History of Liverpool FC (Part 8) The Kenny Dalglish Era (1985–1991)

Honours Won : League Championship (1986), FA Cup (1986), Charity Shield: Shared (1986), League Championship (1988), Charity Shield (1988), FA Cup (1989), Charity Shield (1989), League Championship (1990), Charity Shield: Shared (1990)

Runner-up : League Cup (1987), League Championship (1987), FA Cup (1988), League Championship (1989)

Fagan handed over the reins to striker Kenny Dalglish, who had established himself as a world class player and now wanted to prove himself as a manager.

By the end of September the league table was being led by Manchester United (who had won all of their first 10 league games), with Liverpool nine points behind in second place. By Christmas, however, the gap between Liverpool and United had been narrowed to four points, with Everton – along with surprise title challengers West Ham United, Chelsea and Sheffield Wednesday – close behind.. A home defeat by league leaders Everton in late February left Liverpool with an eight point gap to close.  Eleven wins and a draw in the last twelve matches, meant the league title was finally sealed on the last day of the season as they won 1–0 at Chelsea. The winning goal by Kenny Dalglish ensured they finished two points ahead of runners-up Everton. Hopes of a unique domestic treble ended on 5 March when Liverpool were edged out of the League Cup in the semi-finals by Queen's Park Rangers, one of the First Division's least fancied sides. However, their FA Cup run, which included three victories after extra time, put Liverpool in the FA Cup final – where they took on Everton on 10 May. An early goal by Gary Lineker gave the blue half of Merseyside the lead, but the tables turned in the second half as Ian Rush scored twice and Craig Johnston hit the other goal as Liverpool ran out 3–1 winners to become only the third club of the 20th century (and the fifth since the formation of the Football League in 1888) to win the league title and FA Cup in the same season. It was a perfect first season in management for Kenny Dalglish, marred only by the fact that UEFA had voted for the ban on English clubs in European competitions to continue into the 1986–87 season, so there was no question of Liverpool being able to challenge for another European Cup triumph.

History of Liverpool FC (Part 7) The Joe Fagan Era (1983–1985)

Honours Won : League Cup (1984), League Championship (1984), European Cup (1984)

Runner-up : Charity Shield (1983), Charity Shield (1984), Intercontinental Cup (1984), European Super Cup (1984), League Championship (1985), European Cup (1985)

Long-serving coach Joe Fagan (aged 62) was named as manager of Liverpool's first team on the retirement of Bob Paisley, and the 1983–84 season got off to a fine start for Liverpool. Despite some uncharacteristic results, such as a 4-0 defeat by Coventry City, Liverpool were top of the table by early November and remained there throughout the rest of the season. They collected their first silverware of the season on 28 March, beating neighbours Everton 1–0 in the League Cup Final replay three days after a goalless draw in the first match. The league title was sealed on 12 May with a goalless draw at relegation bound Notts County, and 18 days later became the first English club to win three major competitions in the same season. After a 1–1 draw in open play, Liverpool defeated Roma in the European Cup final. The Italians equalised after an early Liverpool goal by Phil Neal. The game went to penalties with victory for Liverpool secured after an extrovert performance by Bruce Grobbelaar. 

1983–84 had also seen young striker Ian Rush continue to establish himself as a world class goalscorer, with fellow rising stars like Ronnie Whelan and Steve Nicol continuing to put on impressive performances on a regular basis. The close season, however, saw the sale of key midfielder Graeme Souness who joined Sampdoria of Italy. Fagan signed John Wark from Ipswich Town to fill the gap in midfield.

Liverpool made a slow start to the 1984–85 season, but by Christmas had climbed up to fifth place. Liverpool eventually finished second behind Everton. Their FA Cup run was ended at the semi-final stage on 17 April when they lost 2–1 to Manchester United after a replay. On the continental scene, Liverpool had booked their place in the European Cup final for the fifth time in their history. They were drawn to play Juventus of Italy at the Heysel Stadium in Brussels, Belgium on 29 May 1985. Liverpool lost the game 1-0, but the result was almost irrelevant following the off-field events which occurred before kick off.

Liverpool supporters broke down a dividing fence and charged the Juventus supporters resulting in the death of 39 people who were crushed to death when a wall collapsed. The sequel to the tragedy was an indefinite ban on all English clubs in European competitions, with a recommendation by UEFA that Liverpool should serve an extra three years once all other English clubs were readmitted.

Fagan announcd his retirement shortly before the Heysel Disaster and was replaced by Liverpool striker Kenny Dalglish, who was given the role of player-manager. Fagan died at the age of 80 in July 2001 after a long illness.

History of Liverpool FC (Part 6) The Bob Paisley Era (1974–1983)

Honours Won : League Championship (1976), UEFA Cup (1976), Charity Shield (1976), League Championship (1977), European Cup (1977), Charity Shield (1977), European Cup (1978), League Championship (1979), Charity Shield (1979), League Championship (1980), Charity Shield (1980) League Cup (1981), European Cup (1981), League Cup (1982), League Championship (1982), Charity Shield (1982) League Cup (1983), League Championship (1983)

Runner-up : League Championship (1975), Charity Shield (1976), FA Cup (1977), League Cup (1978), League Championship (1978), European Super Cup (1978), Intercontinental Cup (1981)

Shankly's 55-year-old assistant Bob Paisley, was promoted to the position of manager for the 1974–75 season after failing to persuade his predecessor to carry on. Paisley was manager of Liverpool from 1974 until 1983, and during those nine years he became one of the most successful managers ever to take charge of an English club. His one and only season without winning a trophy was his first, 1974–75.

Paisley's second season brought the league title (the first of six under his management). In 1977 the championship was retained and the team won the European Cup for the first time in the club's history. The final was won with 3–1 over old foes Borussia Mönchengladbach. This game in Rome was Kevin Keegan's last for the club. The European Cup was retained the following year with a 1–0 win in the final against F.C. Brugge with the goal scored by Kenny Dalglish, Keegan's replacement. Dalglish had been put through by future captain Graeme Souness. 

1978–79 was a record breaking year as the league title was won with 68 points and only 16 goals conceded in 42 matches. The following season brought another league title. Paisley's third and last European Cup victory came in 1981 with a 1–0 victory in the final over Real Madrid. The unexpected scorer of the winning goal was defender Alan Kennedy. The only domestic trophy to previously elude them, the League Cup, was also won that season with another defender, Alan Hansen, grabbing the winning goal.

A defeat to Manchester City on Boxing Day 1981 saw Liverpool drop to eleventh place, and their opponents went top of the league on that day, but a string of victories brought the title back to Anfield. Ironically, they sealed the title on the final day of the season with a 1–0 home win over Manchester City, who in contrast had suffered a terrible run of form in the second half of the season and slumped to 12th place. 

The League Cup was also retained, with a 3–2 win over FA Cup winners Tottenham Hotspur in extra time. Young midfielder Ronnie Whelan scored twice, with the other goal coming from emerging striker Ian Rush who had signed from Chester two years earlier but only that season broke into the first team. 

1982–83 saw Liverpool retain the league title and also the League Cup. They faced some stiff competition early on, but by the end of February the title race was effectively over. The title was clinched with four games remaining. A unique third successive League Cup triumph had been secured on 26 March when goals from Alan Kennedy and Ronnie Whelan gave them a 2–1 win over Manchester United in the final at Wembley Stadium.

Such was the success of Liverpool, who won six of the nine league titles they contested for during Paisley's management, that the manager himself once quoted: Mind you, I've been here during the bad times too – one year we came second.

The big question for fans at the conclusion of that season was who would replace Bob Paisley. Before retiring he won a total of twenty-one trophies, including three European Cups, a UEFA Cup, six league titles and three consecutive League Cups during his spell as manager. Under Paisley, a new era of stars emerged. They included Graeme Souness, Ian Rush, Alan Hansen and Kenny Dalglish.

History of Liverpool FC (Part 5) The Bill Shankly Era (1959–1974)

Honours Won : League Championship (1964), Charity Shield (1964), FA Cup (1965), League Championship (1966), Charity Shield (1966), League Championship (1973), UEFA Cup (1973), FA Cup (1974), Charity Shield (1974)

Runner-Up : Charity Shield (1965), European Cup Winners Cup (1966), League Championship: (1969), FA Cup (1971), Charity Shield (1971), League Championship: (1974),

Bill Shankly became Liverpool manager in December 1959 and over the next 15 years he transformed them into one of the top club sides in Europe. Shankly utilised The Boot Room for a second purpose; the location of coaches meetings. The founder members with Shankly of the boot room staff were Joe Fagan, Reuben Bennett and Bob Paisley.

Within a year they had released twenty four players but notably retained striker Roger Hunt and full back Gerry Byrne. Fellow Scots Ian St John and Ron Yeats were signed from Motherwell and Dundee United respectively. Winger Ian Callaghan also established himself in the team. In 1961–62, Shankly's third season as manager, they duly won the Second Division championship by eight points and were promoted to the top flight. They have remained ever since, never finishing below eighth in the league.

In 1964, Liverpool lifted the League Championship. It was also the year in which the team adopted its now famous all red strip. They failed to retain the championship trophy the following season but compensation came in the form of a first-ever FA Cup (a 2–1 Final win over Leeds United). That year they also played for the first time in the European Cup where the first match was against KR Reykjavik. This first European campaign ended at the semi-final stage against Italian club Internazionale, going out 4–3 on aggregate. In a tie still remembered on Merseyside, Liverpool won the first leg 3–1 only to lose the second leg 3–0.

The following year Liverpool regained the championship and also reached the European Cup Winners Cup Final – losing 2–1 to Borussia Dortmund after extra time. By now Shankly was one of the most highly rated managers in the game and his squad contained some of the finest players in England. Despite this success Shankly was already planning further signings. Future internationals Emlyn Hughes, John Toshack and Kevin Keegan were signed from clubs in the lower divisions as the 60s team was gradually dismantled.

In 1973 Liverpool won their last League Championship under Shankly. They also won their first ever European trophy that year with a UEFA Cup triumph. Their opponents in the 1973 UEFA Cup Final were Borussia Mönchengladbach. Played over two legs, Liverpool ran out 3–2 aggregate winners. The Final appeared over after the first leg with Liverpool 3–0 winners. However, Mönchengladbach fought back in the second leg to win 2–0, giving Liverpool a narrow victory.

They won the FA Cup again a year later with a convincing 3–0 final win over Newcastle United. Shankly stunned the footballing world soon afterwards by announcing his retirement. The club's players and fans tried to persuade him to carry on, and a local factory even threatened to go on strike. Shankly ignored these pleas and joined the club's fans on The Kop as a spectator, while he handed over his managerial duties to Bob Paisley.

History of Liverpool FC (Part 4) Don Welsh (1951–1956) & Phil Taylor (1956–1959)

Don Welsh (1951–1956)

Honours Won : –

Don Welsh succeeded George Kay as Liverpool manager in 1951. He had played for Liverpool during the Second World War as a guest, and had also won the FA Cup with Charlton in 1947. Unfortunately for Welsh, he inherited a team that was coming to the end of its time. After spending on some new players such as Alan A'Court, Welsh could not prevent the team from sliding down the table and into relegation for the first time in over 50 years.

Liverpool almost made it back to Division 1 in 1956. However despite that close result, Welsh was not to be given another chance and was sacked in 1956, the first time this had happened to a Liverpool manager in 64 years of existence. He was replaced by Phil Taylor.

Phil Taylor (1956–1959)

Honours Won : –

Phil Taylor took over as Liverpool boss in 1956 after the sacking of Don Welsh. He was immediately given the task of leading Liverpool to promotion back to Division 1. Taylor soon found the pressure of getting Liverpool back into the top division almost intolerable. The club finished third in 1957 and a fourth place followed that in 1958.

In January 1959 Liverpool suffered their most humiliating defeat when they were knocked out of the FA Cup by non-League Worcester City. Taylor resigned on 17 November 1959.