Liverpool’s 1988-89 season is very much defined by three events at its end. Two enormously dramatic matches determined the club’s season on the pitch, but this is all overshadowed by the Hillsborough disaster, an unspeakable tragedy that led to 96 deaths and years of hurt beyond anything mere football can conjure up.

The season began with optimism with Ian Rush’s return, in addition to an already potent attack, gave Kenny Dalglish the proverbial “nice problem to have”, as he tried to fit John Aldridge, Peter Beardsley and the returning Welshman into his team. The attack rotated regularly, with multiple combinations used, and Ray Houghton, the fifth man in this attack (the undroppable John Barnes being the other) frequently switching number to fit.

The defence was similarly unstable, although for less positive reasons. Captain Alan Hansen was injured until the spring, and almost everyone who could play in the back four had at least one spell out, due to injury, or, in one case, a spell in prison. New faces were given a chance, youngsters Steve Staunton and Alex Watson were joined by David Burrows of West Brom, and even goalkeeper Bruce Grobbelaar had a lengthy spell out, giving Mike Hooper a run in the team.