Liverpool won the title in 1990
As Liverpool remain on the brink of Premier League glory, we reflect on how the wider sporting world shaped up when they last won the league title back in 1990, featuring the likes of Chris Eubank, Sachin Tendulkar, Ayrton Senna, Stephen Hendry, Paul Lim, Nick Faldo, Boris Becker and free prediction page.
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Were it not for the coronavirus pandemic that has brought normal life to an unprecedented standstill and decimated the global sporting calendar, then Liverpool's players and fans would surely be throwing an almighty street party this week lớn mark the end of their 30-year wait lớn be crowned champions of England.
The Reds could feasibly have got the job done last month against Everton at Goodison Park last month or at home lớn Crystal Palace, but their clash with defending champions Manchester City this past weekend would probably have been their first chance to wrap it up earlier than any other team in history.
It's incredible lớn think that when the Anfield giants clinched their 18th crown back in April 1990, they were nine league titles clear of their then-nearest rivals Everton and Arsenal, while Manchester United were two further back on seven - only to go on and top the standings an incredible 13 times under Sir Alex Ferguson over the next 23 seasons. You can prefer the football predictions page!
However, If this season can finally be completed at some point, then Jurgen Klopp's side will not only move within one of their arch rivals but also fancy their chances of restoring their place as England's most successful club.
In the meantime, our team of writers have turned the clock back 30 years lớn reflect on how different the wider sporting landscape looked when Liverpool last ruled the roost, including snooker, darts, golf, boxing, tennis, horse racing, athletics, cricket, formula one, both rugby codes and NFL. If that's not enough nostalgia, at the very bottom is some random trivia away from the sporting world.
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INTERNATIONAL FOOTBALL: Gazza, Milla and Maradona's tears
For almost every football fan of a certain age, the year 1990 will only ever be known for ‘Italia 90’, one of the most iconic World Cups of modern times – and not just because of Pavarotti belting out Nessun Dorma on the tivi coverage. And in the very first game, when Cameroon stunned reigning champions Argentina the stage was set for iconic moment to follow iconic moment – even in that game we had Omam-Biyik’s header and Massing’s foul on Caniggia weaving themselves into the fabric of World Cup history.
And it didn’t stop there – Roger Milla’s scoring (and dancing) lit up the tournament, Carlos Valderrama and Rene Higuita’s hair styles will live long in the memory, while top scorer Toto Schillaci sent the home nation wild with his scoring exploits. Diego Maradona mixed controversy with brilliance again before ending his campaign in tears, Enzo Scifo and Gheorghe Hagi were carving out reputations as number 10 supremos, while David Platt’s late winner against Belgium and Gary Lineker’s penalties against Cameroon dragged England into the semis.
Lineker’s “have a word with him” lớn Bobby Robson was another often-repeated moment as he reacted lớn Paul Gascoigne’s tears - which became the symbol of the tournament for England fans after they went on to suffer penalty heartbreak. Italia 90 was a landmark tournament in that regard, as it was the first time the Three Lions got a taste of the spot-kick misery that would become all too familiar down the years in major tournaments.
Take a look at some of the teams competing, namely Czechoslovakia, the Soviet Union, West Germany and Yugoslavia were all intact before the political and geographical map of Europe was redrawn over the years. Some of the names of the players taking part are now the managers, coaches and pundits of today – but to illustrate the point Roberto Mancini and Carlo Ancelotti both played for Italy and have both then become managers and won Premier League and Champions League titles, while Liverpool waited to be English champions again.