![](https://i0.wp.com/museumofjerseys.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Up-for-grabs-now.png?fit=1024%2C532&ssl=1)
Suddenly, it was Michael Thomas bursting through. The bounce fell his way. He flicks it wide of Grobbelaar and we have the dramatic finish, maybe in the history of the Football League.
The top two challenging on the night, and the title possibly decided in the last minute of the whole season.
![](https://i0.wp.com/museumofjerseys.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Arsenal-1988-1989-away-Anfield-number-4-Thomas.png?resize=300%2C336&ssl=1)
While Brian Moore’s “Up for grabs now!” commentary of Michael Thomas’s title-winning goal for Arsenal against Liverpool in 1989 is rightly feted – it’s on the cover image of this article – his follow-up words showed just why he was such a highly-regarded commentator.
He captured perfectly what had just happened and its significance, a moment that continues to be fondly remembered. Today – May 26, 2024 – is the 35th anniversary of what Arsenal fans simply refer to as ‘Anfield ’89’ and there’s little new we can provide in the way of insight but what we can do is assess the aesthetics.
Or, given the company involved in outfitting the two sides, perhaps we should say the ‘adidas-thetics’.
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Liverpool’s home strip was coming to the end of its two-year cycle – Candy had replaced Crown Paints as sponsors midway through – but it was indicative of the trend in football design that the new kit to replace it would be very similar but for the addition of white ‘flecks’ through outfit.
![](https://i0.wp.com/museumofjerseys.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Liverpool-1988-1989-adidas-home_Front.png?resize=300%2C534&ssl=1)
![](https://i0.wp.com/museumofjerseys.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Liverpool-1988-1989-adidas-home_Back.png?resize=300%2C534&ssl=1)
![](https://i0.wp.com/museumofjerseys.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Arsenal-1988-1989-adidas-away-Anfield-Michael-Thomas_Front.png?resize=300%2C534&ssl=1)
![](https://i0.wp.com/museumofjerseys.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Arsenal-1988-1989-adidas-away-Anfield-Michael-Thomas_Back.png?resize=300%2C534&ssl=1)
The Reds’ new kit would also incorporate contrasting side panels on the shorts to house the adidas stripes and that was a new feature on the Arsenal change kit launched in 1988 (though not the first time the German firm had tried such a thing – more anon).
It probably seems surprising now, given that the kit ended up being kept for three years, also worn in the 1990-91 league-winning season, but it wasn’t universally popular upon its launch, as the decision to go with contrast-sleeves, as on the home, took some getting used to.
![](https://i0.wp.com/museumofjerseys.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Liverpool-1988-1989-adidas-goalkeeper-home_Front.png?resize=300%2C534&ssl=1)
![](https://i0.wp.com/museumofjerseys.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Liverpool-1988-1989-adidas-goalkeeper-home_Back.png?resize=300%2C534&ssl=1)
![](https://i0.wp.com/museumofjerseys.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Arsenal-1988-1989-adidas-goalkeeper-away_Front.png?resize=300%2C534&ssl=1)
![](https://i0.wp.com/museumofjerseys.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Arsenal-1988-1989-adidas-goalkeeper-away_Back.png?resize=300%2C534&ssl=1)
While the shirts worn by the two goalkeepers, Bruce Grobbelaar of Liverpool and Arsenal’s John Lukic, might look identical on first glance, there were some differences.
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Grobbelaar’s style was newer, utilising the pattern from the adidas ‘Everton’ design, whereas Lukic was still in the 1986 ‘Toni Schumacher WM’ style with raglan sleeves.
Classics all round in terms of the kits, but, in terms of where they were placed tactically, the numbers on the backs deviated from the norm somewhat.
![](https://i0.wp.com/museumofjerseys.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Liverpool-Arsenal-1988-1989-title-decider-Anfield-Thomas_Pitch.png?resize=300%2C361&ssl=1)
Anyone who has read Simon Treanor’s masterful series on Liverpool’s 1985-93 numbering will know that Liverpool ploughed their own furrow in that regard, though their line-out for this match was a tiny bit more conventional.
The ‘Argentina-style’ defence was still in situ – not unlike the current Arsenal way with number 4 at right-back and 2 and 6 the centre-backs – meaning number 5 in midfield, worn by Ronnie Whelan, who continued as captain despite the late-season return of Alan Hansen.
Six days earlier, in the FA Cup final win over Everton, Ray Houghton had worn number 9 on the right of midfield with John Aldridge wearing 8 up front – the opposite of what they had at international level for the Republic of Ireland.
Ian Rush’s two goals as a sub in the 3-2 extra-time win saw him return to the starting lineup in his favoured 9, with Houghton taking the number 7 of Peter Beardsley – a rare instance of that shirt being worn in its traditional right-midfield slot.
![](https://i0.wp.com/museumofjerseys.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Arsenal-1988-1989-title-decider-Anfield-Thomas_Pitch.png?resize=300%2C362&ssl=1)
Liverpool had never lost when Aldridge and Rush had started up front together but, to nullify the attacking threat and then counter-attack in search of the two-goal win that was necessary to win the title on goals scored, Arsenal stuck with the 5-4-1 formation that manager George Graham had introduced against Manchester United at Old Trafford in April.
On that occasion, Steve Bould had come into the side as the extra defender and, with Paul Merson dropping out of the starting 11, the centre-back donned the unfamiliar 10.
He retained it for the remainder of the campaign and, when Merson returned to the team at the beginning of May, it was in the number 11 that had been vacated by the injured Brian Marwood.
The formation worked for Arsenal as Alan Smith’s goal early in the second half was followed by Michael Thomas’s late, late intervention. Liverpool, so stricken by Hillsborough, had summoned an almighty effort and were seconds away from becoming the first club to do the domestic double twice.
That their directors donated the champagne they had on ice to Arsenal, and that their fans remained to applaud the side who had deposed their heroes as champions, were signs of true class.