1989–90 Liverpool F.C. season

The 1989–90 season was the 98th season in Liverpool F.C.'s existence, and their 28th consecutive year in the top flight. This article covers the period from 1 July 1989 to 30 June 1990.

Liverpool
1989–90 season
ManagerKenny Dalglish
First DivisionChampions
FA CupSemi-finals
League CupThird round
FA Charity ShieldWinners
Top goalscorerLeague: John Barnes (22)
All: John Barnes (28)
Highest home attendance38,730 (vs. Everton, League, 3 February)
Lowest home attendance19,231 (vs. Wigan Athletic, League Cup, 19 September)
Average home league attendance36,690

Liverpool finished the season as league champions for the 18th time, and looked on course for another double, only to be knocked off course in the final stages of the FA Cup for the third season running – this time by a dramatic 4–3 semi-final defeat against a Crystal Palace side they had beaten 9–0 in the league earlier in the season. They did finish the season nine points ahead of runners-up Aston Villa in the league, but had faced a stiff challenge from Villa for much of the season and earlier in the season from neighbouring Everton.[1] This would be Liverpool's last title for 30 years, until the 2019-20 season.

The autumn of 1989 saw the departure of striker John Aldridge to Spain. Aldridge had lost his place in the starting line-up to a resurgent Ian Rush, who had returned to the club a year earlier after an unhappy season in Italy. Injury-plagued defender Jim Beglin was transferred to Leeds United just before the start of the season, with the defence being bolstered by the arrival of Swedish star Glenn Hysén.

Pre-season friendlies

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Liverpool's entered the four-team Makita International Tournament, played at Wembley Stadium, where they lost against Arsenal in the final, having beaten Dinamo Kiev. This was followed by a tour of Scandinavia which saw wins against Malmö FF and Halmstads BK and draws with Vasalunds IF and HJK Helsinki.

Regular season

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August

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As FA Cup holders, Liverpool entered the Charity Shield, facing league champions Arsenal, in a rematch of the last game of the previous season when Arsenal had won the title at Anfield in dramatic circumstances. Liverpool gained some small revenge with a 1–0 win, thanks to a Peter Beardsley goal. The league campaign began with a 3–1 win over Manchester City, followed by away draws against Luton Town and Aston Villa. The month ended with a trip to Spain with a friendly against Real Madrid for the Trofeo Santiago Bernabéu. The Reds lost 2–0.

The month ended with Liverpool fifth in the table, with newly promoted Chelsea top of the league, Millwall (in only their second top flight campaign) second, local rivals Everton third and Coventry City fourth.[2]

September

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September began with a third consecutive away game, this time a 3–0 win at Derby County, followed by a 9–0 hammering of Crystal Palace at Anfield. Eight different players scored in this game, which was also notable as John Aldridge's last game for the club. Aldridge, who was leaving to join Real Sociedad, came off the bench to convert a penalty, and threw his boots and kit into the Kop at the end of the game. Aldridge had remained a first-choice player in 1988–89 after Rush's return, either playing in a three-man attack alongside Rush and Beardsley or alongside Beardsley in a two-man attack in the 14 league games that Rush was unfit for, but for 1989–90 Dalglish had decided to stick with a two-man attack of Rush and Beardsley, and Aldridge knew that leaving Anfield would be his best chance of regular first team action.

After a 0–0 home draw with Norwich City, Wigan Athletic were defeated 5–2 in the League Cup, before the first Merseyside derby of the season. Just as in the previous season's FA Cup final, and in so many derbies before, Ian Rush was the match winner, as the Reds won 3–1 at Goodison Park.

October

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First up in October were Wigan in the so-called "away" leg (played at Anfield because Wigan's pitch was unplayable) of the League Cup second round. Liverpool won 3–0, with substitute Steve Staunton scoring a hat-trick to secure an 8–2 aggregate victory. Back in the league, Wimbledon were beaten 2–1 at Plough Lane before Southampton dealt the Reds a 4–1 hammering at The Dell. The misery was to continue four days later, as Arsenal ended Liverpool's League Cup campaign with a 1–0 win at Highbury. The league campaign resumed with a 1–0 win over Tottenham Hotspur, which saw Liverpool reclaim their lead of the First Division from Everton, who seemed to be re-emerging as a top club after two slightly less successful seasons under the management of Colin Harvey, since Howard Kendall's departure. Chelsea and Arsenal were still giving the two Merseyside clubs a serious run for their money, while a surprise challenge was also starting to mount from Southampton, Norwich and Aston Villa. After a generally very disappointing September, Manchester United had started to improve and were just seven points (though 10 places) behind Liverpool. The challenge from Millwall and Coventry, however, appeared to have ended as both clubs were now some way down the table.[3]

November

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November was a miserable month for Liverpool. It began with a 1–0 home defeat against Coventry City, which was compounded by a 3–2 loss at QPR. Wins at Millwall and at home to Arsenal followed, before an away game at Sheffield Wednesday. This was Liverpool's first game at Hillsborough after the tragedy of seven months earlier, and it ended in a 2–0 defeat. However, they ended the month top of the league with 27 points – bracketed together on goal difference with Arsenal, Villa and Chelsea. Southampton and Coventry were both just four points behind the leading pack, but Everton's title hopes were fading fast as they had slumped from top place to 12th within a few short weeks. Manchester United's steady improvement had continued as they had continued to narrow the gap between themselves and Liverpool – now standing at nine places but just six points.[4]

December

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December was a better month for Liverpool, who began it with an impressive 4–1 win at Manchester City (now managed by former Everton boss Howard Kendall). A 1–1 home draw with Villa followed, before a superb 5–2 win over fellow title contenders Chelsea on 16 December. A goalless draw with Manchester United came at Anfield on 23 December, with Liverpool's great rivals now enduring another run of bad form and effectively out of the title race. The next two games – against Sheffield Wednesday and Charlton Athletic – were both won, and so Liverpool ended the 1980s as First Division leaders. They had a four-point lead over their nearest rivals Aston Villa and a four-point lead over Arsenal. The challenge from the likes of Southampton, Chelsea and Norwich was becoming more distant, though a threat from North London was emerging in the shape of a Tottenham Hotspur side spearheaded by two of England's finest players – Paul Gascoigne and Gary Lineker. The challenge from Everton was now looking well and truly over, as Colin Harvey's men were now 10th in the league and 13 points adrift of Liverpool, though with a game in hand. Any hopes that Manchester United might have had of beating Liverpool to the title were now almost completely dead, as Alex Ferguson's team now stood 15th in the league and were just two points above the relegation zone.[5]

January

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A new year and a new decade began with a 2–2 draw for Liverpool at Nottingham Forest on New Year's Day. Then came an FA Cup third round clash with Swansea City at Vetch Field. The Swans were now in the Third Division and the run for their money that they had given Liverpool eight years earlier was now very much a distant memory, but the Swans gave Liverpool a scare by holding them to a goalless draw. However, Liverpool blew Swansea to pieces in the replay at Anfield three days later by winning 8–0. Their FA Cup action (a fourth round clash with Norwich ending in a 3–1 replay win at Anfield after a goalless draw in the first game at Carrow Road) meant that there would be just two more league games that month – the first a 2–2 home draw with Luton, the second a 2–0 win over Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park. However, Liverpool remained top of the league – level on points with Aston Villa with Arsenal as the only other serious contenders, though Nottingham Forest had now climbed into fourth place and were starting to raise a few eyebrows among observers in the title race.[6]

February

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Liverpool remained on course for a unique second double as they beat Southampton 3–0 in the fifth round at Anfield on 17 February. Bad weather meant that there were just two league games for Liverpool that month, the first a 2–1 Merseyside derby win over Everton at Anfield, the second a goalless draw at Norwich.[7]

March

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Liverpool moved closer to a second double on 14 March when they beat QPR 1–0 in the quarter-final replay at Anfield, three days after drawing the first match 2–2 at Loftus Road. In the league, they defeated Millwall, Manchester United and Southampton but lost to Tottenham Hotspur. They were still top of the league, on goal difference ahead of Aston Villa and with a game in hand. Arsenal were now the only other team looking like a serious threat to the Reds, and, although Everton's recent revival had seen them climb to fifth place, it was now almost certainly too late for them to pip Liverpool to the league title.

22 March saw the arrival at Anfield of 26-year-old Israeli striker Ronny Rosenthal on loan from Belgian club Standard Liège.[8]

April

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April was a very mixed month for Liverpool. They finally clinched the league title on 28 April with two games to spare, thanks to a 2–1 home win over QPR, but 8 April saw their "double double" hopes ended in dramatic fashion for the third season running, this time in the shape of an FA Cup semi-final defeat to Crystal Palace (the team they had beaten 9–0 in the league seven months earlier) where the South Londoners had beaten them 4–3 in extra time to book a Wembley date with Manchester United in the final. Liverpool had now been champions of England on no fewer than 18 occasions – more than any other side at the time.[9][10]

The Reds proved themselves as worthy champions by winning both of their final two games: a slender 1–0 home win over Derby followed by a 6–1 hammering of Coventry at Highfield Road on the final day of the season.[7]

Ronny Rosenthal's loan deal became permanent at the end of the season when Liverpool paid Standard Liège £1 million for his services, which had already seen him net seven goals in just eight league games[11] – including a hat-trick in the 4–0 away win over relegation-bound Charlton.[12][13]

Squad

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Goalkeepers

Defenders

Midfielders

Attackers

Transfers

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Pos Player From Fee Date
DF   Glenn Hysén   Fiorentina £600,000 1 June 1989
DF   Steve Harkness   Carlisle United £75,000 17 July 1989
Pos Player To Fee Date
DF   Jim Beglin   Leeds United Free 06-1989
FW   John Aldridge   Real Sociedad £1,250,000 13 September 1989

Loaned In

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Pos Player From Start End
FW   Ronnie Rosenthal   Standard Liège 22 March 1990 26 June 1990

League table

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
1 Liverpool (C) 38 23 10 5 78 37 +41 79 Disqualified from the European Cup[a]
2 Aston Villa 38 21 7 10 57 38 +19 70 Qualification for the UEFA Cup first round
3 Tottenham Hotspur 38 19 6 13 59 47 +12 63
4 Arsenal 38 18 8 12 54 38 +16 62
5 Chelsea 38 16 12 10 58 50 +8 60
Source: World Football
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored
(C) Champions

Matches

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Pre-Season Friendlies

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29 July  1989 (1989 -07-29) Makita Tournament R1 Dynamo Kyiv 0–2 Liverpool London
Report Barnes   (pen.)
Aldridge  
Stadium: Wembley
Attendance: 20,374
30 July  1989 (1989 -07-30) Makita Tournament Final Arsenal 1–0 Liverpool London
Bould   13' Report Stadium: Wembley
Attendance: 23,026
Referee: G. Courtney
1 August  1989 (1989 -08-01) Tour of Sweden Malmö FF 1–2 Liverpool Malmö
Dahlin   79' Report Rush   18'
Hysén   64'
Stadium: Malmö Stadion
Attendance: 17,239
3 August  1989 (1989 -08-03) Tour of Sweden Vasalunds IF 1–1 Liverpool Stockholm
Ivey   38' Report Aldridge   13' Stadium: Skytteholms IP
Attendance: 9,115
5 August  1989 (1989 -08-05) Tour of Sweden Halmstads BK 0–1 Liverpool Halmstad
Report Beardsley   Stadium: Örjans Vall
Attendance: 8,676
7 August  1989 (1989 -08-07) HJK Helsinki 0–0 Liverpool Helsinki
Report Stadium: Helsinki Olympic Stadium
Attendance: 10,820
30 August  1989 (1989 -08-30) Bernabéu Trophy Final Real Madrid CF 2–0 Liverpool Madrid
Sánchez   15'
Butragueño   18'
Report Stadium: Santiago Bernabéu Stadium
Attendance: 45,000
Referee: I.U. Azpitarte

FA Charity Shield

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Arsenal0–1Liverpool
[15] Beardsley   32'
Attendance: 63,149
Referee: Allan Gunn (Sussex)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Arsenal
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Liverpool
GK 1   John Lukic
RB 2   Lee Dixon
LB 3   Nigel Winterburn
CM 4   Michael Thomas
CB 5   David O'Leary
CB 6   Tony Adams (c)
RM 7   David Rocastle
CM 8   Kevin Richardson
CF 9   Alan Smith   76'
CB 10   Gus Caesar   58'
LM 11   Paul Merson
Substitutes:
MF   Brian Marwood   58'
FW   Niall Quinn   76'
Manager:
  George Graham
GK 1   Bruce Grobbelaar
CB 2   Glenn Hysén
LB 3   David Burrows
RM 4   Steve Nicol
CM 5   Ronnie Whelan
CB 6   Alan Hansen (c)
CF 7   Peter Beardsley
RB 8   Barry Venison
CF 9   Ian Rush
LM 10   John Barnes
CM 11   Steve McMahon
Substitutes:
GK 12   Mike Hooper
DF 14   Gary Ablett
MF 15   Jan Molby
FW 16   John Aldridge
Manager:
  Kenny Dalglish

League Division 1

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19 August  1989 (1989 -08-19) 1 Liverpool 3–1 Manchester City Liverpool
15:00 BST Barnes   7' (pen.)
Beardsley   60'
Nicol   90'
Report Hinchcliffe   23'
McNab  
Stadium: Anfield
Attendance: 37,628
Referee: Dave Phillips
23 August  1989 (1989 -08-23) 2 Aston Villa 1–1 Liverpool Birmingham
19:30 BST Platt   60'
Report Barnes   24'
Stadium: Villa Park
Attendance: 35,796
Referee: Ron Groves
26 August  1989 (1989 -08-26) 3 Luton Town 0–0 Liverpool Luton
15:00 BST Report Stadium: Kenilworth Road
Attendance: 11,124
Referee: Alan Gunn
9 September  1989 (1989 -09-09) 4 Derby County 0–3 Liverpool Derby
15:00 BST Report Rush   50'
Barnes   82' (pen.)
Beardsley   90'
Stadium: Baseball Ground
Attendance: 20,034
Referee: George Courtney
12 September  1989 (1989 -09-12) 5 Liverpool 9–0 Crystal Palace Liverpool
19:30 BST Nicol   7', 90'
McMahon   15'
Rush   45'
Gillespie   56'
Beardsley   61'
Aldridge   67' (pen.)
Barnes   79'
Hysén   82'
Report Stadium: Anfield
Attendance: 35,779
Referee: Keren Barratt
16 September  1989 (1989 -09-16) 6 Liverpool 0–0 Norwich City Liverpool
15:00 BST Report Stadium: Anfield
Attendance: 36,885
Referee: Roger Milford
23 September  1989 (1989 -09-23) 7 Everton 1–3 Liverpool Liverpool
15:00 BST Newell   18'
Report Barnes   33'
Rush   62', 64'
Stadium: Goodison Park
Attendance: 42,453
Referee: Bob Nixon
14 October  1989 (1989 -10-14) 8 Wimbledon 1–2 Liverpool Wimbledon
15:00 BST Wise   49'
Report Beardsley   3'
Whelan   55'
Stadium: Plough Lane
Attendance: 13,510
Referee: Lester Shapter
21 October  1989 (1989 -10-21) 9 Southampton 4–1 Liverpool Southampton
15:00 BST Rideout   24'
Wallace   38', 55'
Le Tissier   83'
Report Beardsley   57' (pen.)
Stadium: The Dell
Attendance: 20,501
Referee: Ray Lewis
29 October  1989 (1989 -10-29) 10 Liverpool 1–0 Tottenham Hotspur Liverpool
15:30 GMT Barnes   25'
Report Stadium: Anfield
Attendance: 36,550
Referee: David Hutchison
4 November  1989 (1989 -11-04) 11 Liverpool 0–1 Coventry City Liverpool
15:00 GMT Report Regis   47'
Stadium: Anfield
Attendance: 36,443
Referee: T. Simpson
11 November  1989 (1989 -11-11) 12 Queens Park Rangers 3–2 Liverpool London
15:00 GMT Wright   27' (pen.), 36'
Falco   56'
Report Barnes   32' (pen.), 58' Stadium: Loftus Road
Attendance: 18,804
Referee: John E. Martin
19 November  1989 (1989 -11-19) 13 Millwall 1–2 Liverpool London
15:30 GMT Thompson   38'
Report Barnes   36'
Rush   70'
Stadium: The Den
Attendance: 13,547
Referee: Jim Ashworth
26 November  1989 (1989 -11-26) 14 Liverpool 2–1 Arsenal Liverpool
15:30 GMT McMahon   30'
Barnes   65'
Report Smith   79'
Stadium: Anfield
Attendance: 35,983
Referee: Mike Peck
29 November  1989 (1989 -11-29) 15 Sheffield Wednesday 2–0 Liverpool Sheffield
19:45 GMT Hirst   54'
Atkinson   90'
Report Stadium: Hillsborough
Attendance: 32,732
Referee: Vic Callow
2 December  1989 (1989 -12-02) 16 Manchester City 1–4 Liverpool Manchester
15:00 GMT Allen   59' (pen.)
Report Rush   9', 88'
Beardsley   48'
McMahon   58'
Stadium: Maine Road
Attendance: 31,641
Referee: Arthur Ward
9 December  1989 (1989 -12-09) 17 Liverpool 1–1 Aston Villa Liverpool
15:00 GMT Beardsley   64'
Report Olney   21'
Stadium: Anfield
Attendance: 37,435
Referee: Ken Redfern
16 December  1989 (1989 -12-16) 18 Chelsea 2–5 Liverpool London
15:00 GMT Durie   10'
Dixon   89'
Report Beardsley   3'
Rush   5', 79'
Houghton   23'
McMahon   51'
Stadium: Stamford Bridge
Attendance: 31,005
Referee: George Courtney
23 December  1989 (1989 -12-23) 19 Liverpool 0–0 Manchester United Liverpool
12:30 GMT Report Stadium: Anfield
Attendance: 37,426
Referee: Joe Worrall
26 December  1989 (1989 -12-26) 20 Liverpool 2–1 Sheffield Wednesday Liverpool
15:00 GMT Mølby   2'
Rush   84'
Report Atkinson   49'
Stadium: Anfield
Attendance: 37,488
Referee: Peter Tyldesley
30 December  1989 (1989 -12-30) 21 Liverpool 1–0 Charlton Athletic Liverpool
15:00 GMT Barnes   17'
Report Stadium: Anfield
Attendance: 36,678
Referee: John Key
1 January  1990 (1990 -01-01) 22 Nottingham Forest 2–2 Liverpool Nottingham
17:05 GMT Hodge   50'
Clough   60' (pen.)
Report Rush   13', 38' Stadium: City Ground
Attendance: 24,518
Referee: Alf Buksh
13 January  1990 (1990 -01-13) 23 Liverpool 2–2 Luton Town Liverpool
15:00 GMT Barnes   32'
Nicol   75'
Report Black   71'
Nogan   73'
Stadium: Anfield
Attendance: 35,312
Referee: Trelford Mills
20 January  1990 (1990 -01-20) 24 Crystal Palace 0–2 Liverpool London
15:00 GMT Report Rush   9'
Beardsley   62'
Stadium: Selhurst Park
Attendance: 29,807
Referee: Martin Bodenham
3 February  1990 (1990 -02-03) 25 Liverpool 2–1 Everton Liverpool
15:00 GMT Barnes   10'
Beardsley   29' (pen.)
Report Sharp   43'
Stadium: Anfield
Attendance: 38,730
Referee: David Allison
10 February  1990 (1990 -02-10) 26 Norwich City 0–0 Liverpool Norwich
15:05 GMT Report Hysén   51' Stadium: Carrow Road
Attendance: 20,210
Referee: Lester Shapter
3 March  1990 (1990 -03-03) 27 Liverpool 1–0 Millwall Liverpool
15:00 GMT Gillespie   83'
Report Stadium: Anfield
Attendance: 36,427
Referee: George Tyson
18 March  1990 (1990 -03-18) 28 Manchester United 1–2 Liverpool Manchester
15:30 GMT Whelan   82' (o.g.)
Report Barnes   15', 55' (pen.) Stadium: Old Trafford
Attendance: 46,629
Referee: George Courtney
21 March  1990 (1990 -03-21) 29 Tottenham Hotspur 1–0 Liverpool London
20:05 GMT Stewart   83'
Report Stadium: White Hart Lane
Attendance: 25,656
Referee: Keith Hackett
31 March  1990 (1990 -03-31) 30 Liverpool 3–2 Southampton Liverpool
15:00 BST Barnes   15'
Osman   73' (o.g.)
Rush   82'
Report Paul Rideout   35'
Jimmy Case   48'
Stadium: Anfield
Attendance: 37,027
Referee: Terry Holbrook
3 April  1990 (1990 -04-03) 31 Liverpool 2–1 Wimbledon Liverpool
19:30 BST Rush   10'
Gillespie   44'
Hysén  
McMahon  
Report Hansen   70' (o.g.)
Fashanu  
Stadium: Anfield
Attendance: 33,319
Referee: Ken Redfern
11 April  1990 (1990 -04-11) 32 Charlton Athletic 0–4 Liverpool London
19:45 BST Report Rosenthal   26', 50', 62'
Barnes   87'
Stadium: Selhurst Park
Attendance: 13,982
Referee: David Axcell
14 April  1990 (1990 -04-14) 33 Liverpool 2–2 Nottingham Forest Liverpool
15:00 BST Rosenthal   12'
McMahon   15'
Report Hodge   52'
Jemson   70'
Stadium: Anfield
Attendance: 37,265
Referee: Keren Barratt
18 April  1990 (1990 -04-18) 34 Arsenal 1–1 Liverpool London
20:05 BST Merson   40'
Report Barnes   86'
Stadium: Highbury
Attendance: 33,395
Referee: Alan Seville
21 April  1990 (1990 -04-21) 35 Liverpool 4–1 Chelsea Liverpool
15:00 BST Rosenthal   25'
Nicol   36', 80'
Rush   82'
Report Dixon   90'
Stadium: Anfield
Attendance: 38,431
Referee: Roger Milford
28 April  1990 (1990 -04-28) 36 Liverpool 2–1 Queens Park Rangers Liverpool
15:00 BST Rush   40'
Barnes   63' (pen.)
Report Wegerle   14'
Stadium: Anfield
Attendance: 37,758
Referee: Robbie Hart
1 May  1990 (1990 -05-01) 37 Liverpool 1–0 Derby County Liverpool
19:30 BST Gillespie  
Report Stadium: Anfield
Attendance: 38,038
Referee: Brian Hill
5 May  1990 (1990 -05-05) 38 Coventry City 1–6 Liverpool Coventry
15:00 BST Gallacher   2'
Report Rush   16'
Barnes   37', 39', 61'
Rosenthal   50', 69'
Stadium: Highfield Road
Attendance: 23,204
Referee: Fangon Roberts

F.A. Cup

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6 January  1990 (1990 -01-06) 3 Swansea City 0–0 Liverpool Swansea
15:00 GMT Report Stadium: Vetch Field
Attendance: 16,098
Referee: Alan Gunn
9 January  1990 (1990 -01-09) 3 Liverpool 8–0 Swansea City Liverpool
19:30 GMT Barnes   21', 43'
Whelan   43'
Rush   53', 77', 83'
Beardsley   54'
Nicol   86'
Report Stadium: Anfield
Attendance: 29,194
Referee: Alan Gunn
28 January  1990 (1990 -01-28) 4 Norwich City 0–0 Liverpool Norwich
15:05 GMT Report Stadium: Carrow Road
Attendance: 23,152
Referee: Keith Hackett
31 January  1990 (1990 -01-31) 4 Liverpool 3–1 Norwich City Liverpool
19:30 GMT Nicol   17'
Barnes   56'
Beardsley   64' (pen.)
Report Fleck   19'
Stadium: Anfield
Attendance: 29,339
Referee: Keith Hackett
17 February  1990 (1990 -02-17) 5 Liverpool 3–0 Southampton Liverpool
15:00 GMT Rush   39'
Beardsley   64'
Nicol   77'
Report Stadium: Anfield
Attendance: 35,961
Referee: Neil Midgley
11 March  1990 (1990 -03-11) 6 Queens Park Rangers 2–2 Liverpool London
15:05 GMT Wilkins   29'
Barker   83'
Report Barnes   55'
Rush   80'
Stadium: Loftus Road
Attendance: 21,057
Referee: Brian Hill
14 March  1990 (1990 -03-14) 6 Liverpool 1–0 Queens Park Rangers Liverpool
19:30 GMT Beardsley   4'
Report Stadium: Anfield
Attendance: 38,090
Referee: Alan Seville
8 April  1990 (1990 -04-08) Semi-final Liverpool 3–4 (a.e.t.) Crystal Palace Birmingham
12:00 BST Rush   14'
McMahon   81'
Barnes   83'
Report Bright   46'
O'Reilly   70'
Gray   88'
Pardew   109'
Stadium: Villa Park
Attendance: 38,389
Referee: George Courtney

Football League Cup

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19 September  1989 (1989 -09-19) 1 Liverpool 5–2 Wigan Athletic Liverpool
19:30 BST Hysén   4'
Rush   64', 66'
Beardsley   81'
Barnes   88'
Report Griffiths   18'
Thompson   54'
Stadium: Anfield
Attendance: 19,231
Referee: R Dilkes
4 October  1989 (1989 -10-04) 1 Wigan Athletic 0–3
(2–8 agg.)
Liverpool Liverpool
19:30 BST Report Staunton   59', 72', 88' Stadium: Anfield
Attendance: 17,954
Referee: PL Wright
Note: Played at Anfield because Springfield Park did not meet safety standards.
25 October  1989 (1989 -10-25) 2 Arsenal 1–0 Liverpool London
19:45 BST Smith   80'
Report Stadium: Highbury
Attendance: 40,814
Referee: Alan Gunn

Notes

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  1. ^ Liverpool were banned by UEFA from its competitions from the season 1985–86 on for 10 years, because of the Heysel Stadium disaster in 1985, involving Liverpool fans. The ban was eventually lifted for the 1991–92 season.

References

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  • "Games for the 1989–90 season". LFC History.net. Retrieved 23 January 2023.
  • "Games for the 1989–90 season". Liverweb. Archived from the original on 6 June 2011. Retrieved 23 January 2023.