O F F I C I A L L I V E R P O O L F C M A T C H D A Y P R O G R A M M E

LIVERPOOL FC
v LEEDS UNITED FC

12/09/2020
Kick-off 5.30pm
2020/21 Season
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14 34

CO NTE
DIRECTORS
John Henry (principal owner),
Tom Werner (chairman),
M Gordon,
B Hogan (chief executive
officer), Sir Kenny Dalglish,
M Egan, A Hughes

E D FC
HONOURS
League Champions (19)

S UNIT
1900/01, 1905/06,
1921/22, 1922/23,
1946/47, 1963/64,
1965/66, 1972/73,

v L EED
1975/76, 1976/77,
1978/79, 1979/80,
1981/82, 1982/83,

O O L FC
1983/84, 1985/86,
1987/88, 1989/90,
2019/20

E RP
European Cup Winners (6)
1976/77, 1977/78,
1980/81, 1983/84,

0 • LI V
2004/05, 2018/19

European Super Cup

12.09.2
Winners (4)
1977/78, 2001/02,
2005/06, 2019/20

UEFA Cup Winners (3) 04 18 58

1972/73, 1975/76,
2000/01
04 Jürgen Klopp 28 What's new for 20/21 65 LFC Women
FIFA Club World Cup
Winners (1) 08 Jordan Henderson 34 Q&A: Neco Williams 67 LFC Academy
2019
10 Countdown to kick-off 39 Anfield Extra 71 Support Us Safely
FA Cup Winners (7) 14 Andy Robertson 47 Kop Kids 72 FA Community Shield
1964/65, 1973/74,
1985/86, 1988/89, 18 Welcome Leeds United 49 Different League 76 Player stats
1991/92, 2000/01, 24 Back Story 50 Big Read: title defences 80 Results and fixtures
2005/06
27 The Knowledge 58 Kostas Tsimikas 82 Premier League table
League Cup Winners (8)
1980/81, 1981/82,
1982/83, 1983/84,
1994/95, 2000/01,
2002/03, 2011/12

Community Shield
Winners (15)
1964*, 1965*, 1966, 1974,
1976, 1977*, 1979, 1980,
1982, 1986*, 1988, 1989, Editor David Cottrell Assistant Editor William Hughes Writer Chris McLoughlin Production Editor Michael McGuinness
Design Colin Sumpter Contributors Dave Ball, Ged Rea Photography Press Association, Getty Images, Leeds United FC,
1990*, 2001, 2006
Liverpool Echo, John Powell, Andrew Powell, Nicholas Taylor © Liverpool Football Club & Athletic Grounds Ltd
*Shield was shared with
Published by Reach Sport Managing Director Steve Hanrahan Commercial Director Will Beedles Executive Art Editor
opposing team Rick Cooke Executive Editor Paul Dove Marketing & Communications Manager Claire Brown Printed by Buxton Press
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03
 We must be at our absolute maximum
today from the first moment or we
will get nothing. It really is that simple
FROM THE BOSS J Ü R G E N K LO P P

H
ello wherever you are in the world and welcome back We must be at our absolute maximum
for our new Premier League season. today from the first moment, or we will get
I welcome Leeds United to Anfield, along with their nothing. It really is that simple.
manager Marcelo Bielsa, their players, staff and officials. Leeds United is the toughest opponent, yes,
Mr Bielsa has one of the highest reputations in coaching – in but in many ways this helps as it hammers
any sport, not just football – and when you see the quality of home the most important message going
his work it is easy to understand why. It was a huge gamble to into this new campaign…and that is we start
come to England and take a job with the expectation of Leeds
United, in a culture and league he has never experienced.
I know more about this club than maybe others because of
James Milner. Whenever we are together as a team and Leeds
are playing we all know everything about it, because Milly
doesn’t shut up about it. But joking aside, via James and via
my own historical knowledge, I know the significance of this
club to English football.
I’d also heard for some time that this club “belongs” in the
Premier League and there lay the biggest challenge that Mr
Bielsa and his players had to combat. Expectation based on
emotion! And wow, they took on the challenge and achieved.
I honestly think today is the toughest opening fixture
we could have faced. Leeds have outstanding players, a
world-class leader and positive momentum. Quite a cool
combination.

04
start with nothing but with everything possible to achieve.
I view this coming season as a wonderful opportunity. I’m
sure there’ll be lots of talk about pressure and expectation, on
us specifically. But so what! That’s not new, it’s been constant.
It’s not about what other people think or want – it’s about
what we want, and about what we are prepared to do about it!
I look at my team and my staff and I see a group of people
who are humble and ready. They embrace the culture of ‘let’s
go again’.
I use the word 'opportunity' because it’s
critical. Everything is possible over the course
of the next 38 Premier League matches, plus
games in the domestic cups and Europe.
Nothing will be given to us and we start with
no advantage or head-start.
Everyone is on the start-line in exactly the
same position. This suits us fine, perfect in
fact. There is no pole position because of
05
 Defending something? That doesn't work for us –
that's regressive. The only thing we defend is our
goal. Everything else we attack!
previous achievements. Again, perfect, this is ideal for our
culture and our mentality.
Look at our team and look at their stories. These are people
who embrace the challenge. They have faced adversity and
come through it. All their lives they have had hurdles in front
of them. But until now, they have been pretty good at clearing
them.
It is not hard to find new energy each season when you
have the professional culture our players have. They were
and remain the mentality monsters. It is a myth that we have
needed setbacks to find our energy and motivation in the past.
Yes, striking back when suffering a knock was and will remain
06
part of our make-up, I don’t deny this and I
don’t want to lose it. We will 100 per cent
need it – both during games and definitely
during the season. The ability to get up off the
canvas and keep punching is important.
It comes from within this team and from
deep within the fabric of this club.
But ‘striking back’ is only part of it. The
truth is we didn’t ‘need’ setbacks but we did
‘use’ them to our advantage. It is just about
our situation. We react to it, whatever that
situation is.
 We have had many different situations during our period
together, a lot of them positive – most of them positive in fact.
So we find energy in all places. This is what we do: identify the
next challenge and go for it with all we have.
The energy is there because we treat each day, each
challenge, each session, each game as an opportunity.
Something new to attack. Fresh and exciting.
It’s never about keeping hold of something. Defending
something?! That doesn’t work for us – that’s regressive. The
only thing we defend is our goal. Everything else we attack!
We are about forward momentum. Fresh energy, new
energy. What can we achieve now?
We take no energy by looking at previous
league tables, no matter how recent! No
energy from previous records set – pride and
satisfaction maybe, but not new energy.
Look at the league table before a ball is
kicked in this year’s competition and that
brings the motivation we need. It’s a blank
canvas, a chance to paint something new and
wonderful if we are minded to and, crucially, if
we are prepared to work hard enough to do it.
We will find energy in our work. Energy in
our room for further improvement and further
development.
Of course it is going to be hard, really hard.
Trust me when I tell you nobody understands
this better than us as a coaching staff and
as a team. But it’s always been hard. We are
Liverpool and this is the Premier League.
When was it easy – and who wants easy?
We can have easy when our careers are over
if we so wish.
My players are fighters and warriors. They
know they can achieve new memories only
by giving all they have, individually and
collectively, in each moment, by not looking
back or too far ahead.
Yes, we are about looking forward, but
what’s right in front of you in the here-and-
now is enough. Today, for all of us with a
Liverpool heart, it is Leeds United. So for
those who appear on the team-sheet today
– and even those who don’t – there is work
to do. Focus on Leeds and today and nothing
else. And that is enough for us.
Fighting to win this one game, today, is all
the focus and energy we need right now. It is
all we can affect.
Of course we will still be missing one energy
source in the stadium – as will all clubs for
the moment – and that is the supporters.
But even though they are not in the seats
where we can hear and see them, they are still
watching, so we can feel them with us. That
is enough for us to know we have a duty to
perform and work harder for them.
We can be here in this moment and they
cannot, so we embrace that responsibility and
hopefully show it through our performance.
I wish all our supporters a joyful season and
I hope we can be together very soon to create
new memories.
Y ou ’ l l N ev er W a l k Al on e
J ürgen
07
 A
nd so today we start again. It’s true, last season feels
like it has only just finished and yet we have to be
ready to go again and begin 2020/21.
Being ready is a critical theme for us. Being physically ready is
important, of course, but for us – and I’m sure all of the teams
– that will be fine. The boys came back in great shape and
have worked extremely hard to make sure they’re in the best
condition possible.
As professional athletes at this level, that should be a given
and, as I say, I’m certain it’s the same for Leeds United as it is
for us.
The biggest part of this is making sure we all have the
mentality that we start from scratch. Everything resets to zero
and it’s about going again.
The Gaffer has spoken a lot about this and as players we buy
into it completely. It’s not a case of ignoring what has gone
before or pretending that past achievements haven’t happened;
and of course for the supporters we hope they take all the joy in
the world from it for as long as possible.
But for us, it has to be about what’s next. We can’t take our
eye off the ball even for a second, certainly not in a competition
as tough and demanding as the Premier League. Otherwise
we’ll be punished.
When I think back to what has served us well in the past, it’s
been that mindset to only focus on what’s immediately in front
of you. As a player that starts with training. Turn up at Melwood
each day and be ready to work. Eat the right things, listen to the
medical staff and fitness coaches to do the right preparation
and then treat each session as an opportunity to be better and
learn as much as you can.
With matches it’s about keeping the focus entirely on the
here-and-now. What can I affect now? What impact can I have
in this exact moment to help the team?
Don’t look beyond the immediate challenge, only think about
winning the things you can in this exact moment. This means
focusing entirely on winning your first tackle, making your first
pass, winning the header, being faster and stronger than your
opponent in those individual tussles, being competitive in those
personal battles and collective ones.
It’s part-and-parcel of our professional lives that so much
external emphasis will be placed on looking ahead, making
predictions and setting expectations. It’ll be exactly the same
for Leeds United, I’m sure.
They enjoyed a fantastic season and were worthy champions
in their league. It was a brilliant achievement for them, but I’m
sure it wasn’t that long after they were being asked to predict
how this next season would go, how would they compete in the
Premier League and so on.
As I’ve said, it’s fine for people externally to debate and
discuss this – it’s what makes football such an engrossing
topic. But as players it is your responsibility to deliver on the
pitch and you have to block out any distractions that don't help.
Along with Leeds, we’ve had nice things said and written
about us in the past weeks and months, and of course in those
08
moments it’s good. But none of it matters or
helps when the whistle goes this afternoon to
begin this new campaign.
All 20 teams start on the same number of
points – zero. Nothing from the past season
is carried over. And that suits us just fine.
I look at our team and a defining feature
is we have all scrapped and fought for
everything we have in our professional lives.
Nothing has been given to anyone in our
dressing-room. Nothing has been easy.
Everything has been earned. So that makes
it possible to keep the mentality fixed on
improvement and pushing ourselves at all
times.
Working harder is the only way for us,
whether we be in a good moment or a bad
moment. You get through difficult moments
if you work harder – and you make good
moments better if you work hard.
The Gaffer talks about the importance of
staying humble, as individuals, as a team
and as a club. Part of staying humble is
recognising that this season begins with
everyone in exactly the same position.
We have no advantage over Leeds today
before a whistle is blown. If we want an
advantage in the game – on the pitch –
we have go and earn it. As I said at the
beginning of this column, everything is reset
to zero.
If we want to create special memories,
they need to be earned, one challenge at
a time, one sprint at a time, one save at a
time and one battle at a time.
It is right to be optimistic about what is
ahead for us, but that feeling is built on
a belief that we will indeed stay humble
and stay focused.
Finally, a message to the supporters
reading this column, wherever you
are at the moment. No one is more
gutted than we, as players, that this
new season starts as the last finished,
with empty stadiums. But on behalf
of the dressing-room I can guarantee
to every Liverpool fan that the
motivation we have to win games for
you is as big as ever.
We know you are still with us and
we know the responsibility we carry
to perform for you.
I can’t promise results, but I can
promise we will do our very best.
All 20 teams start on the same number
of points - zero. Nothing from the past
is carried over and that suits us fine
S K I P P E R ' S N OT E S JORDAN HENDERSON

09
 COUNTDOWN TO
LIVERPOOL V LEEDS UNITED

TRENT’S “An unbelievable honour” was how Trent Alexander-

Arnold described his PFA Young Player of the Year award

HONOUR
for season 2019/20.
The 21-year-old right-back featured in every Premier
League game as Liverpool were crowned champions last
season and received the honour after a vote of his fellow
professionals. He’s the first Red since Steven Gerrard
in 2000/01 to claim the accolade and the fifth overall
alongside Ian Rush (1982/83), Robbie Fowler (1994/95
and 1995/96) and Michael Owen (1997/98).
The others on the 2019/20 shortlist were Tammy
Abraham, Mason Greenwood, Mason Mount, Marcus
Rashford and Bukayo Saka.
“Being a part of the names that I’ve seen on here, and
to be a part of such an amazing trophy is an unbelievable
honour for me and my family,” he said. “It’s something
we’ll always be proud of.
“These types of awards, when it’s voted by people who
have played against you and can maybe admire or respect
the things you do on the pitch, is amazing. It’s a big thanks
to all those that voted for me and have decided I deserve
this trophy. It’s something I’ll never forget.”

“IT DOESN’T GET NECO’S

ANY BETTER”
Leeds captain Liam Cooper says there is no
better fixture to start the club’s return to the
Premier League than a trip to Anfield.
The centre-back, one of four Leeds players
from last season named in the PFA’s
Championship Team of the Year, told LUTV:
“I said to the lads when the fixtures came out
that it doesn’t get any better. You want to go and
test yourselves against the best and the Premier
League champions is one way to go about it.
“We will be prepared like we always
are. Nothing will come as a shock to us.
Obviously they have world-class players and
there is no better feeling than
going out there and test
yourselves against the best,
and what will be will be.”
He added: “I know 100
per cent we won’t
change the way we
approach games or
the intensity we play
at. So strap in,
it is going to be
an unbelievable
season and we are
back where we
belong.”
PRIDE
Liverpool right-back
Neco Williams was the
toast of Wales after
scoring a stoppage-
time winner in the UEFA
Nations League game with
Bulgaria last Sunday.
In just his second
senior international appearance, the 19-year-old met a left-wing
cross with a downward header at the far-post to earn his country
back-to-back 1-0 victories in League B Group 4. He’d made his
debut as a substitute in the 1-0 win over Finland three days
earlier.
“To be honest, I can’t really sum it up at the minute,”
Williams told Sky Sports post-match. “We must have made about 25
passes before the goal actually went in, so the build-up to it
was the main thing. And to finish it off, and especially to get
my first goal for my country, is a proud moment for me and my
family. It’ll be a day I’ll remember for the rest of my life.”
BANTAMS OR IMPS IN CARABAO CUP
Liverpool will face either Bradford City or Lincoln City
away from home in the third round of this season’s
Carabao Cup. Last Sunday afternoon’s draw paired the
Reds with the clubs from League Two and League One
respectively, who face each other at Valley Parade on
Tuesday evening. Jürgen Klopp’s side will then visit the
winners on either 22 or 23 September. Further details
will be released in due course.

10
KICK-OFF
FIVE-STAR SHOWING
Five Liverpool players were named in the PFA Premier
League Team of the Year for 2019/20 on Tuesday evening.
Trent Alexander-Arnold, Jordan Henderson, Sadio Mane,
Andy Robertson and Virgil van Dijk each earned a place in
the eleven, voted for by their fellow professionals across
the country. It’s the second successive year that Alexander-
Arnold, Mane, Robertson and Van Dijk have
been picked, with the title-winning
skipper now joining them.
The 2019/20 team in full is: Nick
Pope (Burnley), Trent Alexander-
Arnold, Virgil van Dijk, Caglar
Soyuncu (Leicester City),
Andy Robertson, David Silva
(Manchester City), Jordan
Henderson, Kevin De Bruyne
(Manchester City), Jamie
Vardy (Leicester City), Pierre-
Emerick Aubameyang (Arsenal)
and Sadio Mane.
HARVEY’S DREAM
Harvey Elliott fulfilled a childhood dream when
he scored for Liverpool last Saturday. The 17-year-
old netted the fourth as the Reds came from two
behind to beat League One side Blackpool 7-2 in
the final pre-season friendly at Anfield.
“It was great to score for my boyhood club,”
Elliott, who also claimed an assist, told the club
website. “I see my main goal as to get in the team,
get a few appearances here and there.
“As you can see, it’s a very hard team to get
into – there’s a lot of world-class players
here. But even just the experiences
around training with these guys and
the coaching staff every day, it’s just
a dream-come-true.”
GARY GILLESPIE
IT’S CHAMPIONS AGAINST
CHAMPIONS TODAY IN A
MOUTHWATERING FIXTURE TO
KICK OFF THE NEW SEASON
Congratulations to Jurgen Klopp and his team for
last season’s phenomenal performance and a well-
deserved Premier League title.
Now, here we go again!
Fingers crossed, everyone has come back to
Melwood from international duty fit and healthy –
that’s always the manager’s first concern.
Fitness-wise I’m sure the players are up-to-speed
or as near as they can be at this early stage of the
new campaign. Maybe it’s going to be more about the
mental side of things this season.
Can we do it again? Can we maintain the high-octane,
high-energy, high-pressing style that the players thrive
upon? It’s a big test.
Any time you play a promoted side it can be tricky,
especially early in the season when there’s no ‘scar
tissue’, if you like, ten or so games in.
This is what Leeds have played for: to take on the
champions at Anfield. It was similar last season with
Norwich City, who were quite impressive despite the
heavy defeat but slightly naïve. Leaving themselves too
open became their Achilles heel.
Leeds have more about them under Bielsa. A lot of
people are predicting good things for them, perhaps
even top six. What’s clear is that their players are
willing to work and follow the manager’s instructions.
For Liverpool I’ve been impressed with Takumi
Minamino in pre-season. It’s a bit like Naby Keita,
whom we’ve seen grow in stature over the last few
months.
I was talking to Phil Thompson the other day and
he suggested that perhaps Minamino was a little
overawed when he first arrived, as much as this is such
a welcoming place. It’s a different culture too.
The best is yet to come from him. Like Keita, it’s just
a matter of finding the right position, one that benefits
both him and the team.
11
 HEAD TO HEAD
The champions are three goals away from recording
550 goals under Jürgen Klopp, this his 267th game
as manager. Mo Salah meanwhile can equal a Premier
League record of scoring in the opening fixture
for four seasons in succession. Here are some
other facts and stats ahead of kick-off...

The Reds are unbeaten in the The last time Liverpool

last 28 home league games
against newly-promoted
sides, winning 23 and
drawing five. Jürgen Klopp
has won all 13 of his.
began a campaign as
league champions (in
1990) they faced Yorkshire
opposition – winning 3-1 at
Sheffield United.

In each opening game of Since losing to Blackpool

a league campaign under in their first game back in
Klopp, Liverpool have scored the top-flight in 1962, the
at least three times (four at Reds have only once lost

63+50+
14+23s 23+27z
Arsenal, three at Watford and their opening-day fixture
four in home wins over West Ham at Anfeld. That came at the
and Norwich). They have never hands of Chelsea in 2003
scored four or more in the first (1-2). Of the others, they
match of a league season in have won 22 with three
three successive years. finishing all-square.
30D
The two teams have Leeds have scored on
clashed on the opening each of their last seven LIVERPOOL v
day once before with Bill league visits to Anfield after 13D LEEDS - ALL 58W
Shankly’s side winning 2-0 only having scored one goal COMPETITIONS
at Anfield in the Second in the previous 10, their last
ANFIELD
Division in season 1960/61. victory coming in April 2001.
15L
8L 35W
27L

5-A-SIDE: DOUBLE AGENTS

LIVERPOOL’S LAST 10 ANFIELD OPENING-DAY LEAGUE WINS

Scott Carson 2019/20 Norwich City 4-1

Jim Beglin 2018/19 West Ham United 4-0
2014/15 Southampton 2-1
Dominic Matteo
2013/14 Stoke City 1-0
El Hadji Diouf 2001/02 West Ham United 2-1
Robbie Keane 2000/01 Bradford City 1-0
1995/96 Sheffield Wednesday 1-0
1993/94 Sheffield Wednesday 2-0
1991/92 Oldham Athletic 2-1
1989/90 Manchester City 3-1

12
TELL US
When the world thinks it can’t be done, boss it.
NOTHING
TO LOSE
Last season’s
Premier League title
is long gone now,
says Andy Robertson,
and it’s all about
attacking this
campaign anew
 RED
MEN

N
o matter how unusual the current
circumstances might be, the start of a new
football season always brings excitement and
an air of expectation. And although things have never
been more different off the pitch, Andy Robertson and
his team-mates are determined to ensure they stay the
same on it throughout 2020/21.
The Scotland skipper, fresh from UEFA Nations
League engagements against Israel and the Czech
Republic, believes the coming campaign will be the most
demanding he and his fellow professionals have ever
faced. But, as ever, he’s ready to tackle the challenges
head on. when the team walks onto the field this afternoon to
“We didn’t have a long time off,” says Andy, “only about take on another team who have become used to winning
two weeks or so and that was just about switching off league games.
and then preparing for what will probably be the toughest “One of the benefits of winning the league with seven
season in our lives. games to go was that luckily we had the five weeks
“There are going to be a lot of games in a short period before the season ended to do different things.
of time and we needed to prepare as well as possible. “We celebrated it properly when we were crowned
We’ve done that in the shortest pre-season I’ve ever had. champions and received the trophy and a couple of days
“It did feel a bit mad how quickly the FA Community after the season ended, we also celebrated. So we are
Shield came round and now we’re into competitive done with that now and ready to move onto the next one.
games. It feels like it was only yesterday that we were “It’s something that’s in the past for us. It’s back to
welcoming everyone back and flying to Austria for our business now and it’s back to a season full of ambition
training camp. and trying to tick off what we want again now. It’s up to
“It’s strange but we’ll be good to go and hopefully we us to go and achieve that again and hopefully we can
can prove that against Leeds.” have a big party with our fans next year.”
Not seven weeks have passed since the Reds were People should know better than to question the
lining up for their final game of that historic 2019/20 motivation of this Liverpool squad although queries have
season but Robertson says there will be no hangover been raised in that regard, if only as a result of the team’s

“IT’S BACK TO BUSINESS

NOW AND IT’S BACK
TO A SEASON FULL OF
AMBITION. IT’S UP TO
US TO ACHIEVE THINGS
AGAIN AND HOPEFULLY
HAVE A BIG PARTY WITH
OUR FANS NEXT YEAR”

15
 “WE’RE NOT
DEFENDING
ANYTHING –
WE’RE CHASING
SOMETHING AGAIN”
success in lifting the Champions League and Premier
League trophies in consecutive seasons. But then this is
the team whose drive and hunger for success has seen
them hailed as ‘mentality monsters’.
Robertson also indicates that if he and his team-mates
were ever in danger of resting on those laurels, they only
need to glance towards the technical area and the man
who gave them that tag.
“It’s quite easy to get motivated, to be honest, because
the targets we set keep changing.
“Of course when you win the Champions League you
want to win it again. When you win the Premier League
you want to win it again. We haven’t been good enough
in the domestic cups in the past few years and that’s
something that we want to put right too, so our targets
always change.
“That’s what makes a good team better, in that we
always keep motivated in terms wanting to achieve it
more. We’ve had feelings of lifting two of the biggest
trophies in football above our heads but we want that
feeling again, so that’s what motivates us.
“We’ve won four trophies since I’ve been here and
16
we want to make it more so that’s our motivation. The
squad’s always been motivated, the coaches have
always kept us motivated, and that will never change. So
long as we continue like that, I believe we’ll bring success
to this club.”
Another motivation for the 26-year-old is his seasonal
assists contest with fellow full-back Trent Alexander-
Arnold! Andy achieved a personal best tally of 12 during
the title-winning campaign, only to be pipped by his pal
on the right who registered 13. Even so, with their full-
backs producing 25 goalscoring assists, the only winner
in the duo’s friendly rivalry is Liverpool FC.
“It’s a long, long season so we’ll see how it plays out
this time!” says Robertson. “I had a lot of games to make
up last season and I nearly got there. We both do this
competition to get the best out of each other.
“These last two seasons we’ve shown that we can
take the numbers to a whole new level for full-backs,
especially with Trent breaking the record for a full-
back that had stood for many years in 2018/19, and
then breaking his own record the year after which was
incredible.
 RED
MEN
“So we know these teams are after us. That’s the way it
goes. To them, we’re champions. But for us, we want to
be champions of this season not the champions of last
season.
“Pulling on this Liverpool jersey there’s an expectation
of you to be competing for trophies, to try to win them,
and we feel that. That doesn’t change because we’re

WORDS: William Hughes

“If I’m anywhere close to him this season then I think champions, it only makes it stronger and that’s what will
we’ll have both had a successful season because I can’t drive us forward for the next years to come. We have
see him not assisting with goals and long may that more than one thing to chase this season and we want
continue. more trophies.
“We like to create chances and hopefully that continues “Of course we hope to achieve our targets but we’ll
this season because us making chances and creating certainly be fighting on all fronts and trying to bring more
goals is a big part of how we play and we get a lot of joy success to this club. It’s a short career as a footballer
from it. So long may that continue, but time will tell. and you want to win as much as you can.”
“It’s obviously going to be tough to continue those
numbers but that’s our aim and hopefully we can do
that.”
Andy’s creativity was clear for all to see again during
the Community Shield at Wembley a fortnight ago and
this afternoon he will be hoping it can help him preserve
a proud record and set another milestone in his Liverpool
career. He has yet to lose a Premier League game in
which he’s played at Anfield since signing for the Reds, a
total which could reach the half-century mark today.
As the team look to start as they mean to go on, he
insists that the squad will not be caught up in past
glories and are focused only on the fresh challenges to
come.
“We’re not defending anything – we’re chasing
something again. For us becoming champions, we drew
a line under that once the season was over. We were
champions of last season, not this season.
“We want to attack it, we don’t want to defend our last
trophy and think that we’ve got something to lose. This
season’s a clean slate.
“At the start of a season, anyone can win the league. Of
course for some teams that will be more realistic than
others, but we want to attack this season. We want to try
and set the standards again, we want to try and be top of
the table and it’s up to us to go and do that, to prove that 17
we can be champions again.”
The no26 acknowledges that will not be easy with most
of last season’s leading lights strengthening their squads
over the summer.
“A lot of teams have improved. Man City have always
been fantastic and are one of the best teams I’ve ever
played against.
“Chelsea will have more expectation on them after
spending a lot of money in the market. Man United are
improving, as are Tottenham and Arsenal. Leicester will
be there again.

17
 Founded: 1919
Home ground: Elland Road
Capacity: 37,890
Seasons in Premier League: 12
Best PL finish: 3rd (1999/2000)
Nickname: Whites/Peacocks

LEEDS UNITED FC
JACK HARRISON
The Manchester City winger
is starting his third season-
long loan at Elland Road. The
versatile left-footed wide
player has scored 10 goals in 89
Championship appearances for
Leeds during the course of the
past two seasons and will now
be looking to shine at the highest
level.

LUKE AYLING
An experienced right-back who is a popular
figure with the Leeds faithful. He enjoyed a fine
campaign last season which saw him collect the
PFA’s Championship Player if the Month award
in both December and February. He also won
Leeds’ Goal of the Season prize for a spectacular
volley against Huddersfield.

18
 OPPOSITION

MARCHING ON TOGETHER
Today’s game will be Leeds United’s first Premier League fixture in 16 years and Marcelo
Bielsa will be aiming to help his men consolidate again in English football’s top tier. After
suffering defeat in the play-offs in 2018/19, the West Yorkshire side stormed to top spot in the
Championship the following season, finishing ten points clear of runners-up West Bromwich
Albion at the top of the table. Promotion ended that hiatus away from England’s elite, a spell
which included three years in League One at the end of the Noughties.

MANAGER:
MARCELO BIELSA

T
he vastly-experienced coach
already enjoyed hero status
among Leeds fans before he
took the club ‘home’ to the Premier
League last season.
Widely admired by fellow managers
around the world, the 65-year-old
started his coaching career four
decades ago when he began working
with the youth team at Newell’s Old
Boys in his native Argentina.
He later went on to lead the first-team
and then coached in Mexico before
returning to his homeland to take
charge of Velez Sarsfield. In 1998
he moved to Europe and coached
Espanyol before spending the best
part of 13 years in international
management with Argentina and Chile.
A return to Spain saw him take up
the manager’s role at Athletic Bilbao
in 2011, after which he managed in
France and Italy with Marseille, Lazio
and Lille before taking on the challenge
at Elland Road in June 2018.
He has enjoyed plenty of managerial
success in his long career and agreed
a new contract this summer with
Leeds, whom he’s now managed in
exactly 100 competitive fixtures. In
HELDER COSTA March 2019 he told the Amazon Prime
Signed a four-year contract with Leeds in July after playing documentary Take Us Home: “I came
an important role in their title-winning campaign while on a to be part of a programme that has
season-long loan from Wolves. A versatile winger who can play goals, but I also can’t say that my only
interest is winning. What also interests
on either flank, he is known for his pace and creativity. Scored
me is the way we build to the victory.”
four goals in 43 league appearances last term.

19
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Photo: Leeds United FC.
TOP TIER CONSOLIDATION AT
TOP OF BIELSA’S BUCKET LIST
A
fter a wait of 16 years that included a spell in League
One, Leeds United will take their place back at the
top table of English football this afternoon.
It’s been a decade-and-a-half filled with more spills than
thrills but under the shrewd tutelage of Marcelo Bielsa the
Peacocks hope to be strutting their stuff again as they renew
rivalries with the biggest names in English football.
Bielsa, who perches on top of an upturned bucket during
matches to help manage a chronic back condition, is the 15th
man to have assumed the manager’s seat since Leeds were
relegated from the Premier League in 2003/04.
However, his meticulous approach has given supporters real
hope that they can set about the business of consolidating in
the top tier again.
Captain Liam Cooper admitted recently that Leeds’ elevated
status has taken some getting used to. He told LUTV:
“Promotion has definitely not sunk in, I don’t know whether
it will be when we play the first game at Anfield or when I’m
looking back on my career in ten years.
“Six years ago I signed for the club and it’s unbelievable to
see where we have come from, writing ourselves into history
forever. The last two years have been the best of my career.
“To play under Marcelo and be guided by him every single
day and to see the group improve like we have, reaching levels
some of us never thought we could, really is unbelievable.
OPPOSITION
Much of Bielsa’s recruitment drive has centred around
young players to develop for the future, with half-a-dozen such
newcomers agreeing deals.
Then a fortnight ago the club announced two experienced
additions. German international centre-back Robin Koch
arrived from SC Freiburg before Leeds broke their transfer
record for the first time in 20 years to sign Valencia’s Spanish
attacker Rodrigo Moreno for a reported fee of £26 million.
One of the biggest challenges Leeds will face in adapting
to the Premier League is learning to play without dominating
possession but in Bielsa they have a coach who will have been
planning for that reality.
Cooper added: “It’s going to be a different mentality this year
and we all know that. We’re not stupid – we don’t think we
are going to go and win the Premier League. I think every fan
being honest would take 17th place, we want to stay in this
league.
“Obviously we want to go and finish higher and push maybe
for the top ten, but in all honesty we would all take staying in
the league and that is what it is all about.”
Leeds completed their pre-season preparations with a 3-1
win over Portuguese outfit Pacos de Ferreira at the Thorp
Arch training ground last Saturday. They came from behind
to record the victory thanks to goals from centre-back Pascal
Struijk and wingers Pablo Hernandez and Helder Costa.
21
 The squad
for 2020/21
1 ILLAN MESLIER 6 LIAM COOPER
Goalkeeper Defender
Age: 20 Age: 29
Nationality: French Nationality: Scottish
Signed a three-year contract this summer Influential captain and central defender
after a season-long loan from Lorient about to start his seventh season with
last term. Kept seven clean-sheets in 10 the club since joining from Chesterfield
league games in the Championship. in the summer of 2014.

13 KIKO CASILLA 21 PASCAL STRUIJK

Goalkeeper Defender
Age: 33 Age: 21
Nationality: Spanish Nationality: Dutch
Experienced glove-man who joined from Left-sided centre-back who made his
Real Madrid in January 2019. Previously senior debut for the club last season
played well over 100 games for Espanyol having joined the club’s youth ranks
in Barcelona. from Ajax in 2018.

2 LUKE AYLING 24 LEIF DAVIS

Defender
Age: 29
Nationality: English
Right-back and vice-captain who has
become a hugely popular figure with the
Elland Road faithful since joining the club
from Bristol City in August 2016.
Defender
Age: 20
Nationality: English
Versatile defender who can play at
left-back or centre-half. He’s made ten
appearances in the first team over the
course of the past two seasons.

3 BARRY DOUGLAS 4 ADAM FORSHAW

Defender Midfielder
Age: 31 Age: 28
Nationality: Scottish Nationality: English
Left-back who has a reputation for his An important figure in the centre of the
ability from set-pieces. The Scotland field in the past two-and-a-half seasons,
international joined from Wolves in July the Scouser started his career across
2018. Stanley Park with Everton.

5 ROBIN KOCH 7 IAN POVEDA

Defender Winger
Age: 24 Age: 20
Nationality: German Nationality: English
Another summer signing, the centre-back Attack-minded wide player who joined
previously played for 1.FC Kaiserslautern on a long-term deal in January after
and SC Freiburg. Won his first caps for coming through the youth ranks at
Germany last season. Brentford and Manchester City.

22
 OPPOSITION
10 EZGJAN ALIOSKI
Winger 46 JAMIE SHACKLETON
Age: 28 Midfielder
Nationality: North Macedonian Age: 20
Versatile wide-player who has been a Nationality: English
major component in Leeds’ return to A product of Leeds’ Academy, he is
the top-flight. He has become a fans now just two appearances away from
favourite since signing from FC Lugano. reaching 50 for his hometown club.

15 STUART DALLAS 48 JORDAN STEVENS

Midfielder Winger
Age: 29 Age: 20
Nationality: Northern Irish Nationality: English
Another player capable of performing in He’s often been deployed as a winger
numerous positions, he was named as under Marcelo Bielsa having started
the club’s Players’ Player of the Season his career at Forest Green Rovers as a
for 2019/20. central midfielder.

17 HELDER COSTA 9 PATRICK BAMFORD

Winger Forward
Age: 26 Age: 27
Nationality: Portuguese Nationality: English
Signed a four-year deal with the club Signed from Middlesbrough in 2018, he
in July after starring in their title scored 16 league goals in 45 games last
success last season while on loan from season to finish as top scorer and help
Wolverhampton Wanderers. fire Leeds back into the top-flight.

19 PABLO HERNANDEZ 11 TYLER ROBERTS

Winger
Age: 35
Nationality: Spanish
He may be approaching the veteran
stage but his nine goals from 36 league
games were pivotal to Leeds’ promotion.
Initially loaned from Swansea in 2016.
Forward
Age: 21
Nationality: Welsh
Signed from West Brom in 2018, he
netted four times in 23 league games last
season. Has previously spent time on loan
at Oxford United, Shrewsbury and Walsall.

22 JACK HARRISON 20 RODRIGO MORENO

Winger Winger/Forward
Age: 23 Age: 29
Nationality: English Nationality: Spanish
Ever-present in Leeds’ Championship Became the club’s record signing last
title-winning campaign, he is starting his month when joining from Valencia.
third successive season-long loan from Played for Bolton Wanderers in the
Manchester City. Premier League a decade ago.

23 KALVIN PHILLIPS 30 JOE GELHARDT

Midfielder Forward
Age: 24 Age: 18
Nationality: English Nationality: English
Squad details correct at time of going to press

Dubbed the ‘Yorkshire Pirlo’, the local lad Raised in Netherton, the teenager joined
achieved a boyhood dream of helping Wigan at the age of ten and made his
the club back into the top-flight. Made Latics debut in April 2019. Joined Leeds
his England debut in Denmark this week. last month on a four-year deal.

43 MATEUSZ KLICH Also in the squad:

Midfielder
Age: 30 25 Elia Caprile (19) Goalkeeper Italian
Nationality: Polish 49 Oliver Casey (19) Defender English
Scored six times in 44 league games 36 Robbie Gotts (20) Midfielder English
last term. A talented graffiti artist who 44 Mateusz Bogusz (19) Midfielder Polish
has helped produce a ‘champions’ mural 45 Liam McCarron (19) Winger Scottish
outside Elland Road!

23
 T.V. times
Sunday 2 May 1965 and it’s the train ride home
following a successful acquisition of the FA Cup at
Wembley.
Everyone knows the stories around Liverpool’s
first triumph in the competition against Leeds
United, but what of the man in the photo alongside
the great Bill Shankly who played a critical part in
the club’s success?
Thomas Valentine ‘T.V.’ Williams should forever
be known as the man who helped bring the boss to
Anfield and for his part in the fruits that followed,
and as a life-long Liverpudlian whose family had
attended Reds matches right from the days when
they played in blue!
Joining the board of directors in 1948, he served
the club for 28 years, as chairman from 1956-64
and as president until his death in 1976. Before
teaming up with Shanks, though, his impact was
already pivotal to the club’s direction.
Not only did he instigate the purchase of what
became the Melwood training complex, he had
also played his part in bringing another Anfield
great in full-back-turned-coach Ronnie Moran to
the club in 1949, with his postman recommending
the Bootle Boys star!
When Shanks was appointed in 1959 he had this
to say of his new chairman: “I have known Mr Tom
Williams a long time and have always considered
him to be one of football’s gentlemen. I am
confident that we will be able to work well together.
“There is a job to be done, perhaps a big job, but
with the co-operation of Mr Williams, the directors
and staff I feel certain we shall see the task
through together.”
Indeed they did. Soon after Shankly was able to
make the team-transforming signings of fellow-
Scots Ian St John and Ron Yeats.
They became the spine of his team, yet quite
incredibly 'The Saint' only became a Red because
Shankly had spotted a paragraph in a Sunday
paper stating that he had indicated a desire to
leave Motherwell. The following day, Shanks drove
straight up to Scotland with Williams and didn’t
leave until thrashing out a deal.
Local young talent wasn’t forgotten either,
with the two working to develop a youth policy at
Anfield that started with Ian Callaghan and Gerry
Byrne breaking through to great success.
This director did more than simply sign the
cheques.

24
BACK
STORY

25
In our game
There’s always room for passion.
There’s room for rivalry.
There’s room for emotion.

But there is no room for racism.

If you see it, report it.

Download the Kick It Out app,

or tell a police officer or
steward in the stadium.
 PICTURE BOARD Let's talk about pics – six
images to study then simply
answer the question please!

1. Between Seel Street and which other city-centre 2. Can you remember the name of the graffiti artist who
thoroughfare did this 'hyper-real' mural appear in July? created this Klopp street-art in December 2018?

3. This mural is on a hotel just off Anfield Road, but 4. It's Jordan Henderson's first Premier League trophy-
can you put these players in order of appearances for lift, but how many times did Alan Hansen win the old
Liverpool, starting with the most? First Division with the Reds?

5. Which initiative does the Trent Alexander-Arnold 6. What words appear next to the Hendo mural opposite
street-art off Anfield Road help to promote? Trent on Sybil Road?

Fowler 369, Van Dijk 123 (inc Community Shield); 4. Eight times; 5. Fans Supporting Foodbanks; 6. 'Anything is possible, never stop believing'.
Answers: 1. Bold Street – the mural is on the 'FACT Square' between the two thoroughfares; 2. The artist was Akse; 3. Carragher 737, Gerrard 710, Dalglish 515,

27
28
 TRENDING

NEW FOR 2020/21

Football, always football, but not quite as we
knew it. Ten changes you'll notice throughout the
course of this season

29
 1 Badge of
honour
For the first time Liverpool FC will
take to the field for this season's
Premier League fixtures proudly
wearing the golden badge of PL
champions on their shirt sleeves.
2 The lights
are on…
This will also be the first time in English football history that a
season has started behind-closed-doors. Liverpool's final nine
games of last season were, of course, also played without
supporters in the stadiums following the outbreak of the
pandemic.
3 October windows
The summer transfer-window is currently open and this year
will close on Monday 5 October 2020 following the disruption
caused by the pandemic. An additional domestic window will
be open until 5pm BST on Friday 16 October 2020, with Premier
League clubs only able to trade with EFL sides – for loans or
permanent transfers – and not fellow top-flight teams.
30
4 Brakes on breaks
The Premier League has scrapped its winter break for the
2020/21 season because of fixture congestion resulting from
the pandemic, and the upcoming campaign will be five weeks
shorter than a standard season because of the late end to
2019/20.
Last season each team had one weekend and one full
midweek off in February. When the break was brought in,
the FA said it would “greatly benefit club and country” before
England's Euro 2020 campaign, but the tournament was
postponed until 2021 because of COVID-19.
Any hopes of a similar break before the rescheduled
Euros has been dashed by the need to cram three domestic
competitions – plus European club and international
tournaments – into the reduced season.
The 18th round of matches will be played across two
midweeks on 13 and 20 January. However, a full set of
additional fixtures is being played on 16 January, and the spare
midweek allocated for each club may have to be used to fit
in fixtures postponed because of clashes with domestic cup
competitions, including the FA Cup fourth round on 23 January.
A full round of Premier League fixtures has also been
scheduled for FA Cup final weekend, 15-16 May, for the first
time since 2013. Including the split one, there will be four
rounds of midweek fixtures.

5 Referee reviews
At the Premier League's annual meeting, shareholders
unanimously approved the implementation of VAR in line
with the full FIFA VAR protocol. Expect to see more pitchside
reviews from referees as a result. Across Europe and in the
Champions League the on-field monitors were used to great
effect last season and refs will now consult the monitors on a
more frequent basis for subjective decisions such as goals, red
cards and penalty kicks.
TRENDING
6 Penalty retakes
In addition, from next season there will be no tolerance on
goalkeeper encroachment from penalty-kicks which will
inevitably result in more retakes.
If a goalkeeper saves from 12 yards but has stepped off the
goal-line before the shot, VAR will order a retake. This will not
apply if the penalty is missed without the interference of the
goalkeeper – for example, if the ball is hit over the bar.
Similarly there will be no tolerance for player encroachment.
If a player is deemed to be inside the area when a penalty is
missed, VAR will order a retake. However, as with goalkeepers,
this will only apply if the player that has encroached is directly
involved in the aftermath of the penalty, such as clearing the
ball after the goalkeeper's save or the ball hitting the woodwork.
7 On or off?
Assistant referees have been asked to keep their flag down for
any goalscoring chances, to prevent any incorrect offside calls.
Unlike last season, where players were told to ignore the flag
and play to the whistle, assistant referees will not raise their
flag and VAR will then review any marginal offside decision to
ensure the correct outcome is reached.
31

8 Three subs from seven
At this month's Premier League’s shareholders meeting,
a second vote saw clubs agree to revert back to using up
to three substitute players per match with a maximum of
seven on the bench. It follows the experiment of using five
subs from nine after Project Restart to the conclusion of the
2019/20 season.
9 No replays
There will be no FA Cup replays during the 2020/21 season
to ease pressure on the football calendar. The competition
started with the extra preliminary around on 1 September with
the final due to be played at Wembley Stadium on 15 May
2021.
FA Cup prize money has been halved from 2019/20
because of the financial impact of the pandemic. The winners
will receive £1.8m, down from £3.6m last season but in line
with the 2017/18 campaign.
32
TRENDING
It has also been announced that the Carabao Cup semi-
finals will be one-legged. The EFL Cup final will take place at
Wembley on 28 February 2021.
Liverpool will again field an Under-21s team in the EFL
Trophy and started their group games at Wigan last
Wednesday. The Wembley final has been pencilled in for
14 March 2021.
10 The Flight stuff
Reportedly honed over eight years and 1,700 hours of testing,
the 2020/21 Nike Flight football will be used in Premier League
fixtures this season and is being marketed as 'a revolution in
consistent flight'.
Nike say: “Moulded grooves and 3D-printed ink fine-tune
flight through the air to help players put the ball exactly where
they want it – each and every time.”
The angular chevrons are designed as a nod to the speed
and accuracy of Premier League gameplay.
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 Q&A
NECO
WILLIAMS
The young right-back on playing for Liverpool at Wembley, today's
Anfield opener against Leeds United, and his senior Welsh call-up
You signed a new long-term contract with Liverpool last Does it feel like you've
month – that must have been a proud day for you? progressed a lot over the
For sure. I've been at the club since I was six or seven and last 12 months having made
come through all the ranks, so to progress to the senior your debut in October 2019
team and sign a five-year contract would be any young and since won the Premier
lad's dream. League?
For me to do that was a proud moment for me, but When you're training with one
especially for my family who brought me to and from of the best teams in the world
Liverpool from a young age. My dad, my mum and even and with some of the best
my granddad would bring me up from Wrexham and take players in the world it is only
me back until I was about 15 and moved into digs. going to progress you and
For a long time they were driving me back and forth from mature you as a player. To be
Wrexham, so I think they were more proud than me when I training and playing with this
signed a new contract with Liverpool. group of lads all the time is
developing me as a player to
where I want to be in the future.
Playing in the senior team is
different to U23s football as
it is more intense and the
games are much quicker,
so you need to adapt to
that. But I think playing
in first-team games and
just speaking to the
lads – getting advice
off the senior players
– is a big thing for
me. It has definitely
helped me as a
34 player and I've
learned a lot
from them.
To be
coming in to
training every
day and learning off players like
Trent and Robbo – seeing what
they're doing and picking things
up from them – has definitely
helped me along the way.

34
"WHEN YOU'RE TRAINING WITH ONE OF
THE BEST TEAMS IN THE WORLD AND WITH
SOME OF THE BEST PLAYERS IN THE WORLD
IT IS ONLY GOING TO PROGRESS YOU
AND MATURE YOU AS A PLAYER"
You usually play at right-back but started at left-back
away to Brighton towards the end of last season. Was that
a good experience for you?
I hadn't played at left-back in a long time but, like I said to
the boss when he told me I was going to play there, I will
always put a shift in for Liverpool and give 100 per cent
wherever I play.
For me it was a bit different, but I enjoyed it just
as much as playing at right-back. I spoke to Robbo
before the game and he gave me advice and tips.
I took that into the game and tried to do what I
needed to do.

The manager has signed a new left-back in Kostas

Tsimikas this summer but hasn't bought a right-
back. Do you see that as a show of faith in yourself?
Definitely. The trust the manager has in me now is
because I am proving I am capable of playing in the team.
When he does need me to come into the team I'm ready and,
like I said before, I'll put a shift in wherever he puts me.
Playing in different positions is going to develop me as a
player and make me a better player.

35
 Q&A
Playing at Wembley in the FA Community Shield, what was Rhian Brewster
that like? was the player
It was the first time I'd played at Wembley and obviously it not to convert from the
was a bit different with no fans, but it is something we've spot. How was he afterwards
had to adapt to. It was a tough game but we knew that from and can he put something like
the start because Arsenal are a top side. It went to pens and that behind him?
we lost, but that's how football is. Every player knows that
You're unlucky at times, but it has given us the motivation missing a penalty in a shoot-
to work even harder and be ready for the first game of the out is football for you – it's
season against Leeds. Hopefully we can do what we did last part of the game. It could have
season and respond by getting a win. happened to any of the players
but unfortunately it happened
You've taken penalties in your youth career – would you to Rhian. It will definitely
have put your hand up to take one at Wembley if you'd still not knock his confidence or
been on the pitch? anything like that because he
If I was on the pitch I would have shown my confidence by is a top player and he scores
putting my hand up to take one. I quite like taking penalties goals.
and hopefully I would have scored it! I didn't get that After the game he was a
opportunity having come off, but if it happens again I'll be bit gutted but all the lads got
putting my hand straight up. around him and said 'this is

"EVERY TEAM
LOOKS TO MAKE
A GOOD START
BECAUSE THE AIM
IS TO WIN GAMES
AND HAVE A
GOOD SEASON.
THAT'S WHAT
WE'RE LOOKING
TO DO: WIN
GAMES AND WIN
SILVERWARE"
04

36
 IN T
VI E

ER
W

football, this is going to happen'. For all of us it was a big

learning experience and hopefully we can now push on
against Leeds.

This is Leeds United's first game back in the Premier

League since 2004. Does that make it a bigger challenge
because it is such a significant day for them?
Leeds are a top side. They showed in the Championship they
were capable of getting promoted into the Premier League
and I can see them doing a good job this season.
We all know this is going to be a tough game, but the lads You've been in the Wales
are prepared for it. We know it'll be a battle, but we want to senior squad for the first
prove that not beating Arsenal at Wembley was a one-off. time ahead of this game.
We want to keep getting the wins like we did last season. How proud did you feel
to get the call up for your
Last season Liverpool started with eight straight wins country?
and nobody caught you at the top. Does that show how As a little kid I always
important getting off to a flying start can be? dreamed about playing for
Every team looks to make a good start because the aim is my country so to be with the
to win games and have a good season. That's what we're senior squad was, like when
looking to do: win games and win silverware. signing my new Liverpool
The team we have got now wants to get as many trophies contract, a proud moment
as we can and to keep improving and learning as a team. for myself, my family and
Hopefully, with the lads that we've got, we'll keep winning my friends. A lot of them
games and keep getting silverware, so obviously a good are Welsh and are big Wales
start against Leeds would help us to achieve that. fans, so it was a proud
moment for me to get called
At some stage supporters will be allowed back inside up.
stadiums again. How big a boost will that be when it I had interest from England,

Interview: Chris McLoughlin

happens? as I qualify to play for them,
It will be big because, especially at Anfield, the fans play a but in my head I had no
massive part. The fans being there to support you is part doubt that I was sticking
of football so we are all looking forward to the Liverpool with Wales because Wales
supporters being back with us. is where I'm from and where
They give us that extra little boost when they are here my family and friends are
and when you walk out at Anfield to hear over 50,000 fans from. I'm proud to play for
singing You'll Never Walk Alone it gives you the incentive to my country, just as I am to
start the game right and to win for them. play for Liverpool.

37
 THE BOOK
THAT BRINGS
IT HOME
Last year we brought you CH6MPIONS OF EUROPE, the
brilliant official book commemorating Liverpool’s triumph
in Madrid with a special scroll of honour inside for fans.
This year’s companion volume is all about the PREMIER
LEAGUE CHAMPIONS – and once again supporters have
the chance to be part of this unique piece of LFC history.
LIVERPOOL FC PREMIER
LEAGUE CHAMPIONS is a
gloriously evocative account
of the season that saw Jürgen
Klopp’s mighty Reds set all
sorts of new records as they
claimed the title. Now available
to pre-order, this commemorative
hardback’s 320 pages feature
exclusive photography, Only
revealing insight from
Klopp and his Kop stars,
£20
Plus P&P
and the season chronicled
in full by the editorial team
behind the club’s monthly
magazine and matchday
programme. It’s produced by
LFC’s official publishing partners,
Reach Sport.
Simply go to the books section
at reachsportshop.com and pre-
order before they’re gone!

Pre-order at reachsportshop.com
 XTRA
SHANKLY MADE US FAMOUS, PAISLEY MADE US SING, RAFA GAVE US ISTANBUL AND KENNY IS OUR KING

TALKING REDS The BBC’s hour-and-a-half documentary

The 30 Year Wait featured a host of
players and managers, present and
past, as well as supporters talking
about Liverpool’s Premier League title
triumph and the years preceding it.
There were some great lines, not least
this from Jürgen Klopp: “Even when we
won the Champions League there were
people that told us: ‘yeah, but the
league would have meant more’. You
don’t find a club where you will hear
that, actually, apart from Liverpool…”

39
 CARL
CLEMENTE
The author of a brand new book on Liverpool’s 19
top-flight title triumphs on his love for the Reds and his
mission to shine light on our finest hours
My first memories of supporting the
Reds are from the 1987/88 season. Kenny
Dalglish’s front-three, Barnes, Aldridge
and Beardsley, terrorising defences up
and down the country.
Since then Liverpool has always been
a huge part of my life. My boyhood
heroes Ian Rush and then a bit later
Robbie Fowler were the ones I’d pretend
to be while hammering a football against
my mum’s garage.
I was one of those kids who would ring
‘Club Call’ all the time just to hear more
about LFC (although my nan wasn’t
happy when she got her phone bill at the
end of the month), when I wasn’t reading
football books or watching my VHS
collection over and over again.
After graduating from Liverpool John
Moores University with a degree in
languages, during the Houllier years, I
moved to Spain to become an English
teacher which to this day hasn’t stopped
me following my team home and away
and throughout Europe.
In 2012 I began a blog called Anfield
Europe and became active on social
media sharing images, footage and
facts that I came across from the club’s
history. My main passion is keeping
40
ANFIELD REVIEW WITH…
Setting out to write 19, I had two main
goals; for the younger generation of
supporters to learn how the first 18 were
won, and for the match-going fans of
alive the memory of the greats who put those times to re-live the magic.
life into Liverpool. I delved into archives that covered
Following the blog’s success I was 120 years, starting in September 1900,
invited to write for the website LFC to explore what was written and said
History by its founders, Arnie Baldursson during each title-winning season, and
and Gudmundur Magnusson. included the thoughts and opinions of
They work relentlessly to share their the players, managers, protagonists and
work with other fans, historians and fans in every chapter.
journalists worldwide. After 20 years of I hope you enjoy the result.
research the site boasts all the results
from official games, appearances and • 19: The Official History of Our League
goals, line-ups and every conceivable Champions 1900-2020 is priced £19
stat from 1892 to the present. (hardback) and available to order now
My contribution consisted of writing from reachsportshop.com.
historical articles and conducting
interviews with former players and
managers. Our biggest project together
was to tell the story of Ronnie Moran,
along with his son Paul. The name of the
book was fitting, Mr Liverpool, and it was
received well by fans.
When Liverpool were on course to win
their first Premier League title, myself
and LFC History joined forces again to
produce 19, the official story of the club’s
top-flight league successes.
Throughout the process the website
was my first port-of-call. I also spoke to
a plethora of fans who gave their own
fascinating insights.
 RETRO REDS…
BACK ISSUES
This classic match
CANAL PLUS
programme from March Running for 127 miles
2003 is from one of and through 91 locks,
the more recent league the Leeds & Liverpool
meetings here at Anfield Canal is the longest in
between today’s sides, the country and a feat of
in what was called the Victorian engineering.
Barclaycard Premiership Linking Liverpool’s
back then. Royal Albert Dock with
Stapled and glossy, Leeds city-centre, it
the 64-page issue crosses the Pennines,
features Steven Gerrard weaves through villages
on its cover scoring on the edge of the
in the previous league Yorkshire Dales and
fixture following a flows underneath tunnels and over aqueducts on its
lung-bursting counter- scenic way.
attack at Spurs, and It even gives a name to Aintree Racecourse’s famous
he was again on target on this occasion in Canal Turn, due its proximity to the Grand National
another 3-1 victory. Michael Owen and Danny venue. But it was built primarily to provide a conduit
Murphy also found the net, while a certain to Liverpool and overseas for raw materials like coal
17-year-old James Milner faced the Reds for the and iron and finished
first time as a half-time substitute. goods like textiles and
In the middle of the programme that 2002/03 pottery from the North’s
season was a special fold-out section featuring industrial heartlands.
the club’s successful managers, shown here under While the players of
the Shankly Gates. This issue also profiles Leeds may not have
visiting midfielder Milner – “one of the finds travelled by barge to
of the season” – and the manager who’d today’s 116th ‘Canal
given him Derby’, they will see
his debut, this as a milestone –
Terry and there are plenty
Venables. of those alongside
However, the famous
the perils waterway.
of print
deadlines had
seen Venables
sacked by
Leeds on the
Friday before
this Sunday
fixture.

41
 BORN & RED

Not that we’ve been watching Cheers

repeats here at Matchday Programme
Towers till our eyes go square but at the end
of Episode 15 of Series One of the legendary
sitcom set in the Boston bar they sing You’ll
Never Walk Alone at the end. Okay? This is Aurora Wade Felmingham, seven
weeks old. Photo sent by her mum and dad
Sophie and Paul, baby grow and teddy bought
by grandad Kenny.

Robert Livingstone 6.12.72- 20.07.2020.

A beloved dad, son and partner, lifelong
Liverpool fan. You’ll never walk alone,
happy days big man. Forever in our
hearts, love from all your Family xxx

Artist Del Llewellyn created this amazing

image which was featured on the Premier
To Pragathi Guruprasad: I am sure that League End of Season Review show aired by
you will achieve everything that you dream BT Sport and Sky.
about because you have everything for this
– beauty, mind, character, patience. After
all, I want to see you happy, successful, not
only on your birthday but every day. From
Guru Prasath.

John Edwards, a programme seller from

the Shankly days, celebrated the Premier Sam Henshall was a massive LFC fan,
Shout-out to the Wigan Athletic Supporters
League trophy lift for three – sadly fans suddenly taken away from his loving
Club who released a charity single with
Mike McCartney and Ian Edwards are wife, family and friends far too soon.
local band Quaintest Show On Earth in a
now only with us in spirit. You’ll find Ian’s Sam lived life to the full and cherished
final push to raise funds for their club. You
stone near Kenny’s bench outside the every moment with his friends and
can find the track Good Old Days and more
ground. family. God bless Sam YNWA.
details on YouTube.

42

Reds fan Callum McGarvey from Dublin
was 12 when he died suddenly from an
asthma attack in 2017. Older brother
Chris Ryan writes: “Callum was my
brother, best friend and the biggest
Liverpool fan I knew. Time has gone by
in the blink of an eye, but the trips over
for matches and watching games on TV
together are memories I will cherish for
life YNWA.”
Happy fifth birthday to my Liverpool-mad
son Mason for 4 August, I love you so much,
Mummy xxx
In memory of Liverpool fan Lauren Mae
Robinson whose 19th birthday was on 3
September. She passed away aged ten in
2012 of Osteosarcoma (cancer). While
she was ill she met the Liverpool team
at Alder Hey and Melwood. September is
Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.
A happy 80th birthday to Ed Liggett (with
son Daren), a lifelong Reds fan as was his
mum Dolly, born in Liverpool but living in
Canada since 1966.
Maria McAuley, we are so proud of you,
happy 21st birthday! Love, Mum, Dad and
Gerard xxx
Reds fan Abdul Tayeb Yusuf celebrated
his birthday on 30 July – we hope he had a
great time!
Donna Quinn sends this photo of her brother
Neil, who turns 40 today, with their dad Paul
(‘Chopper’!). Let’s hope the Reds can provide
the perfect birthday present
John and Jean O’Neill travelled home
and away for many years until ill health,
this is them in Athens. Daughter Terry
writes: “Mum sadly passed away in April
so didn’t get to see us win the League.
Reunited with Dad who passed away in
2013.” YNWA.
Congratulations on your wedding day,
Supitcha and Nisit, from all at LFC!
The thoughts of everyone at Liverpool
FC are with the family and friends of
colleague Graham Terblanche, who
passed away recently after suffering
from a long-term illness. Graham was
part of the club’s technical operations
crew and wider digital media department
and left his mark on countless LFCTV
productions. He will be remembered as
a huge personality who touched a part of
everyone he met. He leaves behind his
daughter Amy and girlfriend Caroline.
YNWA.
43
 If you witness
anti-social or
WORK discriminatory
TOGETHER. behaviour, text
STAND ‘LFC’ followed
TOGETHER. by the details
ACHIEVE
TOGETHER. of the incident
to 64446

WE ARE LIVERPOOL.
THIS MEANS MORE.

Programme advert A/W (1/2 Page 172x114.5mm).indd 1 25/07/2019 12:41

GAME
CHANGER

footballfoundation.org.uk
BORN & RED

Bob Higham and family want to
congratulate everyone involved with
Liverpool FC for making what was an
uncertain time in everyone’s lives,
amazing by winning the Premier League.
It’s Brian Wiraatmadja celebrating quietly
at home in Indonesia during Liverpool’s EPL
trophy win in July!
Chris Jones lost his fight to cancer on 25
August 2020 aged 49. Loving husband,
dad, son, brother and cousin. Huge
Liverpool fan. Will be sadly missed by us
all. You’ll Never Walk Alone.

Welcome to the world Chrissy! Born in

July, Liverpool have been champions for
her whole life. Congrats Andy and Prisca, A happy 18th birthday to Brooke from
love from Uncle Chris X Richard and Janet xxx
This is Albert watching Liverpool lift the
Premier League title in his first year as a fan.

Terry McCready sadly passed away on 6

August aged 66. Terry was a dedicated
fan of over 60 years and former season-
ticket holder in the Main Stand. He
planned his days around the fixture list
and loved watching the Reds win the
league last season. You’ll Never Walk
Alone Dad – all our love Alison, Laura,
Susie and Tom xxx
The James family have been supporters since John Toshack signed for Liverpool – they
celebrated with Premier League cake in Wales!
Email your photos and messages to: lfcprogramme@reachsport.com
no later than 10 WORKING DAYS BEFORE EACH GAME.
Please note space is very limited – we can’t guarantee that every
dedication will be included in the matchday programme.

45
 ANDY ROBERTSON

OUR YEAR MY STORY

From the pitch to the dressing room, the inside story of how
we became champions – as seen through my eyes

Pre-order from www.reachsportshop.com and Amazon

 Kop kids
Mighty Red's
Get stuck into our junior Reds

?
section with Liverpool FC's no1 fan!

MIGNOLET

22
QueQuiz
LUCAS ALBERTO M.

Live
sign rpoo
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fromd two have o
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35
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MANE EJARIA

Who is the 19 ? 53
Missing
Man? Complete the XI LFC 2-0 Leeds, League Cup 2016

SPOT THE DIFFERENCE

A bit of fun for this issue - no help needed with this one!

Quiz Question: Harry Kewell and Scott Carson. Missing Man: Kostas Tsimikas. Complete the XI: Trent Alexander-Arnold, Ragnar Klavan, Divock Origi.
Answers:
Premier League Champions?
Probably

CAN OLDHAM KEEP
THEIR KEWELL?
Former Reds winger Harry charged with reviving Latics fortunes in League Two
F
ormer Liverpool and Leeds United winger Harry Kewell
takes charge of his first League Two game as Oldham
Athletic manager this afternoon when the Latics face
Leyton Orient at Boundary Park.
Ex-Aussie international Kewell was appointed as Oldham
boss on a one-year contract last month, the third time he has
managed a League Two club. He began with a 3-0 win last
weekend as Oldham beat Carlisle United in the Carabao Cup.
In 2017/18 the 41-year-old became the first Australian to
coach a professional English team when hired as manager of
Crawley Town. After leading the Sussex-based club to 14th he
moved to Notts County in August 2018 replacing Kevin Nolan.
County were rock-bottom of League Two, but despite
leading them out of the relegation zone Kewell was sacked in
DIFFERENT LEAGUE
November 2018 following a goalless draw against Oldham.
Harry had been in charge at Meadow Lane for just 73 days
and it proved to be a costly decision for world football’s
oldest professional club. The Magpies slipped back into the
drop-zone the following weekend and remained there, being
relegated from the Football League for the first time since
their days as founder members in 1888.
Kewell, who scored 16 goals in 139 games for the Reds
between 2003 and 2008 following a move from Leeds United
– and won the Champions League and FA Cup – now takes
charge of an Oldham side who are the bookies’ favourites to
be relegated to the National League.
“I have the opportunity to come to what I think is a huge
club and to be able to again show what I am capable of
doing,” he says. “I’m going to give it my all,
but we’re going to need the support of the
players, the club and the fans.
“If the results are not there it won’t be
through a lack of trying – we will give
it our all. I’m excited about the project
and, don’t get me wrong, it’s going to
take time. Because the one thing I think
this club does need is stability and if we
can get that, then we can start to grow
things.”
Oldham were themselves founder
members of the Premier League in
1992/93 but haven’t returned to the top-
flight since being relegated in 1994. After
21 consecutive seasons in the third tier of
English football they dropped into League
Two in 2019, a division that also contains
former Premier League members Bolton
Wanderers and Bradford City.
No ex-Premier League club has ever
been relegated from the Football League.
49
 BIG READ

GAM E OF
THRO N ES

50
 A
WORDS: William Hughes

lready it's become a mantra for

They say that defending the title is the new season: “We will not
defend the title – we will attack
harder than winning it in the first the next one.” Jürgen Klopp's
place, but this club has proved its words as we embark upon a
2020/21 campaign which, once
mettle many times down the years again, will be like no other.
But are there clues from the past that can help us
predict what might happen this time round? It took
30 years for Liverpool to clinch that 19th top-flight
title, but they do have history in holding onto the
crown.
The Reds retained the title back in the 1920s and
achieved the feat twice in both the 1970s and 80s
when they were relentlessly dominant. But in the
very beginning, more or less, their title defences left
a little more to be desired.
The club's inaugural league title success in
1900/01 had seen them pip Sunderland to top
spot, but the Wearsiders responded in fine style
to take the crown 12 months later. Their nearest
challenge came from Merseyside again, but this
time it was Everton pushing them all the way before
finishing three points behind. For their part the Reds
found it hard to live up to their exploits from the
previous campaign and ended 1901/02 nearer the
bottom than the top, finishing eleventh out of the
18 teams and only four points ahead of last-placed
Manchester City.
Forward Sam Raybould maintained his position as
LFC's top scorer with 16 goals (he'd grabbed 17 the
previous season) but just ten wins from 34 games
compared to 19 victories secured during 1900/01
meant manager Tom Watson's ambitions for
another first-place finish soon fell short.
If the immediate response to winning the title in
1900/01 was unrewarding, Watson's men were
further off the pace following their second top-flight
triumph in 1905/06.
Liverpool had actually been relegated in 1903/04
and had thus won back-to-back leagues in claiming
the Second Division in 1904/05 and the First Division
twelve months later. But the fall-out from those
efforts was clear as they finished 15th in the now
expanded upper echelon of 20 teams in 1906/07.
One win from the opening eight games set the
tone and despite picking up in late January and
February with a sequence of three consecutive
victories, Liverpool won just two of their last dozen
league fixtures.
The inter-war years saw the Reds land two more
top-tier titles. The 'Roaring Twenties' began with a
boom for the club as they registered back-to-back
championships in 1921/22 and 1922/23.

51

Of course in doing so they retained their position as champions of
England for the first time.
David Ashworth's Liverpool side had proven themselves the
best in the land in 1921/22 and the biggest challenge they had to
overcome the following season was the shock of losing Ashworth
himself in December 1922.
The pipe-smoking boss decided to return to 21st-placed Oldham
Athletic just before Christmas, most likely to help nurse his sick wife.
The ever-willing Matt McQueen was asked to keep things ticking
over and duly guided the club to its first successful top-flight title
defence as Liverpool finished the season six points clear of runners-
up Sunderland. Harry Chambers (with 22 goals), Dick Forshaw (19)
and Dick Johnson (14) were the Salah, Mane and Firmino of the
day.
However, as had been the case in 1906/07, two successful
seasons ultimately caught up with the Reds. McQueen had been
persuaded to carry on as manager for 1923/24 but there was a
fatigued air about the team. Chambers, Forshaw and Johnson
scored a combined 18 goals in comparison to their previous
season's haul of 55 and some lacklustre displays left Liverpool
languishing in twelfth.
A particularly harrowing run during November and December
1923 saw them go ten games without a win (seven defeats and
three draws). Following the tenth of those matches, a 2-1 defeat at
Newcastle United on Boxing Day, the defending champions were
18th of the 22 teams in the table.
After the Second World War there was an unlikely Division One
success masterminded by George Kay in 1946/47. If Liverpool's
post-war title win was something of a surprise, it was not
unexpected when the Reds fell away again the following season. A
dozen defeats from their 21 away games undermined any hopes of
another challenge, leaving Liverpool to settle for eleventh.
Albert Stubbins (24), Jackie Balmer (15) and Billy Liddell (10)
continued to shine as the leading goalscorers in 1947/48, but the
team's lack of consistency was all too apparent.
This was best illustrated during the first few months of 1948. A
52
run of five consecutive defeats saw the side
drop into the bottom three by the end of
February. However, they responded with five
successive victories – with an aggregate
scoreline of 16-0 – to climb to 13th by the
time March moved into April!
So to the 'Swinging Sixties'. First Bill
Shankly, then promotion, then the top-flight
title in 1963/64. But amid the euphoria
came a drop-off in form a year later –
understandable as Liverpool negotiated
a first European Cup campaign which
famously took them to the semi-finals.
Having finished four points clear
of runners-up Manchester United in
1963/64, the Reds ended this next
campaign in seventh, 17 points adrift
of United who edged out Leeds to the
title on goal-average. Liverpool lost
eleven times on their league travels,
but they were clearly chasing something else
in 1964/65: a first FA Cup triumph, with Leeds
United beaten 2-1 on a rainy but unforgettable
Wembley day.
Back to the "bread and butter" as Shanks called
it. His team reclaimed the title again twelve
months later but in 1966/67 finished fifth. Too
many drawn games at Anfield (seven) was one
of the causes, and in the final analysis the Reds
were nine points adrift of champions Manchester
United.
That had seemed an unlikely scenario in early
March when a 2-1 win over Stoke City at Anfield
left Liverpool occupying pole position. But a run
of three draws book-ended by defeats at Burnley
and Tottenham left them with too much to do
and their season fizzled out. They won just two
of their final eleven games, losing five, which was

In a parallel of the modern era, Liverpool and
Manchester City fought it out at the top with the
Reds beating City to top spot by a single point
more like relegation form than the results required of champions.
Into the Seventies and Shankly almost signed off his historic
reign by landing a domestic double in 1973/74. After the highs of a
league-and-UEFA Cup double the previous season, it was another
campaign full of thrills for Kopites. In the end a masterful FA Cup
final performance against Newcastle United was all the Reds had
to show for their efforts after Bill's boys and Don Revie's Leeds went
head-to-head in the title race.
Following a 2-1 home victory over QPR at the start of April 1974,
the Reds were four points behind Leeds with three games-in-hand
on the Yorkshire club. But Liverpool had to play their final eight
fixtures in the space of a month – as well as that FA Cup final – and
simply ran out of steam, winning just two of those last eight as
Revie's West Yorkshiremen topped the final standings by five points.
Bob Paisley may have been stepping into sizeable shoes in
succeeding Shankly but Liverpool continued to be regulars at the
top of the table. His second full season at the helm brought a first
league championship under his watch and in 1976/77 he won it
again.
In a parallel of the modern era, Liverpool and Manchester City
fought it out at the top with the Reds beating City to top spot by a
single point. In the end the meeting of the clubs at Anfield in April
BIG
READ
1977 proved pivotal with Liverpool winning 2-1.
Wideman Steve Heighway netted the winner just
a minute after City's Brian Kidd had cancelled out
Kevin Keegan's opener.
A poor run-in to the season saw the Reds draw
three and lose the other of their final four fixtures,
allowing City to close the gap to that solitary
point. It was a memorable season for Liverpool
who also won the European Cup for the first time
and could have landed a treble but for a narrow
defeat in the FA Cup final at the hands of the
other Manchester club.
By the late Seventies it was all about Brian
Clough's Nottingham Forest versus Bob Paisley's
Liverpool. In 1977/78 the East Midlanders won
the title by seven points, a significant margin in
the days of two points for a win.
Forest lost only three league games compared
to the Reds' nine and they also defeated Liverpool
in a controversial replayed League Cup final. But
retaining the European Cup by beating Bruges did
help to soften the blow for the Reds!
53
 Liverpool's winning goal in that Wembley final came from new
recruit Kenny Dalglish, one of 31 the Scot contributed during his
debut season here with 20 coming in the league.
In 1978/79 the Reds regained their title after finishing eight points
clear of Forest. They then made a successful defence of that crown
the following season as they started the Eighties the same way that
they'd signed off in the Seventies: top of the tree.
While Clough's side were making a successful defence of the
European Cup, in the league Manchester United emerged as the
Reds' main challengers. Paisley's men finished two points clear of
Dave Sexton's side in the final standings, although they won the
trophy with a game to spare.
Liverpool again came close to a domestic double, losing in the
semi-finals of both the FA Cup (after an epic four-match saga with
Arsenal) and the League Cup (going out to Forest). Consistency was
key in the league as the Reds went unbeaten at Anfield and the core
half-dozen of Kenny Dalglish, Phil Neal, Phil Thompson, Graeme
Souness, Ray Clemence and Ray Kennedy all played in at least 40 of
the 42 matches.
A third consecutive title proved beyond even Paisley's well-oiled
machine in 1980/81. Aston Villa enjoyed a season to remember and
saw off Bobby Robson's Ipswich Town in an unlikely race for top
spot. Liverpool were left in fifth with away form to blame. The Reds
won just four of their 21 games away from Anfield, drawing 12 of
them.
Perhaps cup runs also got in the way, although no-one was
complaining as Liverpool won the European Cup for the third time

54

and the League Cup for the first. After defeating Stoke City at the
start of April 1981 ahead of the first leg of their European Cup semi-
final with Bayern Munich, the Reds failed to win any of their next five
league games which ended any hopes of a late challenge.
Normal service was resumed in 1981/82 and in 1982/83 another
successful title retention was forthcoming as Paisley's 'own' team
landed Liverpool's 14th title, allowing the manager to bow out in
style.
Only Phil Neal, Phil Thompson and David Fairclough remained of
the side which had won Paisley's first championship in 1975/76.
With three-points-for-a-win now in operation, the Reds romped
home eleven points clear of nearest challengers Watford.
Such was their dominance, Liverpool pretty much 'declared'
towards the end of the 1982/83 season, failing to win any of their
final seven matches. Even so, winning the league for the sixth
time in nine seasons was a fitting way for Paisley to end the most
successful spell of any English manager, and he also led the Reds
to a hat-trick of League Cup triumphs.
Joe Fagan announced himself as manager by helping the Reds
land the top-flight crown for a third consecutive occasion, in
1983/84 – the first time Liverpool had achieved such a hat-trick.
He made only minor tweaks to his squad with defender Gary
Normal service was resumed in 1981/82 and in
1982/83 another successful title retention was
forthcoming as Paisley's 'own' team landed Liverpool's
14th title, allowing the manager to bow out in style
BIG
READ
Gillespie and striker Michael Robinson the major
additions ahead of the start of the season, while
goalscoring midfielder John Wark arrived from
Ipswich in March 1984 to add to his options.
But when it came to goals there was one man.
Ian Rush scored 32 league goals, almost 44
per cent of Liverpool's final total. The team was
consistent with a handful of players being ever-
present: keeper Bruce Grobbelaar, defenders Alan
Hansen, Alan Kennedy and Mark Lawrenson plus
midfielder Sammy Lee, while Rush and Phil Neal
played in all but one fixture.
Liverpool ended the 1983/84 season three
points above runners-up Southampton, clinching
the title in their penultimate game following a
goalless draw at Notts County. But the following
campaign would see neighbours Everton take top
spot with the Reds settling for second.
Kenny Dalglish's debut season as player-
manager in 1985/86 had ended with Liverpool
winning their first and thus far only league and
FA Cup double. They'd tussled with Everton to
55

win both trophies and the Blues thwarted a successful defence in
1986/87.
All was on track until mid-March 1987. A 2-1 midweek home win
over QPR left Liverpool nine points clear of Everton, albeit having
played two games more. The Reds also had a League Cup final to
look forward to. Then things started to go awry.
Liverpool lost their next four games by the odd goal, including
that League Cup final with Arsenal at Wembley. But it was league
defeats to Tottenham, Wimbledon and Norwich that knocked them
off-course. A late winner for the Canaries at Carrow Road left the
Reds three points behind their Mersey rivals who still had a game-in-
hand. With Liverpool then winning just three of their final six, Everton
finished the campaign with a nine-point advantage.
Dalglish's men wrestled the title away from their city rivals again
in 1987/88 with some scintillating football spearheaded by John
Barnes, Peter Beardsley and John Aldridge.
The Reds couldn't have come any closer to retaining the trophy in
1988/89, losing to Arsenal with virtually the last kick of the season,
although the tragedy of Hillsborough put that into sharp perspective.
Liverpool had won the FA Cup by beating Everton 3-2 after extra-
time at Wembley ahead of their final two league games, which saw
West Ham and Arsenal come to Anfield. The Reds put five past the
Hammers but a single goal for the visitors meant Arsenal needed to
win by two clear goals rather than three to deprive Kenny Dalglish's
men of another title.
Michael Thomas' last-gasp strike ensured the Gunners did just
that. With both teams finishing with the same number of wins,
draws, defeats and points, it couldn't have been tighter.
Liverpool responded to claim title no18 in 1989/90 but then
Arsenal won it back in 1990/91. The Reds also lost their leader with
Kenny Dalglish's shock resignation in February 1991.
56
BIG
READ
The Reds finished the season as runners-up
having collected as many points (76) as they had
in 1988/89 and only three fewer than the previous
title-winning season. But Arsenal's league double
over them proved decisive.
Dalglish's side had been defeated in just two
league games in season 1990/91 and were top of
the table prior to his departure but then lost their
next two fixtures, including a 1-0 defeat at home
to the Gunners which left them three points adrift.
Former midfielder Graeme Souness replaced
caretaker Ronnie Moran as manager in mid-April
and with three games remaining, Liverpool still
trailed by only three points. However defeats
at Chelsea and Nottingham Forest ended their
challenge.
Little did anyone realise that it would be another
30 years before a Liverpool team would have
the chance to retain the title. They do so under
Jürgen Klopp, who warns: “When you think you
have reached the pinnacle, you are already on the
way down.”
Liverpool, let's hope, are still heading up.
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58
 KOSTAS TSIMIKAS

“I GIVE
EVERYTHING IN
EVERY MINUTE
FOR THE TEAM”
d
Our new no21 got straight to the point when aske
by the cub website to describe himself after

completing his move to the Reds in August

G
reek international Kostas Tsimikas was equally
succinct about his aims for his first season as a
Liverpool player: “To achieve goals. To win the league
again and also to win the Champions League.”
Aged 24 and capped three times to date, he became Jürgen
Klopp’s first summer signing but is no stranger to winning titles.
Last season Tsimikas (the ‘T’ is silent and his full first name is
Konstantinos) was part of the Olympiacos side that Greece's
Super League by 18 points, the same margin by which the Reds
landed the Premier League title.
Born in the northern Greek city of Thessaloniki in 1996, and
raised in a village called Lefkonas, he joined Olympiacos in 2014
and made his debut for Erythrolefki (the Red-Whites) a year
later.
He was loaned out to Denmark’s Esbjerg fB in 2016/17,
scoring twice in 13 games, before spending 2017/18 on loan
in Holland with Willem II. Also on loan there at the time was ex-
Reds midfielder Pedro Chirivella, now at Nantes.

59
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 KOSTAS TSIMIKAS

“We have watched Kostas for a long time and are really
happy that he has joined us,” said the boss. “He is a very good
footballer with an attitude to win and to compete, and I really
like his mentality. It fits perfectly with the mood and the desire
we have in our dressing-room already.
“He has showed already at a young age he can experience
football in a different country and do well, and he has been a big
part of the success Olympiacos has had to win their title this
season and in their European campaigns.
“Kostas knows from personal experience what is required
to challenge and succeed domestically and in the Champions
League and he is ambitious for more, just like us.
“He has come up against some very tough opponents in the
past couple of seasons and done well and we know he relishes
the challenge, which is perfect for us. For that reason we are
delighted to know we’ll have him with us for the years ahead.
I’m so pleased.”
“WE HAVE WATCHED KOSTAS The second Greek to play for Liverpool after Sotirios
FOR A LONG TIME AND ARE Kyrgiakos (between 2009 and 2011), he now has the tough task
of trying to get into the team ahead of Andy Robertson.
REALLY HAPPY THAT HE HAS “I’ve seen him in training and he looks a really good player,”
JOINED US. HE IS A VERY GOOD said Robbo. “For me personally, he’s obviously in my position
and I want to stay the number one left-back. I want to play as
FOOTBALLER WITH AN ATTITUDE
TO WIN AND TO COMPETE, AND I
REALLY LIKE HIS MENTALITY”

“I know when I was there at Willem II,” recalled the Spaniard,

“Liverpool came to watch and they were looking at him as well
because he was the standout player for the team.
“The first week of training I could see he could get to the top.
He likes to get forward a lot and also he has a special mentality.
“He’s a real winner and he doesn’t care who is the winger
facing him because he's going to be at his best. When you have
a mentality like that, it’s easier to perform. The harder the game
was, the better he performed.”
Tsimikas scored six goals in 37 games from left-back that
season before returning to Piraeus where he signed a new
contract and made 28 appearances for Olympiacos in 2018/19,
earning an international debut. He then had an exceptional
2019/20 campaign.
Although he failed to score in 46 appearances in all
competitions, Tsimikas provided five assists in his 27 Super
League games and gained valuable experience by playing 16
times in the Champions League and Europa Leagues.
Six of those appearances came against English opposition in
Tottenham, Arsenal and Wolves. He also featured twice against
European champions Bayern Munich, creating his team's
opening goal at home in an October 2019 group game before
they went on to lose 3-2.
Among those keeping a watchful eye on Tsimikas was Jürgen
Klopp. He liked what he saw.

61
 many games as I can, stay fit and keep my levels high. I know
that’s not always possible but that’s my attitude and it’s up to
“I WILL GIVE MY BEST TO PLAY.
me to keep putting in performances and hopefully stay no1.” I KNOW ANDY ROBERTSON IS
Tsimikas, whose Liverpool-supporting brother encouraged
him to follow the Reds, is well aware of the competition for
ONE OF THE BEST LEFT-BACKS
places. “I will give my best to play. I know Robertson is one IN THE WORLD BUT THIS GIVES
of the best left-backs in the world but this gives me extra
motivation to work hard.
ME EXTRA MOTIVATION TO
“With a lot of work and focus on what I do and what the WORK HARD”
coach wants, and every day working hard in training, I can be
on the highest level.”
Competition for places is precisely why the boss has
brought the 5ft 10in left-back to Anfield. Full-back is a key
position in the way his Liverpool side play, and with Robertson
the only senior specialist left-back at the club it was important
to have another option.
“Kostas is a signing which just shows what we are looking
for, what we need,” he continued. “The left-back position is
now not a position where the people out there would have
thought: we need another player.
“It worked out pretty well. Milly played there from time to
time, but we cannot take any risk or we should take as less
risk as possible. Our full-backs in the way we play are so
important with the skills they have, the speed they have, the
crosses they bring in and stuff like this.
“When I saw Kostas the first time I thought: is it possible to
get somebody like him? He’s not the most experienced player
because he started a little bit later with a proper career, but in
the last two or three years he’s really right on track and has
started building his career.
“Then we had a conversation and he was very, very positive
about this, knowing that we have already a world-class full-
back – but that’s exactly what you try to have.
Words: Chris McLoughlin

“Robbo and Trent, let’s say they cannot play every season
50-something games. It would limit their careers, to be
honest. So I’m really happy that we got this proper option –
and he is a proper option.
“He’s a super guy, a very confident boy, cheeky and, if
you want, watch him on YouTube – probably most of our
supporters did that already. I would say quite exciting.”

62
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 2019-20

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WOMEN 2020/21
REDS RECEIVE A
WAKE-UP CALL
Liverpool FC Women travel to London Bees tomorrow looking
to respond after a frustrating 1-1 draw with Durham in last
Sunday’s FA Women’s Championship opener.
In a scrappy affair at Prenton Park, home of Tranmere Rovers,
the Reds looked set to claim the three points thanks to a fine
first-half finish from vice-captain Rachel Furness.
But an error from skipper Niamh Fahey let in Durham
midfielder Beth Hepple to snatch a late equaliser for the Wildcats,
who were down to ten having using all three of their permitted
substitute windows then seen a player leave the action injured.
Even then, Furness almost won it, first stretching at the far-
post to divert a Taylor Hinds free-kick onto the upright and then
heading another set-piece from the debutant left-back narrowly
wide.
Reds manager Vicky Jepson was clearly frustrated at some of
the challenges let go by the match officials, who also ruled out
a goal from attacker Rinsola Babajide after bringing back the
27 RACHEL FURNESS
POSITION: Midfielder
BIRTHPLACE: Sunderland
BORN: 19 June 1988
Goalscorer Rachel Furness hits the post
late on in last Sunday’s 1-1 draw with Durham
play for a foul on winger Jess Clarke in the build-up.
But the boss admitted the game was a “wake-up call” for her
squad as they aim to adjust to the demands of competing in the
second tier.
“I honestly don’t think Durham would have scored if we hadn’t
gifted them the goal,” she reflected. “One point is better than
none but I’m obviously disappointed not to get the three.
“It was a wake-up call to the Championship. We spoke about
the league in pre-season and we’d seen footage of it, but actually
being in a Championship game is a different story.
“So the players have felt it now, they know what it’s about and
we’ve just got to make sure that we are ready to rise to every
occasion that we face this season.
“We reflected upon the game when we came back into training
on Tuesday and there were some firm words from me. But now
we’re looking forward to the London Bees game, so onwards
and upwards.”
Midfielder Rachel scored her fifth goal in four league games in last weekend’s
draw but would have happily sacrificed it for the three points. “It was very
frustrating,” said the Northern Ireland international. “We knew what Durham
were going to bring their physicality and that we needed to manage the game
better. It was nice to get one the scoresheet but I’d rather have walked off the
pitch with a win. We’ve got to learn from it and bounce back quickly.”
65
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ACADEMY 2020/21
Barry Lewtas takes charge of his first
PL2 game with the Under-23s tomorrow
MINI DERBY DATE FOR STARTERS
Liverpool Under-23s will kick-off their new Premier League
2 campaign with a Merseyside mini-derby tomorrow
afternoon. Coach Barry Lewtas’ new team will take on
Everton at Kirkby in a mouthwatering opening fixture.
Lewtas steps up from his successful stint coaching the
Under-18s to replace Neil Critchley, now of course manager
of League One side Blackpool. Joining Barry as assistant is
former Portsmouth, Middlesbrough, West Ham, Norwich and
Bolton midfielder Gary O’Neil.
The duo saw their side complete a fine pre-season build-up
with a 4-0 defeat of Huddersfield Town on Monday afternoon,
all four goals arriving in the final 16 minutes.
Striker Paul Glatzel, back to fitness after a long injury lay-off,
broke the deadlock from the penalty spot in the 74th minute.
Midfielder Elijah Dixon-Bonner doubled the advantage ten
minutes from time before netting his second soon afterwards.
The fourth came in the 86th minute with influential midfielder
Jake Cain crossing for forward Luis Longstaff to put the seal
on another encouraging display.
MELKAMU
FRAUENDORF
POSITION: Midfielder
BIRTHPLACE: Kembata, Ethiopia
BORN: 12 January 2004
It completed an unbeaten build-up to the new season which
also included a 2-2 draw with The New Saints and wins over
Carlisle United (4-1), Derby County (3-1) and Nottingham Forest
(2-1).
The U18s, now under the management of ex-U16s coach
Marc Bridge-Wilkinson, kicked off their new league season
at Manchester United this morning having concluded their
preparations with a 4-1 victory over the same opponents at
Kirkby last weekend.
Goals from forward Oakley Cannonier, midfielder Isaac
Mabaya, defender Jarell Quansah and attacker Max Woltman
secured that victory.
It completed a 100 per cent winning build-up which also took in
5-0 wins over Crewe Alexandra and Huddersfield Town as well as
a 4-1 defeat of Leicester City.
Meanwhile a Liverpool U19s team will again compete in this
season’s EFL Trophy. The Reds have been drawn in Group D and
will play away fixtures at Wigan Athletic, Tranmere Rovers and
Port Vale. The first game is at Wigan on Tuesday 22 September.
Melkamu joined the Reds last month from German side TSG 1899
Hoffenheim. Although born in Ethiopia, he’s a German national and was
a regular in Hoffenheim’s U17s side last season. A versatile attacking
midfielder with an eye for goal, he’s already featured for Germany at U15s
and U16s levels and has captained his country in age-group football. He will
start Academy life with Liverpool as part of Marc Bridge-Wilkinson’s U18s
squad for 2020/21.
67
 GET YOUR
GAME FACE ON
ACADEMY & WOMEN 2020/21
Under 23s
SEPTEMBER
13 EVERTON H 1pm
18 Derby County A 7pm
22 Wigan (EFL) A 7.45pm
25 Man United A 7pm
29 Tranmere (EFL) A 7pm
OCTOBER
17 Brighton A 3pm
24 CHELSEA H 1pm
30 Arsenal A 7pm
NOVEMBER
6 West Ham A 7pm
10 Port Vale (EFL) A 7pm
21 SOUTHAMPTON H 1pm
28 MAN CITY H 1pm
DECEMBER
12 BLACKBURN ROVERS H 1pm
18 TOTTENHAM H 1pm
JANUARY
11 Leicester City A 7pm
18 Everton A 7pm
23 DERBY COUNTY H 1pm
30 MAN UNITED H 1pm
FEBRUARY
12 BRIGHTON H 12pm
19 Chelsea A 7pm
26 ARSENAL H 7pm
MARCH
13 WEST HAM H 4pm
21 Southampton A 2pm
APRIL
9 Man City A 7pm
16 Blackburn Rovers A 7pm
23 Tottenham A 12pm
MAY
2 LEICESTER CITY H 1pm
EFL: English Football League Trophy
Paul Glatzel
Under 18s
SEPTEMBER
12 Man United A 11am
19 STOKE CITY H 11am
26 MAN CITY H 11am
OCTOBER
3 Blackburn Rovers A 11am
17 SUNDERLAND H 1pm
24 Everton A 11am
31 NEWCASTLE UNITED H 1pm
NOVEMBER
7 Wolves A 11.30am
21 LEEDS UNITED H 11am
28 BURNLEY H 11am
DECEMBER
12 Middlesbrough A 1pm
19 Derby County A 12pm
JANUARY
16 MAN UNITED H 11am
23 Stoke City A 11am
30 Man City A 2pm
FEBRUARY
13 BLACKBURN ROVERS H 11am
20 Sunderland A 1pm
27 EVERTON H 11am
MARCH
13 Newcastle United A 2pm
20 WOLVES H 11.30am
APRIL
10 Leeds United A 11am
17 Burnley A 11am
24 MIDDLESBROUGH H 12.30pm
MAY
1 DERBY COUNTY H 12pm
Rhys Williams
Women
SEPTEMBER
6 DURHAM H 1-1
13 London Bees A 2pm
26/27 CHARLTON H TBC
OCTOBER
3/4 Coventry United A TBC
10/11 Leicester City A TBC
31 Lewes FC A TBC
NOVEMBER
7/8 SHEFFIELD UNITED H TBC
14/15 Blackburn Rovers A TBC
DECEMBER
5/6 CRYSTAL PALACE H TBC
12/13 London City Lionesses A TBC
19/20 Durham A TBC
JANUARY
9/10 LONDON BEES H TBC
16/17 LEICESTER CITY H TBC
FEBRUARY
6/7 Charlton Athletic A TBC
13/14 COVENTRY UNITED H TBC
MARCH
6/7 Crystal Palace A TBC
27/28 BLACKBURN ROVERS H TBC
APRIL
3/4 LEWES FC H TBC
24/25 Sheffield United A TBC
MAY
1/2 LONDON CITY LIONESSES H TBC
Rachael Laws
69
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COMPETITION ENDS ON SEPTEMBER 20TH AT 11:59PM

TICKET NEWS
REDS BEHIND CLOSED DOORS
The 2020/21 Premier League season commences
today, Saturday 12 September 2020, with all matches
taking place behind-closed-doors until at least
1 October 2020.
Strict protocols have been put in place to ensure that
Anfield Stadium is as safe as possible for everybody
present. These protocols are to ensure that the season
gets underway with the least risk possible, without
adding any further strain on the NHS and other public
services.
The club would like to thank its fans for supporting
the team safely during this time. Whilst restrictions and
guidelines are being gradually reduced, it is important
that fans continue to support the team safely. By
following government and public health guidance,
supporters can play their part to keep friends, family, and
the local community safe.
On the club's official website you can find information
about the Government's 5-stage framework for the
phased return of elite sport, as the club continues
to work closely with the Premier League, the Sports
Grounds Safety Authority and the local authorities on
planning for the safe return of supporters when it is
permitted and safe to do so.
Matches will be broadcast via Sky, BT Sport and
Amazon Prime in the UK. Fans can also catch all the
action via Liverpool FC's new Match Centre which was
launched at the end of season 2019/20. Hosted on
the club's official website and the official LFC App, it
provides comprehensive coverage of all the build-up,
action, and reaction.
Full match replays and highlights will be shown on
LFCTV and on the streaming service LFCTV GO after
a holdback period. To try LFCTV GO free for a month,
sign up to a monthly subscription using the code
2021GOFREE. And don't forget: matchday programmes
are available to purchase for each home game from
reachsportshop.com/team/liverpool.
71
72

LIVERPOOL v Arsenal
FA COMMUNITY SHIELD
STATS... 29.08.20
line ups...
1
GOAL: Minamino (73).
LINE-UP (4-3-3): Alisson, Williams
(Minamino 59), Gomez, van Dijk,
Robertson, Wijnaldum (Brewster 90),
Fabinho, Milner (C) (Keita 59),
Salah, Firmino (Jones 82), Mane.
Subs not used: Adrian, Grujic,
Tsimikas, Elliott, Koumetio.
Booked: Milner.
(4-5 PENS)
GOAL: Aubameyang (12).
1
LINE-UP (3-4-3): Martinez, Holding,
Luiz, Tierney (Kolasinac 83),
Bellerin (Cedric 59), Elneny,
Xhaka, Maitland-Niles, Saka
(Willock 82), Nketiah (Nelson 82),
Aubameyang (C).
Subs not used: Leno, Saliba,
Smith Rowe, John-Jules, Olayinka.
(4-5 PENS)
match
report
VENUE: ATTENDANCE: REFEREE: MAN OF THE MATCH:
WEMBLEY BCD ANDRE MARRINER ANDY ROBERTSON
Reds pay the
penalty after
comeback
60 40
POSSESSION (%)
• Takumi Minamino comes
16 SHOTS 8 off the bench to score his first
Liverpool goal, but just as in the
previous season's FA Community
4 SHOTS ON TARGET 2 Shield the Reds are beaten on
penalties following a 1-1 draw.
Virgil van Dijk has an early goal
5 CORNERS 3 disallowed for offside before
Arsenal skipper Pierre-Emerick
Aubameyang puts the Gunners
1 OFFSIDES 2 ahead with a curling shot.
6 CLEARANCES 29 • Liverpool dominate the second
half but after Minamino equalises
– becoming the first Japanese
player to net in a Red shirt – the
game goes to penalties. Rhian
Brewster, on as a late substitute,
is the only player to miss in the
shootout as his spot-kick strikes
the crossbar. It means Arsenal
get their hands on the silverware,
although only one of the last nine
Community Shield winners have
gone on to be champions.
• “We deserved the equaliser and
could have scored more but we
didn't do that,” says Jürgen Klopp
after the match. “When you play
against a formation like this then
you need to be really fresh in the
final third and you need to force
it, create angles. The rhythm for
that fell a little bit.”
73
JAMES AIMS FOR
150 IN RED
Reds vice-captain James Milner
began his career with hometown
club Leeds United, making
his debut aged 16 years
and 309 days in November
2002 and soon becoming
the Premier League's
youngest scorer in a
2-1 win at Sunderland
(with Robbie Fowler also
converting a penalty).
In 2004 he left Leeds
for Bobby Robson's
Newcastle United
then went on-loan to
Aston Villa before
a permanent switch.
In came Manchester
City for whom he made
147 Premier League
appearances, before he
joined Liverpool in 2015.
If he plays today it will
be his 150th league app
for the club and 216th in
red in all competitions.

8
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 SEASON STATS
PLAYER LEAGUE FA CUP LEAGUE CUP UCL OTHER TOTAL
Adrian 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Trent Alexander-Arnold 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Alisson Becker 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0
Rhian Brewster 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0(1) 0 0(1) 0
Harvey Elliott 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Fabinho 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0
Roberto Firmino 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0
Joe Gomez 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0
Marko Grujic 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Jordan Henderson 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Ki-Jana Hoever 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Curtis Jones 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0(1) 0 0(1) 0
Naby Keita 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0(1) 0 0(1) 0
Caoimhin Kelleher 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Billy Koumetio 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Sadio Mane 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0
Joel Matip 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Takumi Minamino 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0(1) 1 0(1) 1
James Milner 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0
Divock Origi 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Nathaniel Phillips 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Andy Robertson 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0
Mohamed Salah 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0
Xherdan Shaqiri 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Kostas Tsimikas 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Sepp van den Berg 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Virgil van Dijk 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0
Georginio Wijnaldum 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0
Neco Williams 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0

76
7915-2_SOS20 programme.indd 1 07/09/2020 15:16
PLAYER STATS
NAME / BIRTHPLACE / DOB LEAGUE FA CUP LEAGUE CUP EUROPE OTHER LFC TOTAL
games goals games goals games goals games goals games goals games goals
1 Alisson Becker Novo Hamburgo, Brazil, 02.10.92 67 0 0 0 0 0 18 0 4 0 89 0
3 Fabinho Campinas, Brazil, 23.10.93 56 3 3 0 1 0 18 0 3 0 81 3
4 Virgil van Dijk Breda, Holland, 08.07.91 90 9 3 1 0 0 26 2 4 0 123 12
5 Georginio Wijnaldum Rotterdam, Holland, 11.11.90 141 14 3 0 6 0 34 5 2 0 187 19
7 James Milner Wortley, England, 04.01.86 149 19 6 1 11 2 45 4 4 0 215 26
8 Naby Keita Conakry, Guinea, 10.02.95 43 4 1 0 3 0 10 2 4 1 61 7
9 Roberto Firmino Maceio, Brazil, 02.10.91 175 57 7 1 10 1 48 17 5 2 245 78
10 Sadio Mane Sedhiou, Senegal, 10.04.92 127 63 3 0 3 0 34 16 4 2 171 81
11 Mohamed Salah Basyoun, Egypt, 15.06.92 108 73 4 1 1 0 35 20 5 0 153 94
12 Joe Gomez Lewisham, England, 23.05.97 72 0 6 0 3 0 24 0 5 0 110 0
13 Adrian Seville, Spain, 03.01.87 11 0 3 0 0 0 3 0 1 0 18 0
14 Jordan Henderson Sunderland, England, 17.06.90 269 26 18 0 22 1 51 2 4 0 364 29
15 Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain Portsmouth, England, 15.08.93 64 7 4 0 3 1 12 5 4 0 87 13
16 Marko Grujic Belgrade, Serbia, 13.04.96 8 0 0 0 4 0 2 0 0 0 14 0
17 Curtis Jones Liverpool, England, 30.01.01 6 1 5 2 2 0 0 0 1 0 14 3
18 Takumi Minamino Izumisano, Japan, 16.01.95 10 0 3 0 0 0 1 0 1 1 15 1
21 Kostas Tsimikas Thessaloniki, Greece, 12.05.96 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
22 Loris Karius Biberach an der Riss, Germany, 22.06.93 29 0 4 0 3 0 13 0 0 0 49 0
23 Xherdan Shaqiri Gjilan, Kosovo, 10.10.91 31 7 1 0 1 0 5 0 3 0 41 7
24 Rhian Brewster London, England, 01.04.00 0 0 1 0 2 0 0 0 1 0 4 0
26 Andy Robertson Glasgow, Scotland, 11.03.94 94 3 2 0 1 0 26 1 5 0 128 4
27 Divock Origi Ostend, Belgium, 18.04.95 91 19 8 2 11 8 26 5 4 0 140 34
32 Joel Matip Bochum, Germany, 08.08.91 85 4 3 0 4 0 17 0 2 1 111 5
47 Nathaniel Phillips Bolton, England, 21.03.97 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
51 Ki-Jana Hoever Amsterdam, Holland, 18.01.02 0 0 2 0 2 1 0 0 0 0 4 1
54 Sheyi Ojo Hemel Hempstead, England, 19.06.97 8 0 5 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 13 1
58 Ben Woodburn Chester, England, 15.10.99 6 0 3 0 2 1 0 0 0 0 11 1
59 Harry Wilson Wrexham, Wales, 22.03.97 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
62 Caoimhin Kelleher Cork, Ireland, 23.11.98 0 0 1 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 4 0
65 Leighton Clarkson Blackburn, England, 19.10.01 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 0
66 Trent Alexander-Arnold Liverpool, England, 07.10.98 93 6 4 0 3 0 30 2 4 0 134 8
67 Harvey Elliott Chertsey, England, 04.04.03 2 0 3 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 8 0
70 Yasser Larouci El Oued, Algeria, 01.01.01 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0
72 Sepp van den Berg Zwolle, Holland, 20.12.01 0 0 1 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 4 0
73 Kamil Grabara Ruda Slaska, Poland, 08.01.99 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
76 Neco Williams Wrexham, Wales, 13.04.01 6 0 4 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 12 0
89 Billy Koumetio Lyon, France, 14.11.02 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Taiwo Awoniyi Ilorin, Nigeria, 12.08.97 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Jack Bearne Nottingham, England, 15.09.01 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
Morgan Boyes Chester, England, 22.04.01 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 0
Jake Cain Wigan, England, 02.09.01 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
Tom Clayton Rainford, England, 27.12.00 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Elijah Dixon-Bonner London, England, 01.01.01 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
Tony Gallacher Glasgow, Scotland, 23.07.99 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
Joe Hardy Wirral, England, 26.09.98 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
Thomas Hill Liverpool, England, 13.10.02 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
Vitezslav Jaros Pribram, Czech Republic, 23.07.01 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Herbie Kane Bristol, England, 23.11.98 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 0
Adam Lewis Liverpool, England, 08.11.99 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
Luis Longstaff Darlington, England, 24.02.01 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
Liam Millar Toronto, Canada, 27.09.99 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
James Norris Liverpool, England, 04.04.03 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
Layton Stewart Liverpool, England, 03.09.02 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Ben Winterbottom Preston, England, 16.07.01 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Stats correct as of 07.09.20. On loan/ineligible: Sheyi Ojo (Cardiff City), Morgan Boyes (Fleetwood Town), Adam Lewis (Amiens SC)

79
 FIXTURES & RESULTS 2020/21
DATE OPPOSITION KO RES
POS TV REFEREE ATT STARTING XI
Sat 29 Aug Arsenal (Community Shield) 4.30pm 1-1^ - BT A Marriner (BCD) Alisson Williams ● Gomez van Dijk Robertson Fabinho Wijnaldum ●
Sat 12 Sep LEEDS UNITED 5.30pm Sky
Sun 20 Sep Chelsea 4.30pm Sky
22/23 Sep Bradford/Lincoln LC 3rd TBC
Mon 28 Sep ARSENAL 8pm Sky
29/30 Sep League Cup 4th TBC
Sat 03 Oct Aston Villa 3pm
Sat 17 Oct Everton 3pm
20/21 Oct UCL M1 TBC BT
Sat 24 Oct SHEFFIELD UNITED 3pm
27/28 Oct UCL M2 TBC BT
Sat 31 Oct WEST HAM UNITED 3pm
03/04 Nov UCL M3 TBC BT
Sat 07 Nov Manchester City 3pm
Sat 21 Nov LEICESTER CITY 3pm
24/25 Nov UCL M4 TBC BT
Sat 28 Nov Brighton & Hove Albion 3pm
01/02 Dec UCL M5 TBC BT
Sat 05 Dec WOLVERHAMPTON W 3pm
08/09 Dec UCL M6 TBC BT
Sat 12 Dec Fulham 3pm
Wed 16 Dec TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 8pm
Sat 19 Dec Crystal Palace 3pm
22/23 Dec League Cup quarter final TBC
Sat 26 Dec WEST BROMWICH ALBION 3pm
Mon 28 Dec Newcastle United 3pm
Sat 02 Jan Southampton 3pm
05/06 Jan League Cup semi final TBC
Sat 09 Jan FA Cup 3rd TBC
Wed 13 Jan BURNLEY 8pm
Sat 16 Jan MANCHESTER UNITED 3pm
Sat 23 Jan FA Cup 4th TBC
Wed 27 Jan Tottenham Hotspur 7.45pm
Sat 30 Jan West Ham United 3pm
Wed 03 Feb BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION 8pm
Sat 06 Feb MANCHESTER CITY 3pm
Wed 10 Feb FA Cup 5th TBC
Sat 13 Feb Leicester City 3pm
16/17 Feb UCL round of 16 1st TBC BT
Sat 20 Feb EVERTON 3pm
23/24 Feb UCL round of 16 1st TBC BT
Sat 27 Feb Sheffield United 3pm
Sun 28 Feb League Cup final TBC
Sat 06 Mar FULHAM 3pm
09/10 Mar UCL round of 16 2nd TBC BT
Sat 13 Mar Wolverhampton W 3pm
16/17 Mar UCL round of 16 2nd TBC BT
Sat 20 Mar CHELSEA 3pm
Sat 20 Mar FA Cup 6th TBC
Sat 03 Apr Arsenal 3pm
06/07 Apr UCL quarter final 1st TBC BT
Sat 10 Apr ASTON VILLA 3pm
13/14 Apr UCL quarter final 2nd TBC BT
Sat 17 Apr Leeds United 3pm
Sat 17 Apr FA Cup semi final TBC
Sat 24 Apr NEWCASTLE UNITED 3pm
27/28 Apr UCL semi final 1st TBC BT
Sat 01 May Manchester United 3pm
04/05 May UCL semi final 2nd TBC BT
Sat 08 May SOUTHAMPTON 3pm
Tue 11 May West Bromwich Albion 8pm
Sat 15 May Burnley 3pm
Sat 15 May FA Cup final TBC
Sun 23 May CRYSTAL PALACE 4pm
Sat 29 May UCL final TBC BT
KEY: CAPS/BOLD = Home fixture ❚ = yellow card ❚ = red card p = Penalty * = own-goal ● First sub ● Second sub ● Third sub ● Fourth sub ● Fifth sub

80
 SUBS
Milner ❚● Salah Mane Firmino ● Minamino 1 ● Keita ● Jones ● Brewster ● Koumetio Tsimikas Grujic Elliott Adrian

Goalscorers in bold ^lost 5-4 on pens

81
 PREMIER LEAGUE 2020/21
P W D L GF GA GD PTS
1 Arsenal 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2 Aston Villa 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
3 Brighton and Hove Albion 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
4 Burnley 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
5 Chelsea 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
6 Crystal Palace 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
7 Everton 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
8 Fulham 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
9 Leeds United 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
10 Leicester City 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
11 Liverpool 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
12 Manchester City 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
13 Manchester United 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
14 Newcastle United 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
15 Sheffield United 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
16 Southampton 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
17 Tottenham Hotspur 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
18 West Bromwich Albion 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
19 West Ham United 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
20 Wolverhampton Wanderers 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

NEXT GAME AT ANFIELD: LIVERPOOL V Arsenal (Premier League) 28.09.20

THIS WEEKEND'S PREMIER

LEAGUE FIXTURES
SATURDAY:
Fulham v Arsenal (12.30pm)
Crystal Palace v Southampton (3pm)
West Ham v Newcastle (8pm)

SUNDAY:
West Brom v Leicester City (2pm)
Spurs v Everton (4.30pm)

MONDAY (8PM KO):

Sheffield Utd v Wolves (6pm)
Brighton v Chelsea (8.15pm)

POSTPONED:
Burnley v Man Utd
Man City v Aston Villa

82
WE ARE PLEASED TO RECOGNISE THE OFFICIAL PARTNERS OF LIVERPOOL FC

SUPPORT US SAFELY.
 S Q U A D L I S T

MANAGER: HEAD COACH:

Jürgen Klopp Marcelo Bielsa

1 ALISSON BECKER 1 ILLAN MESLIER

3 FABINHO 2 LUKE AYLING
4 VIRGIL VAN DIJK 3 BARRY DOUGLAS
5 GEORGINIO WIJNALDUM 4 ADAM FORSHAW
7 JAMES MILNER 5 ROBIN KOCH
8 NABY KEITA 6 LIAM COOPER
9 ROBERTO FIRMINO 7 IAN POVEDA
10 SADIO MANE 9 PATRICK BAMFORD
11 MOHAMED SALAH 10 EZGJAN ALIOSKI
12 JOE GOMEZ 11 TYLER ROBERTS
13 ADRIAN 13 KIKO CASILLA
14 JORDAN HENDERSON 15 STUART DALLAS
15 ALEX OXLADE-CHAMBERLAIN 17 HELDER COSTA
16 MARKO GRUJIC 19 PABLO HERNANDEZ
17 CURTIS JONES 20 RODRIGO MORENO
18 TAKUMI MINAMINO 21 PASCAL STRUIJK
21 KOSTAS TSIMIKAS 22 JACK HARRISON
22 LORIS KARIUS 23 KALVIN PHILLIPS
23 XHERDAN SHAQIRI 24 LEIF DAVIS
24 RHIAN BREWSTER 25 ELIA CAPRILE
26 ANDY ROBERTSON 30 JOE GELHARDT
27 DIVOCK ORIGI 36 ROBBIE GOTTS
32 JOEL MATIP 43 MATEUSZ KLICH
47 NATHANIEL PHILLIPS 44 MATEUSZ BOGUSZ
51 KI-JANA HOEVER 45 LIAM McCARRON
58 BEN WOODBURN 46 JAMIE SHACKLETON
59 HARRY WILSON 48 JORDAN STEVENS
62 CAOIMHIN KELLEHER 49 OLIVER CASEY
66 TRENT ALEXANDER-ARNOLD
67 HARVEY ELLIOTT
72 SEPP VAN DEN BERG
73 KAMIL GRABARA
76 NECO WILLIAMS
89 BILLY KOUMETIO
Anfield programme 01 £3.50

SQUADS CORRECT AT TIME OF PRINT

MATCH OFFICIALS: FOURTH OFFICIAL: MIKE DEAN

REFEREE: MICHAEL OLIVER DELEGATE: MICKY ADAMS
ASSISTANT REFEREE 1: STUART BURT VIDEO ASSISTANT REFEREE: PAUL TIERNEY
ASSISTANT REFEREE 2: SIMON BENNETT ASSISTANT VIDEO ASSISTANT REFEREE: ANDY HALLIDAY