As far back as the early 1970s – when the FA mandated that sock-clashes should be solved – Liverpool tended to alter the elements of their away kit as and when required.
In 1970-71, for example, they wore the usual white shirts, black shorts and white socks, but also used change white shorts and the red home socks as and when the opposition’s home kit required them to change.
Another variation seen was white shirts, white shorts and red socks, usually against Southampton, who tended to wear black shorts and white socks.
When the Saints were relegated in 1974, they still had a ‘normal’ striped shirt, but the clubs’ next meeting, in the 1976 Charity Shield, saw them in a different outfit.
Having won that year’s FA Cup final against Manchester United in a brand-new yellow and blue Admiral away kit, the Charity Shield was to be the first outing for their first Admiral home strip. Presumably unaware of the addition of predominantly white sleeves to the Southampton shirt, Liverpool opted for white-white-red.
It wasn’t an egregious clash, but a case could have been made that the normal all-red Liverpool home would have provided better differentiation. Of course, given that it was a one-off game with no home team, Southampton could have just used the cup final kit.
The Saints wouldn’t be back in Division 1 until 1978-79. When Liverpool went to the Dell in April 1979, they the yellow third kit they had premiered in the draw FA Cup semi-final and replay against Manchester United.
Easiest thing here would have been if the F.A. had instructed Southampton to wear red socks, thus leaving Liverpool to wear all white. Would have been so much simpler.