Liverpool: illustrious past, suspicious future.
In 1892, a dispute broke out between Everton Football club and John Houlding. Houlding was the owner of the Anfield ground which was home to Everton’s matches. After the clash, Houlding formed his own club, Everton Athletic, later named Liverpool. After
over a century, one of England’s leading club’s future is thought to be hanging in balance. Liverpool last won the domestic league almost 2 decades ago. England’s most successful club, with 40 trophies, has failed to threaten the likes of Manchester Arsenal
and Chelsea.
Liverpool once ruled world football winning everything that came their way; and it all started in 1959 after the appointment of Bill Shankly. Shankly began to form a new club with new coaches and new players. He let go of 24 players and came up with the
idea of "Boot Room". It was a room where coaches would sit and talk tactics. Liverpool promoted from division two in 1962 and toped division one to enter the league 2 years later.
The coming 30 years saw Liverpool conquer all sorts of trophies. Their first FA Cup win came in 1965 and they won the league title the following year. 1973 saw Liverpool win their first European trophy along with the league title.
Bob Paisley took Shankly’s place after another FA Cup win for Liverpool. Paisley’s time at the club was extraordinary to say the least. He spent 10 seasons with Liverpool, taking them to won three European Cups, six league championships, a UEFA Cup and three
League Cups. After winning three continues league titles, Paisley retired in 1983.
Liverpool had their 1st season without a trophy in over a decade in the 1984-85 season. Liverpool started to dip after their trophyless season losing the league titles from 1988-1990. The 1990’s has not produced any notable performances from one
the most famous clubs in world football. The club won the FA Cup in 1992 and a League Cup in 1995.
The appointment of Gerard Houllier saw a number of minor trophies coming back to Anfield. Houlier took charge of Liverpool as a manager in 1998. Three years later, in 2001, Liverpool won the UEFA Cup, FA Cup and League Cup in the same season. Houlier left
the club in 2004 after winning another League Cup in 2003.
Rafael Benitez’s career at Liverpool started with a famous UEFA Champions League win over AC Milan in Istanbul. The match, which was deemed "The Miracle of Istanbul" by Liverpool fans, seemed out of the English sides reach after Milan had attained a 3-0
lead. Liverpool however clawed back into the game scoring 3 goals in 6 minutes and went on the win the competition on penalties.
Benitez’s stay at Liverpool was surrounded by controversies and speculations and fans turned against him in his final few seasons. Benitez quit Liverpool to join Italian champions Inter Milan.
Roy Hodgson has taken over as Liverpool manager for the current season. Liverpool failed to qualify for this year’s Champions League. The English club is recovering from a disastrous start to their league season. They currently lie 9th in the
table and many fear that failure to reach the top four this season will have dire consequences on the club’s future. First team goal keeper Jose Reina fears if Liverpool do not end this year’s season highly, than quality players like Torres and Gerrad will
depart from the club. In an interview to espnsoccernet he said, "We have to finish this season in a better position than we are at the moment [ninth] and make sure we build for the next years and try to be competitive. If not, it's going to be difficult
for them to keep these kind of players."
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