No. 19 – Our 16th League Title

No. 19 – Our 16th League Title

Under the inspirational guidance of player/manager Kenny Dalglish the Reds overcame the challenge of reigning league champions Everton to capture a 16th championship crown on the final day of the 1985/86 season.

At the beginning of the 1985/86 season Dalglish had been appointed manager amid the debris of Heysel. Dalglish became player manager and would have a major role on the pitch in helping Liverpool achieve a historic feat by winning the League Championship and becoming the first player-manager to win the league.

Liverpool had to win their final game of the season against Chelsea to ensure their sixteenth League title. It had been the closest run Championships in years. When Liverpool lost 2-0 to Everton in late February that year, Liverpool were trailing the leaders by 13 points and the title was quickly looking out of sight for the Reds.

Liverpool had a mountain to climb, but a truly remarkable season awaited them as they went on to win 12 and draw one of their remaining 13 games to snatch the Division One title from Everton.

Liverpool travelled to Stamford Bridge on the final day of the season needing to win after Everton had crumbled to a 1-0 defeat at Oxford United.

On a memorable afternoon, Dalglish himself clinched the title for the Reds in front of over 43,900 supporters at Stamford Bridge. Dalglish chested down a Jim Beglin cross, noted Chelsea‘s defence entangled in their own offside trap and volleyed the winner off the outside of his right foot – his 7th goal of the season. Liverpool won 1-0 and clinched the title from Everton by two points….

With that in the bag Liverpool stood on the threshold of their first League and FA cup double when they walked out at Wembley for the FA Cup final the following week….

Liverpools Team : Bruce Grobbelaar, Gary Gillespie, Jim Beglin, Steve Nicol, Ronnie Whelan, Alan Hansen, Kenny Dalglish, Craig Johnston, Ian Rush, Mark Lawrenson, Kevin MacDonald