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.
| 1989–90 season | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manager | Kenny Dalglish | |||
| First Division | Champions | |||
| FA Cup | Semi-finals | |||
| League Cup | Third round | |||
| FA Charity Shield | Winners | |||
| Top goalscorer | League: John Barnes (22) All: John Barnes (28) | |||
| Highest home attendance | 38,730 (vs. Everton, League, 3 February) | |||
| Lowest home attendance | 19,231 (vs. Wigan Athletic, League Cup, 19 September) | |||
| Average home league attendance | 36,690 | |||
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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. 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.