Sports Then and Now

Liverpool Football Club is without a doubt one of sport’s most historical establishments and the most successful football team in England, an accolade only challenged by nearby rivals Manchester United. The current success of the club on and off the field begs the question, how does this team compare to that of Liverpool’s most successful years?

LFC City Explorer is a sightseeing tour bus based in Liverpool. The bus is one of the best ways for supporters to catch the city’s best sights before it stops outside one of sport’s most iconic stadiums. In this article, LFC City Explorer walks us through how the modern Liverpool FC team compares to that of the 1980s. 

Modern Success vs 1980s Glory

When it comes to sports history, Liverpool FC is right up there with the absolute best and biggest names in the industry. The history of LFC began all the way in 1892 when the club was founded. Since then, the club has consistently played in the top fight for several decades, boasts one of the largest fanbases in the game and has an impressive trophy cabinet bursting with silverware.

The 1980s are widely regarded as the most successful period for this illustrious club. Liverpool FC dominated English and European football during these years. Under the leadership of managers such as Bob Paisley, Joe Fagan and Kenny Dalglish, Liverpool won two European Cups, two FA Cups, four League Cups and seven League Titles. The club’s trophy success and pass-and-move style of attacking football was lauded at the time and has since been described as an inspiration by some of football’s most iconic names.

Fast forward to 2020, and critics are once again praising Liverpool FC as one of the best teams in the land. Follow several years of hurt and spiralling crisis, the appointment of German manager Jurgen Klopp has proven to be a huge success. Liverpool went seven years without a competitive trophy before Klopp guided them to triumph in the Champions League. This seemingly opened the flood gates with the club soon claiming victory in the UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup, the latter of which earned Liverpool’s first ever trophy in the competition.

The current Premier League season of 2019/20 will perhaps go down as one of the most fascinating in the competition’s history. The thrilling competitiveness of both Liverpool FC and Manchester City has saw both teams smash several records. With Liverpool having only dropped points in two games out of a possible 29, questions are being asked about whether this is the club’s greatest ever squad and perhaps even if this is the best team to grace the Premier League. While we are watching something spectacular in front of us, it will perhaps take another year or two of dominance before we can truly say this Liverpool team is better than the one in the 1980s.

Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Liverpool’s captivating run is currently on hold. The uncertain future of lockdown means the club’s long wait for a league title hangs in the balance. However, one thing is for certain. When normality to life resumes, these ‘mentality monsters’ will be raring to go to bolster their presence in football’s history books even further.