No. 35 – Michael Thomas silences the Kop….

No. 35 – Michael Thomas silences the Kop….

The 26th May 1989 ‘“ The day Arsenal stole the Championship off us…..

On the final day of the 1988/89 season, the Championship was in Liverpool’s hands provided they did not lose by two goals to Arsenal. Arsenal needed to win by 2 clear goals to win the Championship from Liverpool at Anfield – a feat which in those days of the Reds’ supremacy seemed to all supporters impossible.

Liverpool had beaten Everton in the FA Cup in a 3-2 thriller a week earlier  and had looked on course to win the League Championship aswell. The first half ended 0-0, but right after the interval, Arsenal took the lead after a controversial indirect free kick from Nigel Winterburn went straight in, the referee adamant Alan Smith had touched the ball before it went over the line. The game was now on a knife-edge and the Kop was silenced.

Liverpool hung on poised for another Double, a goal down as the game went into the final few seconds…. Images of Steve McMahon still lie in the memory as he held up one finger to indicate 1 minute to his team mates. But just as the Liverpool supporters were preparing for another League Championship, Michael Thomas found himself racing into the box and bang.

The Championship had been decided in them final few seconds. Thomas had scored, leaving Anfield silenced, the Kop in shock and disbelief as the Arsenal team collected the trophy. The Kop and Liverpool supporters still remained to cheer on the Champions, Arsenal and their fans were visibly shocked by their reception.

A day we’ll definitely remember all our lives!

Liverpools Team : Bruce Grobbelaar, Gary Ablett, Steve Staunton, Steve Nicol, Ronnie Whelan, Alan Hansen, Ray Houghton, John Aldridge, Ian Rush, John Barnes, Steve McMahon