30 YEARS APART: How the Liverpool heroes of 1990 compare to the Premier League champions of 2020
Liverpool have won their first title since 1990. Here, we compare the current side with the last one to lift the title (1990 team based on most league appearances)
BRUCE GROBBELAAR V ALISSON BECKER
Grobbelaar was the team’s largerthan-life, eccentric character and that sometimes detracted from how good a goalkeeper he was. However, in 1990 he kept just 12 clean sheets in 38 league appearances, compared to Alisson Becker’s 11 in 21 this season so far. The Brazil international, who has fully justified his £65m fee, has a certain degree of extravagance but his form over the last two seasons has been a crucial component in the season’s success.
BARRY VENISON V TRENT ALEXANDER-ARNOLD
Venison had been Liverpool’s firstchoice right-back for three seasons – although he also filled in on the left when Jim Beglin broke his leg - and as a solid, tough-tackling defender was 25 when he won his second league title. Local lad Alexander-Arnold has enjoyed a stellar rise since his debut in October 2016 as an 18-year-old. Good going forward, a brilliant crosser, he has provided 12 assists in the league, equalling the record for a defender he set himself last season.
ALAN HANSEN V VIRGIL VAN DIJK
Both calm and composed on the ball and excellent at reading the game, their presence in the team was – and is - a comfort and a confidence boost to team-mates. Hansen was good at bringing the ball out from the back but Van Dijk probably edges him on that front, as does the Dutchman in his range of passing and his recovery speed. Hansen did not score a goal in their league-winning season: Van Dijk has four goals todate.
GLENN HYSEN V JOE GOMEZ
Hysen made the most league appearances of any defender in 1990. Another player who was comfortable on the ball he benefited from playing alongside Hansen. Thirty years on Gomez has established himself as Van Dijk’s first-choice partner. Quick and confident in possession.
DAVID BURROWS V ANDY ROBERTSON
Burrows was a full-blooded left-back. Not the most gifted but made up for it with his competitiveness. Robertson, a bargain £8m buy from Hull, has established himself as one of the best leftbacks in world football. A tremendous engine and a wand of a left-foot, the defender’s relentless energy means he is effective at both ends of the pitch.
STEVE NICOL V GEORGINIO WIJNALDUM
Both team’s utility men. Nicol could play anywhere in defence or midfield. The Scot was solid, dependable, good with both feet and super-fit despite his suspect dietary habits. Wijnaldum is the man for all occasions for Jurgen Klopp, having played centre-back,
midfield and centre-forward. Does not score many goals but tends to raise his game according to the occasion.
STEVE MCMAHON V FABINHO
McMahon was the archetypal midfield tough-tackling hardman. He was the side’s enforcer in the centre of the park and was pivotal to the 1990 side and was the only outfield player to feature in every league match. Fabinho does a similar job, albeit with a slightly more cultured air. The Brazil international has become a key figure with his ability to read the game and distribute.
RONNIE WHELAN V JORDAN HENDERSON
Whelan was Liverpool’s Mr Consistency. Clever and composed on the ball, he was an important cog in the Liverpool machine. Had an eye for goal but scored only once in the league in 1990. Henderson’s qualities are finally being widely acknowledged and the biggest compliment is that Liverpool look a lesser side when he has missed out with injury. He offers leadership and energy in midfield, a creative outlook which is under-appreciated and the only thing lacking is more goals.
PETER BEARDSLEY V ROBERTO FIRMINO
Both crucial fulcrums in their respective team’s game-plans. Beardsley was a creative genius, a player who drifted around the opposition’s final third and was able to unlock defences and provide the ammunition for more prolific players, although he still reached double figures in the league for each of the four seasons he was at the club. Firmino is the key man in Klopp’s counter-pressing tactics. The hard-working Brazilian harries defenders, tracks back and makes off-the-ball runs which opens up space for team-mates. Not his best goalscoring season but he offers plenty more.
IAN RUSH V MOHAMED SALAH
Rush, Liverpool’s all-time leading goalscorer, was the main man up front with 18 league goals in the 1990 title-winning season. The hard-working Welshman put in the legwork for his team while still able to be lethal inside the penalty area. Salah’s record in just under three seasons at the club is incredible, with 70 goals in 100 league appearances. Even more amazing is that he has been criticised for not being clinical enough. Salah’s pace wide on the right helps stretch defences but his ability to cut in onto his left foot has proved profitable.
JOHN BARNES V SADIO MANE
Barnes was brilliant in the 1990 season in a slightly more advanced position and was virtually unplayable. Such was his huge influence in the title-winning season he outscored Rush 22 to 18. Mane emerged from the shadow of Salah’s record-breaking first season to take his goalscoring to another level and he has been Liverpool’s best attacker in the current campaign. Pace is his main threat but his decision-making and awareness has improved.