OVERVIEW Liverpool have maintained their status as a domestic and European force since the Premier League began in 1992, rarely finishing outside the top positions. The club have won seven major trophies since then, including the Champions League, Uefa Cup, two FA Cups and three League Cups. Indeed, 2001 saw the Reds claim an unprecedented League Cup, FA Cup and Uefa Cup treble. Under Rafa Benitez, Liverpool secured Champions League football in five of his six seasons at the helm. The Spaniard won the competition in 2005 and guided the club to an appearance in the final two years later where they were beaten 2-1 by AC Milan. After struggling in the 2009/10 Barclays Premier League season the club finished in seventh, and missed out on a Champions League place, instead taking part in the Europa League in the 2010/11 season. On 3rd June 2010, Liverpool announced that they had parted company with Benitez, and former Fulham manager Roy Hodgson took over later that summer. The side struggled to find form under Hodgson, and after a poor run of results, he left Anfield in January, to be replaced by Liverpool legend Kenny Dalglish. In his second spell as Reds manager, Dalglish thrived and he led the club to a sixth place finish - an impressive feat considering the side was stuck in 12th spot prior to Hodgson's departure. Liverpool also reached the Round of 16 in the Europa League, but will not play in Europe in 2011/12. CLUB HERITAGE In 1891, John Houlding purchased Anfield after Everton left the ground for Goodison Park following a seven-year tenancy. With an empty stadium and only three players remaining, Houlding formed Liverpool Football Club on 15th March 1892. Everton FC and Athletic Grounds, Ltd, or Everton Athletic was to be the name, but the Football Association refused to recognise the team as Everton. Liverpool's first-ever competitive match was in the Lancashire League, where a predominantly Scottish team defeated Higher Walton 8-0 on 23rd September 1892. Liverpool won their first title in 1901 after gaining promotion to the First Division in 1894. The appointment of Bill Shankly in 1959 was the beginning of a golden era for Liverpool. He led the club to promotion to the First Division in 1962 and they have stayed there ever since. The title was secured in 1964 and 1966, with a first-ever FA Cup final victory sandwiched in between. A year after winning the Uefa Cup, Shankly retired and was replaced by his assistant Bob Paisley. Within two seasons, the Reds had won the league, and the Uefa Cup for a second time. Paisley's nine-year reign saw Liverpool win 21 trophies, including three European Cups, six league titles, a Uefa Cup, and three League Cups. Joe Fagan took over in 1983 and inspired the club to the European Cup, League title, and League Cup in his first season. PREMIER LEAGUE HISTORY 1993/94 - Roy Evans replaces Graeme Souness 1994/95 - Win League Cup 1998/99 - Gerard Houllier joins Evans as joint-manager 1998/99 - Houllier takes sole charge in November 1998 2000/01 - Win FA Cup, League Cup and Uefa Cup 2002/03 - Win League Cup 2003/04 - Houllier departs by mutual consent in May 2004 2004/05 - Rafa Benitez takes over 2004/05 - Djibril Cisse joins from Auxerre for a club record £14m 2004/05 - Win Champions League 2005/06 - Win FA Cup 2006/07 - American businessmen George Gillett and Tom Hicks become owners in a deal worth £470m. 2007/08 - Fernando Torres becomes Liverpool's record signing at an initial fee of around £20.2m from Atletico Madrid. 2008/09 - Benitez ends widespread specualtion about his future by signing a new five-year contract. 2009/10 - Benitez leaves Liverpool by mutual consent and is replaced by Roy Hodgson. 2010/11 - Roy Hodgson leaves the club in January. Former Reds manager Kenny Dalglish takes charge. |
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