The following article will take you back 30 years in football history. We will revisit a match that many consider to be a pivotal moment, sparking the significant changes in the birthplace of football, England, at the close of the 20th century and the dawn of the new one. We’ll delve into a different era of football, with the action unfolding at a stadium whose name still resonates across football communities worldwide. This is one of football’s sacred grounds – the legendary “Anfield.” You will relive the story of one of the greatest matches ever played at this venue, a match that encapsulates the magic of football and decided the champion of England in the 100th anniversary season of the football league’s founding.
In the mid-to-late 1980s, football in England was going through a tough time. The sport was tainted by a series of tragic incidents involving unruly English fans, leading to a five-year ban on English clubs from European competitions. This punishment was imposed by UEFA following the unfortunate events involving “Liverpool” fans during the European Cup final between “Liverpool” and “Juventus” in 1985.
It is against this backdrop that we enter the 1988/1989 season, one of the most dramatic in English football history. The title race came down to two of Britain’s top teams – the giants “Liverpool” and “Arsenal.” The team from the banks of the River Mersey was defending their title from the previous season, while the “Gunners” were aiming for their first championship in 18 years, having last won it in 1971.
Throughout most of the season, “Arsenal,” managed by George Graham, led the standings and posed a serious challenge to dethrone “Liverpool,” led by player-manager and club legend Kenny Dalglish. The season unfolded in such a way that the title would be decided in a final match between the two teams in May 1989.
This decisive match was scheduled for May 26th at “Liverpool’s” home ground, in front of their passionate fans. The situation was even more challenging for the “Gunners,” as they needed to win by at least 2 goals to claim the title. Anything less would see the trophy remain in the “Reds’” cabinet for another year.
Originally, the match between the two teams was supposed to take place a month earlier, but it was postponed out of respect for the families of the victims of the horrific disaster at Hillsborough Stadium in Sheffield during the F.A. Cup match between “Nottingham Forest” and “Liverpool.” Tragically, more than 90 “Liverpool” fans lost their lives that day.
Just days before the match, Kenny Dalglish’s team won the F.A. Cup, entering the final league game of the season with high confidence. Dalglish himself had the chance to become the first manager to win the double (league and cup) twice, having achieved it three seasons earlier.
The match on May 26th also attracted an exceptionally large television audience for its time. In the late 1980s, live football broadcasts were not very common, with even one match a week being a rarity. Over 12 million viewers tuned in to watch this epic battle for the English title – a number unheard of for a domestic league match in England.
All these factors heightened the tension before the kickoff. Both teams fielded their strongest possible lineups. “Arsenal” was led by their 22-year-old captain, Tony Adams. In defense alongside him were Lee Dixon, Steve Bould, and Nigel Winterburn. In midfield, Michael Thomas and David Rocastle skillfully controlled the game, while up front were the long-haired Paul Merson and the 190-centimeter-tall Alan Smith. Between the posts stood John Lukic, born in Chesterfield.
Kenny Dalglish, on the other hand, relied on seasoned veterans who had been through many such battles. In goal was the Zimbabwean-born Bruce Grobbelaar, known for his eccentric personality. The 185-centimeter-tall goalkeeper had been one of the best in the division for the past five years. In central defense were the Scot Alan Hansen and the Englishman Gary Ablett, with Steve Nicol and Irishman Steve Staunton completing the defensive line. In midfield was their compatriot and team captain, the experienced Ronnie Whelan, who had been with the club since 1979.
The attack was formidable, featuring the creative force on the left wing, John Barnes, and the tough Steve McMahon, who tied the play together in the center. Up front were the goal machines John Aldridge and Ian Rush.
The pace of the game was intense, with over 40,000 fans packing “Anfield” to the brim. The visiting supporters from London impressively numbered a few thousand, adding to the already electric atmosphere. The incredible acoustics of “Liverpool’s” home ground gave the chants of both sets of fans a unique resonance, characteristic of English stadiums of that era.
In the first half, despite numerous chances on both ends, the score remained a goalless draw. However, the second half began at a blistering pace, and “Arsenal” managed to take the lead in the 53rd minute, giving hope to their traveling supporters that the title might be heading to the capital. Alan Smith was the goal scorer, capitalizing on a well-delivered free-kick with a precise header that left Grobbelaar with no chance. The assist came from Nigel Winterburn, who provided a textbook cross.
As the match progressed, the score remained the same, with John Aldridge and John Barnes coming very close to scoring the crucial equalizer for the hosts, which would have likely sealed the game. However, this didn’t happen, and the match reached its final two minutes – two minutes that would become legendary in the annals of English football.
In the last minute of the match, the ball was with “Arsenal” goalkeeper John Lukic. He played it short to right-back Lee Dixon, wearing number 2. Dixon then sent a long ball deep into “Liverpool’s” half. Alan Smith, the scorer of the first goal, controlled the ball beautifully. With his first touch, he brought the ball under control, and with his second, he passed it to Michael Thomas, who was making a run forward. After a fortunate deflection, Thomas managed to bypass two “Liverpool” defenders and found himself one-on-one with goalkeeper Grobbelaar.
Without hesitation, the midfielder wearing number 4 slotted the ball into the net. The scoreline changed to 2-0 in the dying moments of the match. The visiting fans erupted in wild celebrations as the “Arsenal” players jubilantly celebrated the goal with its scorer, Michael Thomas. There was no time left for more, and just a minute after the restart, referee David Hutchinson blew the final whistle.
In this dramatic fashion, “Arsenal” ended their 18-year wait for the championship title, making Tony Adams one of the youngest captains in history to lift the coveted trophy.
