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Big moments. Local heroes.

LiverpoolFootball Club

The highs. The heartbreak.
The people who made it.
This is their story.

Founded
1892
Known as
The Reds
Home turf
Anfield
From
Merseyside
The long read

More than a scoreline.

From local beginnings to the big occasions. This is Liverpool.

An introductory history of the men’s first team, from the club’s origins through 2020. Selected turning points and honours, rather than a complete season archive; later results are outside this edition.

Anfield needed a team

Liverpool came into being in 1892 after Everton’s departure from Anfield. John Houlding and his associates created a new club for the ground. Liverpool joined the Football League in 1893 and won their first national championship in 1901. Source →

Shankly and the teams that followed

Bill Shankly’s appointment in 1959 began a new era. Promotion in 1962 was followed by league and FA Cup success. Bob Paisley took over in 1974, and Liverpool won their first European Cup in 1977, then retained it a year later. Source →

Remembering the people lost

The history also includes the Heysel disaster in 1985 and Hillsborough in 1989. Those who died, their families and the long pursuit of justice belong at the centre of those chapters. A trophy list alone cannot tell Liverpool’s story. Source →

Istanbul and the league’s return

Liverpool recovered from 3–0 down to beat Milan on penalties in the 2005 Champions League final. Another European title arrived in 2019. The 2019–20 Premier League championship ended the wait for a league title that had lasted since 1990. Source →

The moments that mattered

Through the years.

  1. 1892

    A new team at Anfield

    John Houlding establishes Liverpool after the split with Everton. [source]

  2. 1900–01

    Champions of England

    Liverpool win their first league title. [source]

  3. 1961–62

    Back in the First Division

    The Second Division title brings promotion. [source]

  4. 1977

    European champions

    The first European Cup is won. [source]

  5. 2005

    Istanbul

    Liverpool win their fifth European Cup. [source]

  6. 2019–20

    The league returns

    Liverpool win the Premier League. [source]

Home turf

More than a ground.

Anfield

Liverpool began at Anfield in 1892 after Everton left for Goodison Park. The ground therefore has a football history older than Liverpool FC itself.

Read the ground’s history ↗
Club characters

The people behind it.

A few figures from the milestones in this introduction.

European success

Bob Paisley

Succeeded Shankly and managed Liverpool from 1974 to 1983.

Read the source ↗
In the trophy cabinet

Reasons to celebrate.

Selected senior honours and promotions. Competition records ↗

First Division / Premier League

Champions · selected seasons
1900–01, 1963–64, 1989–90, 2019–20

European Cup / UEFA Champions League

Winners
1976–77, 1977–78, 1980–81, 1983–84, 2004–05, 2018–19
Behind the story

Good stories.
Proper sources.

Written in our own words, with links back to the records. Last reviewed .

  1. Liverpool FC

    Liverpool: history and origins ↗

    Background to the club, its identity and the people in this introduction.

  2. Football Club History Database · Richard Rundle

    Liverpool: competition record ↗

    Competition records; the honours below are a selection within this page’s stated period.

  3. Liverpool FC

    Past managers ↗

    Historical managerial appointments.

  4. Liverpool FC

    Liverpool FC history ↗

    Club history and remembrance resources for Heysel and Hillsborough.

A growing record

Our first chapter is an introduction, not an exhaustive archive. We credit existing research and will expand the collection as more material is checked. Our editorial approach ↗

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