1989-90

Liverpool v Nottingham Forest
Liverpool v Chelsea
Liverpool v QPR
Coventry City v Liverpool

Coventry City v Liverpool 5th May 1990

After last weeks excitement, we could relax and enjoy the game, my first away game watching Liverpool FC.

Following a mid-week 1-0 win over Derby, and receiving the championship trophy, there were a few empty seats on the coach, people had obviously lost interest for some reason.

We arrived on the outskirts of Coventry at about half past 12, so we nipped into a pub for a couple, just to kill some time really...........honest.

 

Arriving at the ground, the supporters club organiser approached a policeman to see if it was ok to sell the remaining tickets that he had, surprisingly to me they all went, I couldn't believe at the time that people would travel to a match without a ticket, it's something I found later on that happened quite often.

Inside the ground, the singing had started early, we were champions, and letting everyone know.

Once the teams appeared, "king" Kenny took his place on the bench, on a really hot day, with his big bench jacket on.

After 2 minutes, Kevin Gallagher put Coventry in front, a bad start to say the least, but better was to follow, Ian Rush equalised after 16 minutes, and John Barnes made it 2-1 after 37 minutes and Barnes again on 39 minutes made it 3-1.

Half Time: Coventry City 1 Liverpool 3

In the second half Liverpool carried on where they'd left off, Ronny Rosenthal made it 4-1 after 50 minutes, Barnes completed his hat-trick on 61 minutes, and Rosenthal got his second to round it all off after 69 minutes.

After the final whistle, both teams did a lap of honour, and both teams got a standing ovation from both sets of fans, even John Sillett, Coventry's manager had his name sung by the away fans.

A great day and a great season, just a few months until next season starts, and time to wallow ni the fact that Liverpool are champions.

Final score: Coventry City 1 Liverpool 6

Liverpool v QPR 28th April 1990

There was a buzz around Liverpool today as soon as we arrived, today could be the day we clinch our 18th league title, a win against QPR and if Norwich can do us a favour at Aston Villa by at least getting a draw.

A tentative start, and QPR taking the lead wasn't what we' hoped for, and news that Villa were winning wasn't what we wanted to hear either.

But on 40 minutes Ian Rush banged in the eqaliser at the near post, past future England 'keeper David Seaman, but, Villa were winning 3-1 by now, so perhaps the title wasn't going to be today.

At half time, the talk was of whether we could still get the 3 points, and finally win the title on Tuesday with a win against Derby County, but as we all know, football is such an unpredictable game.

The second half starts with Liverpool looking eagerly to score the next goal that would put us in the lead, and on 63 minutes, we were somewhat fortunate to win a penalty, which John Barnes calmly put away to give Liverpool the lead.

Looking comfortable for the win, and the minutes ticking away, a shout was heard from somewhere behind me on The Kop, that shout soon turned to a roar that swept like wildfire around the whole of Anfield, looking around puzzled many people were unsure of what was going on, then from what seemed to be from the same place the shout was heard from, a cry of "champions, champions" was heard, this spread round the ground even quicker than the roar.

It had turned out that Norwich had pulled 2 goals back to make it 3-3, the somewhat quietened atmosphere had turned to one of celebration, "you'll never walk alone" all but drowned out the final whistle, it was confirmed, Villa had drawn 3-3 at home To Norwich, and Liverpool FC were champions again.

After the game, we met our coach at The Sportsmans pub, owned by Liverpool midfielder, Ronnie Whelan, who was there after the match, along with fellow central midfielder Steve McMahon, so we stayed for a bit and had a few celebratory drinks, which was nice.

Final Score: Liverpool 2 QPR 1

Liverpool v Chelsea 21st April 1990

A week later, I'm back in Liverpool for my second game, this week's opponents were Chelsea, who were just a shadow of the club they are now, no oil billionaire in sight, just an average division one team.

They had the likes of Kerry Dixon, Steve Clarke and Tony Dorigo.

On arriving at Anfield, as the previous week, we got a taxi to Lime Street Station and walked to White Star pub in the station, this week we arrived back at the ground in time for kick off, Liverpool took the lead after a lot of one way traffic through Ronny Rosenthal again on 25 minutes, Steve Nicol, what a player he was, got the second after 36 minutes and he also got the third after 80 minutes, some goalscorer for a defender, Ian Rush made it 4-0 on 82 minutes, then late on Kerry Dixon got a consolation, another Liverpool win, and another step closer to the title.

Next week we play QPR, the title could be coming back to Liverpool.

Final Score: Liverpool 4 Chelsea 1

How it all started with Liverpool

My first memory of watching Liverpool, was in 1977, I was just 7 years old, Liverpool had just won the championship, and were playing Man Utd in the F.A.cup final, which we went on to lose 2-1.

Four days later, we became Champions of Europe for the first time.

Fast forward to 1990, many years and many trophies later, I make my first trip to Anfield, 14th April 1990, Liverpool v Nottingham Forest, the day before the first anniversary of Hillsborough.

As I then lived in Plymouth, the day started early, being picked up by the coach at 7am, which had started from Truro in Cornwall, we made our way up through the country picking other people up on the way.

We arrived in Liverpool at around 1pm, coming up Utting Avenue, I caught my first glimpse of Anfield, reaching the top of road by The Arkles pub, the coach turned around and pulled in just by the entrance to Stanley Park, here we finally got off, and made our way to the ground.

I was walking up Anfield Road for the first time ,we reached the Shankly Gates, and went in the souvenir shop to get a programme, after making our way passed the player's entrance we came out by The Albert pub, yes most of the landmarks around the ground are pubs.

The group I was with then hailed a cab and asked the driver for Lime Street station, yes we were going to a pub, the white star in the station which sold cheap beer.

As I mentioned it was the day before the first anniversary of Hillsborough, and playing Nottingham Forest, our opponents on that tragic day, but regretably we missed the minutes silence, and got to the ground just on kick-off.

Taking our places on the Kop, I got my first glimpses of the ground from the inside, have I made it clear enough it was first time?

For the first few minutes I just stood and listened to the shouting and the songs, but I soon joined in, and on 12 minutes Ronny Rosenthal scored at the Anfield Road end, I went berserk, probably a bit over the top, but I'd seen a goal.

Three minutes later Steve McMahon made it 2-0, which it stayed until half time. A good half, well, we were winning 2-0, but the second half it went a bit wrong, Steve Hodge then Nigel Jemson scored for Forest to earn them a 2-2 draw, it was time to go home.

The trip home wasn't too bad, seeing as I wasn't a seasoned traveller by any means, but finally got back to Plymouth about midnight, gto home and went straight to bed, still with the noise from the Kop ringing in my ears.

Looking forward to my next trip already, which was to be only a week away.

Thanks to LFC history a history of Liverpool FC,for refreshing my memory on certain things.

Final Score: Liverpool 2 Nottingham Forest 2