The 1990–91 season was the 99th season in Liverpool F.C.'s existence, and their 29th consecutive year in the top flight. The season saw the club unable to defend its league title and did not reclaim the title for another thirty years until the 2019–20 season.
| 1990–91 season | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Manager | Kenny Dalglish (until 22 February) Ronnie Moran Graeme Souness | ||
| First Division | 2nd | ||
| FA Cup | Fifth round | ||
| League Cup | Third round | ||
| FA Charity Shield | Title shared | ||
| Top goalscorer | League: Ian Rush (16) John Barnes (16) All: Ian Rush (26) | ||
|
| |||
Manager Kenny Dalglish resigned on 22 February 1991 following a dramatic 4–4 draw with local rivals Everton, citing personal reasons for his decision. With caretaker Ronnie Moran in charge, Liverpool failed to regain the lead of the First Division from Arsenal, who finished as champions having lost just one game all season. However, the club was still able to secure another top-two finish for a record 10th season in succession. Graeme Souness was appointed manager on 16 April for the five last matches of the season, resulting in three wins and two defeats.
Captain Alan Hansen, out of action for a nearly a year, announced his retirement as a player not long after Dalglish's resignation.
The season had started very well for the Reds, who as defending league champions won their first eight league games, including a 4–0 victory over Manchester United at Anfield, and enjoyed a 15-match unbeaten start in the league.
It was also the final season at Anfield for striker Peter Beardsley, who enjoyed a fine start to his fourth season at the club but was then dropped in favour of new signing David Speedie halfway through the season. Both players left the club in the close season; Speedie to Blackburn Rovers and Beardsley to local rivals Everton. Also on their way out of Anfield that summer were defenders Gary Gillespie and Steve Staunton to Celtic and Aston Villa respectively. The close season saw Liverpool pay a national record £2.9million for Derby County striker Dean Saunders, who had been one of the First Division's top scorers in 1990–91 despite his team being relegated in bottom place. A further £2.5million went to the East Midlanders for England defender Mark Wright. An outlay of £1.25million also went on midfielder Mark Walters, who followed Souness to Anfield from Rangers.
Just weeks before his resignation, Dalglish invested for the future with a move for 17-year-old AFC Bournemouth midfielder Jamie Redknapp, while fellow teenage midfielder Steve McManaman made his first two senior appearances during the season.
Events of the season edit
August edit
Liverpool's defence of their record 18th top division league title began on 25 August 1990 at Bramall Lane, where they defeated newly promoted Sheffield United 3–1. A visit to Wembley a week earlier for the FA Charity Shield had seen Liverpool share the honour with FA Cup holders Manchester United in a 1–1 draw.
September edit
September ended with Liverpool top of the First Division, having won all of their seven opening league games, including a 3–2 win at Goodison Park in the Merseyside derby in which Peter Beardsley scored twice, and even more impressively a 4–0 demolition of Manchester United at Anfield in which Beardsley hit a hat-trick. Beardsley ended the month as the First Division's top goalscorer with seven goals in as many games.
October edit
Liverpool's winning start to the season reached an eighth successive game as they triumphed 2–0 at home to struggling Derby County, and in the next game they dropped points for the first time when Norwich City held them to a 1–1 draw at Carrow Road. The month ended in disappointment when Manchester United dumped them out of the Football League Cup with a 3–1 defeat at Old Trafford.
November edit
Peter Beardsley's excellent form continued as he reached the 10-goal mark in the First Division on 10 November, finding the net in a 4–0 home win over Luton Town. It was also a fine month for Ian Rush, who was on the scoresheet twice against both Luton Town and Tottenham Hotspur. Liverpool remained comfortably in the lead at the top of the First Division as November ended.
December edit
Liverpool's unbeaten start to the season ended after 14 games when they crashed 3–0 to their nearest challengers Arsenal at Highbury on 2 December, but their lead of the First Division remained intact. The month ended with a second defeat at Crystal Palace, slowly emerging as outsiders in the title race, but also included wins over Sheffield United and Southampton.
January edit
The new year brought two significant signings for Liverpool, in the shape of experienced striker David Speedie from Coventry City and promising 17-year-old midfielder Jamie Redknapp from AFC Bournemouth. There were just three league games for the Reds this month, starting with a 3–0 win over Leeds United at Anfield on New Year's Day, followed by draws against Aston Villa at Wimbledon.
The FA Cup quest got off to a rocky start, with the Reds needing replays to see off Second Division competition in the shape of Blackburn Rovers in the third round and Brighton & Hove Albion in the fourth. However, Arsenal had overtaken the Reds as league leaders by the end of the month.
February edit
Kenny Dalglish stunned the football world on 22 February 1991 by suddenly announcing his resignation as Liverpool manager after nearly six years in charge, during which time he had guided them to three league titles, two FA Cups, and they had never finished lower than runners-up in the league. They were also in contention for the double when he handed in his resignation, having just forced a second replay against Everton in the fifth round following a goalless draw at Anfield and a 4–4 thriller at Goodison Park less than 48 hours before the bombshell was dropped. They had also beaten Everton in the league earlier in the month.
Long-serving coach Ronnie Moran was put in temporary charge of the first team until a permanent successor could be found. However, the month ended with Everton finally getting the better of the Reds in the second replay of the FA Cup fifth round.
March edit
Arsenal extended their lead over the Reds with a 1–0 win at Anfield on 3 March, but wins in the next three games (including a 7–1 demolition of bottom club Derby County at The Baseball Ground)kept the Reds in contention for a 19th league title.
April edit
13 goals and three straight wins meant that Liverpool ended the month still capable of catching Arsenal in the race for the league title, giving new manager Graeme Souness every chance of a dream return to the club he served so well as a player.
May edit
Successive defeats to Chelsea and Nottingham Forest ended Liverpool's hopes of another league title as the championship trophy headed back to Arsenal, who had seized it from Liverpool's grasp with the last kick of the season two years earlier. The last league action of the season was a 2–0 home win over Tottenham Hotspur, and the Reds at least had the consolation of a record 10th successive top two finish.[1]
Much speculation surrounded Anfield at the end of the season regarding who would be joining Liverpool and who might be leaving. The future of Peter Beardsley at Anfield was looking particularly bleak; after an excellent start to the season which saw him hit the back of the net 11 times in the league before the end of November, he had struggled to hold down his place in the first team due to competition from Ronny Rosenthal and then David Speedie for the position as Ian Rush's strike partner. There was also talk that David Speedie could soon be on his way out of Anfield just months after arriving as Souness looked to sign a new striker, with Mo Johnston of Rangers and Dean Saunders of Derby County being two names most strongly linked with a move to Anfield. Following the retirement of Alan Hansen in the centre of defence, Derby County's Mark Wright also became a transfer target. Midfielder Craig Johnston, who had announced his retirement from playing three years earlier in order to care for his sister following a serious accident, was offered the chance of reviving his career by Souness.[2]
Squad edit
Goalkeepers edit
Defenders edit
Gary Ablett- David Burrows
Gary Gillespie- Alex Watson
Glenn Hysén- Steve Nicol
Steve Staunton- Barry Venison
- Nick Tanner
Midfielders edit
- Don Hutchison
- Steve McMahon
- Steve McManaman
- Ronnie Whelan
- John Barnes
- Ray Houghton
- Mike Marsh
Jan Mølby- Jamie Redknapp
- Jimmy Carter
Jim Magilton
Attackers edit
League table edit
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arsenal (C) | 38 | 24 | 13 | 1 | 74 | 18 | +56 | 83[a] | Qualification for the European Cup first round |
| 2 | Liverpool | 38 | 23 | 7 | 8 | 77 | 40 | +37 | 76 | Qualification for the UEFA Cup first round |
| 3 | Crystal Palace | 38 | 20 | 9 | 9 | 50 | 41 | +9 | 69 | |
| 4 | Leeds United | 38 | 19 | 7 | 12 | 65 | 47 | +18 | 64 | |
| 5 | Manchester City | 38 | 17 | 11 | 10 | 64 | 53 | +11 | 62 |
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored
(C) Champions
Notes:
Matches edit
FA Charity Shield edit
| 18 August FA Charity Shield | Liverpool | 1 – 1 | Manchester United | London |
Barnes  51' (pen.) |
Report | Blackmore 44' |
Stadium: Wembley Stadium Attendance: 66,558 Referee: George Courtney |
First Division edit
| 25 August 1 | Sheffield United | 1 – 3 | Liverpool | Sheffield |
| Deane 60' |
Report | Barnes 59' Houghton 65'Rush 88' |
Stadium: Bramall Lane Attendance: 27,009 Referee: Vic Callow |
| 28 August 2 | Liverpool | 2 – 0 | Nottingham Forest | Liverpool |
| Rush 52' Beardsley 83' |
Report | Stadium: Anfield Attendance: 33,363 Referee: Peter Tyldesley |
| 1 September 3 | Liverpool | 2 – 1 | Aston Villa | Liverpool |
| Beardsley 12' Barnes 87' |
Report | Platt 26' |
Stadium: Anfield Attendance: 38,061 Referee: Keith Hackett |
| 8 September 4 | Wimbledon | 1 – 2 | Liverpool | London |
| Cork 74' |
Report | Barnes 27' Whelan 31' |
Stadium: Plough Lane Attendance: 12,364 Referee: R. Groves |
| 16 September 5 | Liverpool | 4 – 0 | Manchester United | Liverpool |
| Beardsley 11', 32', 81' Barnes 44' |
Report | Stadium: Anfield Attendance: 35,726 Referee: Lester Shapter |
| 22 September 6 | Everton | 2 – 3 | Liverpool | Liverpool |
| Hinchcliffe 71' McCall 84' |
Report | Beardsley 36', 68' Barnes 37' (pen.) |
Stadium: Goodison Park Attendance: 39,847 Referee: Roger Milford |
| 29 September 7 | Sunderland | 0 – 1 | Liverpool | Sunderland |
| Report | Houghton 44' |
Stadium: Roker Park Attendance: 31,107 Referee: T. West |
| 6 October 8 | Liverpool | 2 – 0 | Derby County | Liverpool |
| Houghton 37' Beardsley 85' |
Report | Stadium: Anfield Attendance: 37,036 Referee: Terry Holbrook |
| 20 October 9 | Norwich City | 1 – 1 | Liverpool | Norwich |
| Fox 7' |
Report | Gillespie 2' |
Stadium: Carrow Road Attendance: 21,275 Referee: John Moules |
| 27 October 10 | Liverpool | 2 – 0 | Chelsea | Liverpool |
| Rush 3' Nicol 17' |
Report | Stadium: Anfield Attendance: 38,463 Referee: Keren Barratt |
| 4 November 11 | Tottenham Hotspur | 1 – 3 | Liverpool | London |
| Lineker 50' |
Report | Rush 38', 48' Beardsley 67' |
Stadium: White Hart Lane Attendance: 35,033 Referee: George Courtney |
| 10 November 12 | Liverpool | 4 – 0 | Luton Town | Liverpool |
| Rush 5', 39' Mølby 9' (pen.) Beardsley 71' |
Report | Stadium: Anfield Attendance: 35,207 Referee: Gerald Ashby |
| 17 November 13 | Coventry City | 0 – 1 | Liverpool | Coventry |
| Report | Beardsley 73' |
Stadium: Highfield Road Attendance: 22,571 Referee: Ken Redfern |
| 24 November 14 | Liverpool | 2 – 2 | Manchester City | Liverpool |
| Rush 82' Rosenthal 86' |
Report | Ward 62' Quinn 89' |
Stadium: Anfield Attendance: 37,847 Referee: Philip Don |
| 2 December 15 | Arsenal | 3 – 0 | Liverpool | London |
| Merson 21' Dixon 46' (pen.)Smith 88' |
Report | Stadium: Highbury Attendance: 40,419 Referee: Allan Gunn |
| 15 December 16 | Liverpool | 2 – 0 | Sheffield United | Liverpool |
| Barnes 61' Rush 75' |
Report | Stadium: Anfield Attendance: 33,516 Referee: John Lloyd |
| 22 December 17 | Liverpool | 3 – 2 | Southampton | Liverpool |
| Rosenthal 33', 43' Houghton 83' |
Report | Wallace 18', 48' |
Stadium: Anfield Attendance: 31,894 Referee: Robbie Hart |
| 26 December 18 | Queens Park Rangers | 1 – 1 | Liverpool | London |
| Falco 67' |
Report | Barnes 49' |
Stadium: Loftus Road Attendance: 17,848 Referee: J. Martin |
| 30 December 19 | Crystal Palace | 1 – 0 | Liverpool | London |
| Bright 44' |
Report | Stadium: Selhurst Park Attendance: 26,280 |
| 1 January 20 | Liverpool | 3 – 0 | Leeds United | Liverpool |
| Barnes 7' Rosenthal 33'Rush 89' |
Report | Stadium: Anfield Attendance: 36,975 Referee: Peter Tyldesley |
| 12 January 21 | Aston Villa | 0 – 0 | Liverpool | Birmingham |
| Report | Stadium: Villa Park Attendance: 40,026 Referee: Jim Borrett |
| 19 January 22 | Liverpool | 1 – 1 | Wimbledon | Liverpool |
| 15:00 | Barnes 33' |
Report | Barton 81' |
Stadium: Anfield Attendance: 35,030 Referee: Howard King |
| 3 February 23 | Manchester United | 1 – 1 | Liverpool | Manchester |
| Bruce 26' |
Report | Speedie 39' |
Stadium: Old Trafford Attendance: 43,690 Referee: Ray Lewis |
| 9 February 24 | Liverpool | 3 – 1 | Everton | Liverpool |
| Mølby 17' Speedie 49', 53' |
Report | Nevin 45' |
Stadium: Anfield Attendance: 38,127 Referee: Lester Shapter |
| 23 February 25 | Luton Town | 3 – 1 | Liverpool | Luton |
| Black 47' Dowie 55', 90' |
Report | Mølby 13' (pen.) |
Stadium: Kenilworth Road Attendance: 12,032 Referee: D. Ashworth |
| 3 March 26 | Liverpool | 0 – 1 | Arsenal | Liverpool |
| Report | Merson |
Stadium: Anfield Attendance: 37,221 Referee: Terry Holbrook |
| 9 March 27 | Manchester City | 0 – 3 | Liverpool | Manchester |
| Report | Mølby 39' (pen.), 44' (pen.) Barnes 86' |
Stadium: Maine Road Attendance: 35,150 Referee: George Courtney |
| 16 March 28 | Liverpool | 2 – 1 | Sunderland | Liverpool |
| Rush 27' Owers 44' (o.g.) |
Report | Armstrong 19' |
Stadium: Anfield Attendance: 37,582 Referee: Keith Hackett |
| 23 March 29 | Derby County | 1 – 7 | Liverpool | Derby |
| Saunders 19' |
Report | Mølby 7' (pen.) Barnes 23', 47' Rush 39' Nicol 56', 63' Houghton 90' |
Stadium: Baseball Ground Attendance: 20,531 Referee: Philip Don |
| 30 March 30 | Liverpool | 1 – 3 | Queens Park Rangers | Liverpool |
| Mølby 64' (pen.) |
Report | Ferdinand 10' Wegerle 45'Wilson 83' |
Stadium: Anfield Attendance: 37,251 Referee: Mike Reed |
| 1 April 31 | Southampton | 1 – 0 | Liverpool | Southampton |
| Le Tissier 4' |
Report | Stadium: The Dell Attendance: 20,255 Referee: Allan Gunn |
| 9 April 32 | Liverpool | 1 – 1 | Coventry City | Liverpool |
| Rush 20' |
Report | Gynn 34' |
Stadium: Anfield Attendance: 31,063 Referee: David Elleray |
| 13 April 33 | Leeds United | 4 – 5 | Liverpool | Leeds |
| Chapman 68', 81', 88' Shutt 77' |
Report | Houghton 11' Mølby 16' (pen.)Speedie 25'Barnes 28', 79' |
Stadium: Elland Road Attendance: 31,460 Referee: Ken Redfern |
| 20 April 34 | Liverpool | 3 – 0 | Norwich City | Liverpool |
| Barnes 31' Houghton 36'Rush 85' |
Report | Stadium: Anfield Attendance: 37,065 Referee: Vic Callow |
| 23 April 35 | Liverpool | 3 – 0 | Crystal Palace | Liverpool |
| Rush 41' Barnes 55'McGoldrick 88' (o.g.) |
Report | Stadium: Anfield Attendance: 36,767 Referee: Keren Barratt |
| 4 May 36 | Chelsea | 4 – 2 | Liverpool | London |
| Dixon 8', 77' Wise 32' (pen.)Durie 87' |
Report | Speedie 62' Rosenthal 72' |
Stadium: Stamford Bridge Attendance: 32,266 Referee: Stephen Lodge |
| 6 May 37 | Nottingham Forest | 2 – 1 | Liverpool | Nottingham |
| Clough 13' Woan 64' |
Report | Mølby 56' (pen.) |
Stadium: City Ground Attendance: 26,151 Referee: J. Martin |
| 11 May 38 | Liverpool | 2 – 0 | Tottenham Hotspur | Liverpool |
| Rush 41' Speedie 48' |
Report | Stadium: Anfield Attendance: 36,192 Referee: Roger Milford |
FA Cup edit
| 5 January 3rd Round | Blackburn Rovers | 1 – 1 | Liverpool | Blackburn |
| Garner 46' |
Report | Atkins 90' (o.g.) |
Stadium: Ewood Park Attendance: 18,524 |
| 8 January 3rd Round Replay | Liverpool | 3 – 0 | Blackburn Rovers | Liverpool |
| Houghton 15' Rush 23'Staunton 82' |
Report | Stadium: Anfield Attendance: 34,175 |
| 26 January 4th Round | Liverpool | 2 – 2 | Brighton & Hove Albion | Liverpool |
| Rush 48', 55' |
Report | Small 72' Byrne 74' |
Stadium: Anfield Attendance: 32,670 |
| 30 January 4th Round Replay | Brighton & Hove Albion | 2 – 3 | Liverpool | Brighton |
| Small 36' Byrne 98' |
Report | McMahon 10', 114' Rush 106' |
Stadium: Goldstone Ground Attendance: 14,392 |
| 20 February 5th Round Replay | Everton | 4 – 4 | Liverpool | Liverpool |
| Sharp 48', 73' Cottee 89', 113' |
Report | Beardsley 37', 71' Rush 77'Barnes 103' |
Stadium: Goodison Park Attendance: 37,766 |
| 27 February 5th Round 2nd Replay | Everton | 1 – 0 | Liverpool | Liverpool |
| D. Watson 12' |
Report | Stadium: Goodison Park Attendance: 40,201 |
Football League Cup edit
| 25 September 2nd Round 1st Leg | Liverpool | 5 – 1 | Crewe Alexandra | Liverpool |
| McMahon 30' Gillespie 31'Houghton 67'Rush 72', 85' |
Report | Sussex 8' |
Stadium: Anfield Attendance: 17,228 Referee: Stephen Lodge |
| 9 October 2nd Round 2nd Leg | Crewe Alexandra | 1 – 4 | Liverpool | Crewe |
| Sussex 86' |
Report | Rush 18', 48', 74' Staunton 42' |
Stadium: Gresty Road Attendance: 7,200 Referee: Paul Harrison |
| 31 October 3rd Round | Manchester United | 3 – 1 | Liverpool | Manchester |
| Bruce 36' (pen.) Hughes 37'Sharpe 81' |
Report | Houghton 83' |
Stadium: Old Trafford Attendance: 42,033 Referee: Joe Worrall |
Top scorers edit
Ian Rush 16- John Barnes 16
- Peter Beardsley 11
- Jan Mølby 9
- Ray Houghton 7
- David Speedie 6
Ronnie Rosenthal 5
Recap edit
| Competition | Result | Top Scorer |
|---|---|---|
| First Division | Runners-Up |  John Barnes, 16 Ian Rush, 16
|
| FA Cup | Fifth Round | Ian Rush, 5
|
| League Cup | Third Round | Ian Rush, 5
|
| Charity Shield | Title shared | John Barnes, 1
|
| Overall | Ian Rush, 26
|
References edit
- ^ "LIVERWEB - Liverpool Results 1990-91". Archived from the original on 18 February 2012. Retrieved 7 February 2011.
- ^ [1][permanent dead link]