In the 1946-7 season, Liverpool were the first post Second World War League Champions, winning the First Division title on the last day, by earning one point more than Manchester United when they beat Wolverhampton Wanderers 2-1. United were inspired by Matt Busby in his first season as manager, and he led United to their highest League place since 1911. It was Liverpool's first League championship win since 1923, having also won the League titles in 1922.
Despite finishing fourth, Stoke City had the opportunity to snatch the title away from Liverpool, due to their final game of the season being delayed by almost two weeks; however, a loss to Sheffield United ended their hopes and they ended up 4th.
Brentford FC was placed 21st, 5 points behind Huddersfield and Leeds Utd, 22nd (7pts behind Brentford) were relegated.
Liverpool also reached the FA Cup Final in 1950 but were out played by Arsenal 2-0. George Kay was their successful manager but he had to retire in in 1951 through ill health, which meant his team suffered relegation for the first time in over half a century. They did not find it easy to get back to the top flight. Manchester City won the Second Division title and so moved up to join the First Division with Burnley,
In the next season Liverpool did not show any form, finishing mid-table and over the next four seasons they managed 3rd, 3rd, 4th and 4th! This seems successful but promotion was only for the top two clubs in those days and certainly there were no promotion play-offs.
For a club that had won five titles, it wasn't good enough and so by 1956, manager Don Welsh was sacked, being replaced by Phil Taylor, who lasted three years. The result that did it for Taylor was an embarrassing result, away at Worcester City, in the third round of the 1959 FA Cup. On a bald and wet St George's Lane pitch, the home team's teenage forward, Tommy Skuse, opened the scoring for his Southern League team and Liverpool's Dick White lobbed in an own goal to make it two. Liverpool's futile reply was a disputed penalty, taken by Geoff Twentyman. Worcester City were not short of talent, being captain by Roy Paul, whom some of you may remember? He captained Manchester City, when his team won the FA Cup in 1956.
In the next season, Taylor's men started poorly and by November the club directos had had enopugh and Taylor was sacked. The man lined up to replace him was Bill Shankly, which was definitely a "silver lining".
First Division champions in the first post war season, Liverpool took the title from Everton, who won it in 1939, on the last season before the Second World War.
The Liverpool squad below with Bob Paisley...can you spot him?
Liverpool FC 1946-47: P42, W25, D7, L10; 57 points
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