the Reds a 4–1 hammering at The Dell. The misery was to continue four days later, as Arsenal ended Liverpool's League Cup campaign with a 1–0 win at Highbury. The league campaign resumed with a 1–0 win over Tottenham Hotspur, which saw Liverpool reclaim their lead of the First Division from Everton, who seemed to be re-emerging as a top club after two slightly less successful seasons under the management of Colin Harvey, since Howard Kendall's departure. Chelsea and Arsenal were still giving the two Merseyside clubs a serious run for their money, while a surprise challenge was also starting to mount from Southampton, Norwich and Aston Villa. After a generally very disappointing September, Manchester United had started to improve and were just seven points (though 10 places) behind Liverpool. The challenge from Millwall and Coventry, however, appeared to have ended as both clubs were now some way down the table.[3]

November

November was a miserable month for Liverpool. It began with a 1–0 home defeat against Coventry City, which was compounded by a 3–2 loss at QPR. Wins at Millwall and at home to Arsenal followed, before an away game at Sheffield Wednesday. This was Liverpool's first game at Hillsborough after the tragedy of seven months earlier, and it ended in a 2–0 defeat. However, they ended the month top of the league with 27 points – bracketed together on goal difference with Arsenal, Villa and Chelsea. Southampton and Coventry were both just four points behind the leading pack, but Everton's title hopes were fading fast as they had slumped from top place to 12th within a few short weeks. Manchester United's steady improvement had continued as they had continued to narrow the gap between themselves and Liverpool – now standing at nine places but just six points.[4]

December

December was a better month for Liverpool, who began it with an impressive 4–1 win at Manchester City (now managed by former Everton boss Howard Kendall). A 1–1 home draw with Villa followed, before a superb 5–2 win over fellow title contenders Chelsea on 16 December. A goalless draw with Manchester United came at Anfield on 23 December, with Liverpool's great rivals now enduring another run of bad form and effectively out of the title race. The next two games – against Sheffield Wednesday and Charlton Athletic – were both won, and so Liverpool ended the 1980s as First Division leaders. They had a four-point lead over their nearest rivals Aston Villa and a four-point lead over Arsenal. The challenge from the likes of Southampton, Chelsea and Norwich was becoming more distant, though a threat from North London was emerging in the shape of a Tottenham Hotspur side spearheaded by two of England's finest players – Paul Gascoigne and Gary Lineker. The challenge from Everton was now looking well and truly over, as Colin Harvey's men were now 10th in the league and 13 points adrift of Liverpool, though with a game in hand. Any hopes that Manchester United might have had of beating Liverpool to the title were now almost completely dead, as Alex Ferguson's team now stood 15th in the league and were just two points above the relegation zone.[5]

January

A new year and a new decade began with a 2–2 draw for Liverpool at Nottingham Forest on New Year's Day. Then came an FA Cup third round clash with Swansea City at Vetch Field. The Swans were now in the Third Division and the run for their money that they had given Liverpool eight years earlier was now very much a distant memory, but the Swans gave Liverpool a scare by holding them to a goalless draw. However, Liverpool blew Swansea to pieces in the replay at Anfield three days later by winning 8–0. Their FA Cup action (a fourth round clash with Norwich ending in a 3–1 replay win at Anfield after a goalless draw in the first game at Carrow Road) meant that there would be just two more league games that month – the first a 2–2 home draw with Luton, the second a 2–0 win over Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park. However, Liverpool remained top of the league – level on points with Aston Villa with Arsenal as the only other serious contenders, though Nottingham Forest had now climbed into fourth place and were starting to raise a few eyebrows among observers in the title race.[6]

February

Liverpool remained on course for a unique second double as they beat Southampton 3–0 in the fifth round at Anfield on 17 February. Bad weather meant that there were just two league games for Liverpool that month, the first a 2–1 Merseyside derby win over Everton at Anfield, the second a goalless draw at Norwich.[7]

March

Liverpool moved closer to a second double on 14 March when they beat QPR 1–0 in the quarter-final replay at Anfield, three days after drawing the first match 2–2 at Loftus Road. In the league, they defeated Millwall, Manchester United and Southampton but lost to Tottenham Hotspur. They were still top of the league, on goal difference ahead of Aston Villa and with a game in hand. Arsenal were now the only other team looking like a serious threat to the Reds, and, although Everton's recent revival had seen them climb to fifth place, it was now almost certainly too late for them to pip Liverpool to the league title.

22 March saw the arrival at Anfield of 26-year-old Israeli striker Ronny Rosenthal on loan from Belgian club Standard Liege.[8]

April

April was a very mixed month for Liverpool. They finally clinched the league title on 28 April with two games to spare, thanks to a 2–1 home win over QPR, but 8 April saw their "double double" hopes ended in dramatic fashion for the third season running, this time in the shape of an FA Cup semi-final defeat to Crystal Palace (the team they had beaten 9–0 in the league seven months earlier) where the South Londoners had beaten them 4–3 in extra time to book a Wembley date with Manchester United in the final. Liverpool had now been champions of England on no fewer than 18 occasions – more than any other side at the time.[9][10]

May

The Reds proved themselves as worthy champions by winning both of their final two games: a slender 1–0 home win over Derby followed by a 6–1 hammering of Coventry at Highfield Road on the final day of the season.[7]

Ronny Rosenthal's loan deal became permanent at the end of the season when Liverpool paid Standard Liege £1 million for his services, which had already seen him net seven goals in just eight league games[11] – including a hat-trick in the 4–0 away win over relegation-bound Charlton.[12][13]

Squad

Goalkeepers

Defenders

Midfielders

Attackers

Transfers

In
Pos Player From Fee Date
DF Glenn Hysén Fiorentina£600,0001 June 1989
DF Steve Harkness Carlisle United£75,00017 July 1989

Out
Pos Player To Fee Date
DF Jim Beglin Leeds UnitedFree06-1989
FW John Aldridge Real Sociedad£1,250,00013 September 1989

Loaned In
Pos Player From Start End
FW Ronnie Rosenthal Standard Liège22 March 199026 June 1990

League table
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
1 Liverpool 38 23 10 5 78 37 +41 79 League Champions, excluded from the 1990–91 European Cup[14]
2 Aston Villa 38 21 7 10 57 38 +19 70 UEFA Cup 1990–91 First round
3 Tottenham Hotspur 38 19 6 13 59 47 +12 63
4 Arsenal 38 18 8 12 54 38 +16 62
5 Chelsea 38 16 12 10 58 50 +8 60
Source:

Matches

Pre-Season Friendlies
Date Opponents Venue Result Scorers Attendance Report 1 Report 2 Competition
29-Jul-89Dynamo KievN2–0Barnes pen' Aldridge20,374ReportReportMakita Tournament
30-Jul-89ArsenalN0–123,026ReportReportMakita Tournament
01-Aug-89Malmö FFA2–1Rush Hysén17,239ReportReport
03-Aug-89Vasalunds IFA1–1Aldridge9,115ReportReport
05-Aug-89Halmstads BKA1–0Beardsley8,676ReportReport
07-Aug-89HJK HelsinkiA0–010,820ReportReport
30-Aug-89Real MadridA0–245,000ReportReportBernabeu Trophy

FA Charity Shield
Main article: 1989 FA Charity Shield
Arsenal0–1Liverpool
[16] Beardsley  32'
Attendance: 63,149
Referee: Allan Gunn (Sussex)
Arsenal
Liverpool
GK1 John Lukic
RB2 Lee Dixon
LB3 Nigel Winterburn
CM4 Michael Thomas
CB5 David O'Leary
CB6 Tony Adams
RM7 David Rocastle
CM8 Kevin Richardson
CF9 Alan Smith 76'
CB10 Gus Caesar 58'
LM11 Paul Merson
Substitutes:
MF Brian Marwood 58'
FW Niall Quinn 76'
Manager:
George Graham
GK1 Bruce Grobbelaar
CB2 Glenn Hysén
LB3 David Burrows
RM4 Steve Nicol
CM5 Ronnie Whelan
CB6 Alan Hansen
CF7 Peter Beardsley
RB8 Barry Venison
CF9 Ian Rush
LM10 John Barnes
CM11 Steve McMahon
Substitutes:
GK12 Mike Hooper
DF14 Gary Ablett
MF15 Jan Molby
FW16 John Aldridge
Manager:
Kenny Dalglish

First Division
Main article: 1989–90 Football League § First Division
Date Opponents Venue Result Scorers Attendance Report 1 Report 2
19-Aug-89Manchester CityH3–1Barnes  pen 7' Beardsley  60' Nicol  90'37,628ReportReport
23-Aug-89Aston VillaA1–1Barnes  24'35,796ReportReport
26-Aug-89Luton TownA0–011,124ReportReport
09-Sep-89Derby CountyA3–0Rush  50' Barnes  pen 82' Beardsley  90'20,034ReportReport
12-Sep-89Crystal PalaceH9–0Nicol  7', 90' McMahon  15' Rush  45' Gillespie  56' Beardsley  61' Aldridge  pen 67' Barnes  79' Hysén  82'35,779ReportReport
16-Sep-89Norwich CityH0–036,885ReportReport
23-Sep-89EvertonA3–1Barnes  33' Rush  62', 64'42,453ReportReport
14-Oct-89WimbledonA2–1Beardsley  3' Whelan  55'13,510ReportReport
21-Oct-89SouthamptonA1–4Beardsley  pen 57'20,501ReportReport
29-Oct-89Tottenham HotspurH1–0Barnes  25'36,550ReportReport
04-Nov-89Coventry CityH0–136,433ReportReport
11-Nov-89Queens Park RangersA2–3Barnes  pen 32', 58'18,804ReportReport
19-Nov-89MillwallA2–1Barnes  36' Rush  70'13,547ReportReport
26-Nov-89ArsenalH2–1McMahon  30' Barnes  65'35,983ReportReport
29-Nov-89Sheffield WednesdayA0–232,732ReportReport
02-Dec-89Manchester CityA4–1Rush  9', 88' Beardsley  48' McMahon  58'31,641ReportReport
09-Dec-89Aston VillaH1–1Beardsley  64'37,435ReportReport
16-Dec-89ChelseaA5–2Beardsley  3' Rush  5', 79' Houghton  23' McMahon  51'31,005ReportReport
23-Dec-89Manchester UnitedH0–037,426ReportReport
26-Dec-89Sheffield WednesdayH2–1Mølby  2' Rush  84'37,488ReportReport
30-Dec-89Charlton AthleticH1–0Barnes  17'36,678ReportReport
01-Jan-90Nottingham ForestA2–2Rush  13', 38'24,518ReportReport
13-Jan-90Luton TownH2–2Barnes  32' Nicol  75'35,312ReportReport
20-Jan-90Crystal PalaceA2–0Rush  9' Beardsley  62'29,807ReportReport
03-Feb-90EvertonH2–1Barnes  10' Beardsley  pen 29'38,730ReportReport
10-Feb-90Norwich CityA0–020,210ReportReport
03-Mar-90MillwallH1–0Gillespie  83'36,427ReportReport
18-Mar-90Manchester UnitedA2–1Barnes  pen 15', 55'46,629ReportReport
21-Mar-90Tottenham HotspurA0–125,656ReportReport
31-Mar-90SouthamptonH3–2Barnes  15' Own Goal  73' Rush  82'37,027ReportReport
03-Apr-90WimbledonH2–1Rush  10' Gillespie  44'33,319ReportReport
11-Apr-90Charlton AthleticA4–0Rosenthal  26', 50', 62' Barnes  87'13,982ReportReport
14-Apr-90Nottingham ForestH2–2Rosenthal  12' McMahon  15'37,265ReportReport
18-Apr-90ArsenalA1–1Barnes  86'33,395ReportReport
21-Apr-90ChelseaH4–1Rosenthal  25' Nicol  36', 80' Rush  82'38,431ReportReport
28-Apr-90Queens Park RangersH2–1Rush  40' Barnes  pen 63'37,758ReportReport
01-May-90Derby CountyH1–0Gillespie  81'38,038ReportReport
05-May-90Coventry CityA6–1Rush  16' Barnes  37', 39', 61' Rosenthal  50', 69'23,204ReportReport

FA Cup
Date Opponents Venue Result Scorers Attendance Report 1 Report 2
06-Jan-90Swansea CityA0–016,098ReportReport
09-Jan-90Swansea CityH8–0Barnes  21', 43' Whelan  40' Rush  53', 77', 83' Beardsley  54' Nicol  86'29,194ReportReport
28-Jan-90Norwich CityA0–023,152ReportReport
31-Jan-90Norwich CityH3–1Nicol  17' Barnes  56' Beardsley  pen 64'29,339ReportReport
17-Feb-90SouthamptonH3–0Rush  39' Beardsley  64' Nicol  77'35,961ReportReport
11-Mar-90Queens Park RangersA2–2Barnes  55' Rush  80'21,057ReportReport
14-Mar-90Queens Park RangersH1–0Beardsley  4'38,090ReportReport
08-Apr-90Crystal PalaceN3–4Rush  14' McMahon  81' Barnes  pen 83'38,389ReportReport

League Cup
Main article: 1989–90 Football League Cup
Date Opponents Venue Result Scorers Attendance Report 1 Report 2
19-Sep-89Wigan AthleticH5–2Hysén  4' Rush  64', 66' Beardsley  81' Barnes  88'19,231ReportReport
04-Oct-89Wigan AthleticA3–0Staunton  59', 72', 88'17,954ReportReport
25-Oct-89ArsenalA0–140,814ReportReport
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References
  1. "Liverpool is buzzing as Steven Gerrard and Co close in on title but for the Class of 1990 winning the league was business as usual". Daily Mail. 18 April 2014. Retrieved 18 April 2014.
  9. "Liverpool last won the title 25 years ago today, but what has happened since…?". Sky Sports. 28 April 2015. Retrieved 29 April 2015.
  10. "Why Liverpool FC haven't won the league title in 25 years". Liverpool Echo. 28 April 2015. Retrieved 29 April 2015.
  12. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 6 June 2011. Retrieved 28 February 2010.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  13. Murray, Scott (25 June 2020). "Signing Rosenthal and reeling in Villa: the last time Liverpool won the title". The Guardian. Retrieved 26 June 2020.
  14. Liverpool were banned by UEFA from its competitions from the season 1985–86 on for 10 years, because of the Heysel Disaster in 1985, involving Liverpool fans. The ban was eventually lifted for the 1991–92 season.
  15. "Guide to the weekend fixtures". The Times. London. 12 August 1989. p. 42.
  16. "Match report from Liverpool – Arsenal played on 12 August 1989". LFC History. Retrieved 21 May 2014.
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