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A Rent Dispute Spawns The Reds

Liverpool Football Club were founded due to a dispute between Everton FC and the owner of their Anfield ground, John Houlding.

When, in 1892, Houlding doubled the annual rent on the ground, Everton decided to move. On the 12th March, 1892, they quit Anfield and three days later, Houlding founded a new club to play there.

Early Ups and Downs

Liverpool were elected to the Football League Second Division in 1893, and won it at the first attempt. A year later they were relegated, but won Division Two, and promotion, again in 1896.

The First Title

They won the first of their many League titles in 1901, but in 1904, were relegated again. They won the Second Division title for the third time in 1905, and followed that up with a second League title in 1906. Further League titles followed in 1922 and 1923.

Decline and Relegation

In 1947, the Reds won the League for the fifth time but thereafter went into decline, dropping into Division Two in 1954.

The Appointment of Bill Shankly

In 1959 the club appointed Bill Shankly, the man who would lay the foundations for the unprecedented success achieved by Liverpool Football Club.

After winning Division Two in 1962, Liverpool were League Champions in 1964, won the FA Cup for the first time in 1965 and were Champions again in 1966. In 1973 they won the League title again, as well as securing their first European trophy, the UEFA Cup.

A year later the Reds won the FA Cup and Shankly announced his retirement.

Kings of Europe under Paisley

His successor was his assistant Bob Paisley, whose achievements would eclipse even Shankly's. In nine years, he won six League titles, three European Cups, the UEFA Cup, and three League Cups.

Joe Fagan: New Boss, More Success

When Paisley retired in 1983, his assistant, Joe Fagan took up the reins and, in 1984, led the club to an unprecedented treble of League, European Cup and League Cup.

Heysel

However, a year later came one on the darkest moments in the history of Liverpool Football Club. On May 29, 1985, Liverpool were to meet Juventus in the European Cup final at the Heysel Stadium, in Brussels. Before the game, Liverpool fans rioted, attacking Italian fans. In the ensuing chaos, a wall collapsed and 39 Italian supporters were killed.

Fagan retired from football and English clubs were banned from European competition as a result.

Dalglish Takes Over

The new manager was Kenny Dalglish, a Reds legend as a player, but a break from the tradition of appointing from the famous Anfield "boot-room". Dalglish led the club to the League and FA Cup double in 1986.

Two more League titles (1988, 1990), and another FA Cup (1989) followed.

Hillsborough

However, this last win was tarnished by another tragedy, this time at Hillsborough when 96 fans were crushed to death during the FA Cup semi-final.

After Dalglish resigned in 1991, another former player, Graeme Souness took over the reins but, despite an FA Cup win in 1992, his time in charge ushered in a period of decline.

Under the management of Gerard Houlier (1998-2004) the Reds regained some of their former glory, including a unique cup treble of UEFA Cup, FA Cup, and League Cup in 2001. The League Championship, however, continued to elude them.

The Miracle of Istanbul

Houlier was replaced by Rafa Benitez in 2004. In May 2005, in the most dramatic come back ever seen in a European final, the Reds came from 0-3 down to beat AC Milan on penalties, and win the Champions League.

Twelve months later they secured another trophy on penalties, beating West Ham in the FA Cup Final.

Another Champions League Final was reached in 2007, but this time AC Milan gained revenge with a 2-1 win.

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