This is the final part of Simon Treanor’s series on Liverpool’s numbering from 1985-93. To catch up on the previous instalments:

• 1970-84 (introduction)
• 1985-86
• 1986-87
• 1987-88
• 1988-89
• 1989-90
• 1990-91
• 1991-92

Liverpool’s first Premier League season represents a nadir of the club’s modern history. Yes, they finished lower in subsequent seasons, including the following one, and may do this year, but those years could be seen as transitional, whereas 92-93 was the midpoint of three dismal seasons. Even the 6th place was flattering – nowadays, to finish sixth is to be the lowest placed of an elite, but in 1993, Liverpool found themselves 15th in spring, and although they climbed to the top thanks to a relatively decent end to the season, it would have taken only one result against them for them to finish in the bottom half. In each of the five competitions Liverpool entered, there was at least one case of inept defending, or a humiliating upset, or both, with Chesterfield and Bolton Wanderers both outplaying the Reds at Anfield, and Aston Villa, Coventry and Spartak Moscow all putting at least four past them at home.

As with last season, the team was unsettled, with injuries, particularly to the old guard of John Barnes, Jan Molby, Steve Nicol, Ian Rush and Ronnie Whelan. None of the four new signings – Stig Inge Bjornebye, David James, Torben Piechnik and Paul Stewart – made a particularly positive impact, although the former two would redeem themselves in future years – while the sales of Ray Houghton, and later the unreplaced Dean Saunders, didn’t help matters.

This season’s kits were both the same and different to last season – the basic designs were unchanged, but the new kits were made of more substantial material, with the details stitched or ironed on. The adidas logo moved to the more traditional EQT position of the neck, and Carlsberg replaced Candy as the sponsor. A new, more detailed centenary logo came in, and this time wasn’t assimilated into the away kit’s colours. Finally the green shorts effectively became the default choice for the away kit. Change white socks were worn in the FA Cup game at Bolton.

We end this series at the start of the 1993-94 season, and the introduction of squad numbers.