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Liverpool players celebrate winning the League Championship with four games to spare in 1988 - Getty Images/Bob Thomas
The sense of delayed gratification is tangible as the next Premier League champions await their coronation.
The Covid pandemic cancelled Anfield’s first title celebration for three decades under Jürgen Klopp. Now Liverpool’s legends are readying Arne Slot’s induction into their hall of fame with the party plans shelved for five years.
“It feels right that it can happen this way,” says Phil Thompson, former Liverpool captain and assistant manager, anticipating Slot’s side will get the point needed against Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday.
“We were denied this in 2020. There is no right way or wrong to win the league, but the best way to celebrate winning it is in front of your own supporters. We deserve to do it on our own ground.”
The choreography could be straight from a Busby Berkeley classic, Virgil van Dijk urging every fan to wear red for a carnival which, while overwhelmingly focused on Slot’s imminent triumph, will offer an appropriate nod to Klopp’s success, the ex-manager to attend the final home match in May.
“Whether we win it on Sunday or not, that trophy presentation on the last day against Crystal Palace will be truly special,” says Thompson. “Everyone can experience how it should be when you win the league.”
Thompson should know, having done so seven times during a glittering career.
For the distinguished former centre-back, Spurs rolling up at the Shankly Gates holds special resonance.
So accustomed are the north London club to the bridesmaid role on the day the title is won, their players could be forgiven for arriving on Sunday holding a bouquet.
Manchester United fondly recall Spurs being the Old Trafford opponents when completing part one of the 1999 treble, while Arsenal found their neighbours hospitable hosts in 1971 and 2004, White Hart Lane the ideal party venue for Bertie Mee and Arsène Wenger.
The last time it happened on Merseyside, Kenny Dalglish’s classic 1987-88 side completed their title march thanks to a Peter Beardsley winner against Terry Venables’ Spurs.
“My memory of that is as clear now as it was that day,” says Beardsley. “You don’t forget scoring the goal that won Liverpool a title at Anfield. It is something you dream of. The similarity with Sunday was uncanny because we knew if we beat Tottenham we’d win it with four games left.”
Beardsley struck in the 34th minute for a Liverpool team hailed by England legend Tom Finney as “better than Brazil”.
“We all saw Tom Finney say that on Sportsnight after we beat Nottingham Forest [10 days earlier]. He was such a respected figure who had seen thousands of games, and for him to say that was the ultimate approval,” says Beardsley.
“When I signed for Liverpool I always thought we were going to win the league, but not necessarily the way and style we did it, going 29 games unbeaten and being so far ahead of everyone else. Liverpool had won the league plenty of times before, but you have to remember it was all new for those of us who had just joined. Other than [John] Barnesy, maybe, I’m not sure we were household names before we went to Liverpool.
“It was the perfect blend. Alan Hansen was amazing in defence, just like Virgil van Dijk today, and Barnesy was the talk of the town. John Aldridge was the perfect partner for me because he loved working inside the box and I liked to work outside it. And then Ray Houghton came in. It was a dream scenario for anyone coming into that team.
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Peter Beardsley says Alan Hansen ‘was amazing in defence, just like Virgil van Dijk today’ - Getty Images/Bob Thomas
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John Aldridge was also a member of the title-winning Liverpool team in 1988 - /Getty Images
“It is hard to compare different eras and times. What I will say for sure is Liverpool have never had a better wide player than John Barnes. When you talk about the best Liverpool players ever, Barnesy is in there. He was the best player I ever played with.”
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Beardsley believes John Barnes is in the conversation to be considered one of the ‘best Liverpool players ever’ - Getty Images/Bob Thomas
Beardsley agrees that securing the title in front of the Kop means more. “I didn’t want Liverpool to go into the Spurs game having already won it because Arsenal lost on Wednesday. Doing it on your own patch is a brilliant feeling,” he says.
“I’m looking forward to seeing Liverpool have a trophy parade so soon after Newcastle’s. It’s been an amazing season for my old clubs – and I’m looking forward to being at Goodison Park for the final game there, too.”
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Beardsley scored the winning goal for Liverpool against Spurs to help the Merseyside club secure the league title in 1988 - Getty Images/Bob Thomas
There was more jeopardy against Spurs in the penultimate game of the 1981-82 season. Liverpool needed to beat Keith Burkinshaw’s FA Cup holders to end the challenge of Bobby Robson’s Ipswich Town.
“The Kop was full at 2pm, everyone was queuing up outside for hours and hundreds if not thousands of fans could not get in,” recalls Mark Lawrenson, who was hunting the first of his five titles. “When I went on to the pitch, it was the first time I had blessed myself as a good Catholic boy. I don’t think I ever did it before or since.”
Burkinshaw’s side were fourth and on the brink of another Wembley win having just been narrowly beaten by Liverpool in the League Cup final. They also possessed one of the league’s classiest midfielders who, on 27 minutes, silenced the Kop.
“Glenn Hoddle scored one the greatest goals ever by an away player at Anfield,” says Thompson. “I can still picture it going in and what made it even better was the ball was bobbling all over what was a pretty dodgy pitch before he hit it.”
Thompson was not the only Liverpool player purring. “You have seen the goal, haven’t you? Unbelievable,” recalls Lawrenson.
“I was probably the closest to him as he was about to hit from about 35 yards and thinking: ‘Go then, you’re not going to score from there.’ Then it flew into the top corner.”
Blocking the home path was Liverpool legend Ray Clemence, who was making his first Anfield appearance since leaving as a European Cup winner 12 months earlier. His Kop reception provided one of the most iconic images of the old terrace, and the increase in volume inspired the home side.
“When we went in at half-time, Bob [Paisley] being Bob said: ‘Keep playing, chances will come,’ and a few of us were looking at each other thinking: ‘What if they don’t?’” says Lawrenson.
“Tottenham were a decent side, but there was always a feeling that whenever Tottenham crossed the Watford Gap to head north they would wet themselves.”
Lawrenson’s bullet header equalised on 51 minutes, before he provided the assist for Dalglish four minutes later. Ronnie Whelan belted a third late on to get the champagne popping.
“A few fans ran on at the end. The Kop was singing: “Get off the f-----g pitch so we can get on with the lap of honour,” says Lawrenson.
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Mark Lawrenson in action for Liverpool during the 1983 Milk Cup final - Allsport/David Cannon
At the time, Thompson’s sixth title was a record for an individual player. “The first thing I did on the final whistle was go to Clem,” says Thompson. “Ray and myself had won so much together and he was still a big part of our group. It was an emotional day for Ray. He was not surprised we had won the league, but was probably a bit more disappointed than he showed that he was on the other team. He had big success at Spurs, too, of course.”
For Thompson, Graeme Souness’s trophy lift triggered mixed emotions. “I’d lost the captaincy after we lost at home 3-1 to Manchester City on Boxing Day,” he says. “It was a big disappointment at the time, obviously, but in hindsight it gave me the gee-up that Bob was looking for. I stayed in the side and the amazing run took us from 12th to first with 20 wins from the last 25 games.
“It was a bit bittersweet seeing someone else lift it, but I had enjoyed my moments and Liverpool winning another title mattered most. I didn’t think anyone would get near us until United came along in the 90s.”
Lawrenson attributes the 1982 comeback to the genius and psychology of the legendary Anfield backroom staff. “After the defeat to City, Joe Fagan went berserk and let rip at us,” says Lawrenson. “It was along the lines of: ‘You represent Liverpool Football Club and we do not stand for this.’
“Joe was such a mild-mannered man, he never raised his voice. So when he did, it mattered. I had never heard everyone so quiet. The next match we beat Swansea 4-0 in the FA Cup and away we went.”
Thompson and Lawrenson will be among the many VIPs craving the same result this weekend. There is added poignancy for Thompson when considering how his close friend and former boss, the late Gérard Houllier, would have relished the occasion.
“I will be thinking of Gérard,” says Thompson. “He changed the whole culture of the football club moving forward, preparing footballers for the era of Champions League football. Every manager who followed him reaped the benefits of that.”
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Phil Thompson says he will be thinking of former Liverpool manager Gérard Houllier, who ‘changed the whole culture of the football club’ - Reuters/Ian Hodgson
Back in 1982 and modest as ever on winning the fifth of his six titles, Paisley reflected on living up to his illustrious predecessor’s expectations.
“I thought I would be judged on Bill’s [Shankly’s] standards. If you are judged against what he did, nine times out of 10 you will hit the deck.” he said.
As he closes in on Klopp’s league haul in his first season and prepares to take his place alongside the club’s greats, Slot can hear Anfield’s echoes.
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