Iconic images: Merseyside unites at Wembley
Throughout LFC's 125th anniversary year, Liverpoolfc.com will retrace the club's history through the striking images that plot a fascinating journey.
Fourteenth in the series is a photograph taken ahead of a Merseyside derby where, unusually, football was of secondary importance.
In May 1989, for the third time in five years, Liverpool and Everton met in a cup final at Wembley.
The League Cup final of 1984 and the FA Cup final two years later featured a unified chant of ‘Merseyside, Merseyside’ as fans of both clubs revelled in their teams’ status as the elite of English football.
This time, though, it was sung in a mournful display of civic solidarity.
Five weeks earlier, the worst disaster in the history of British sport had taken place around 140 miles north of Wembley.
The catastrophic events at Hillsborough that would ultimately cost 96 Liverpool supporters their lives were not yet fully understood, but on this summery May afternoon in London, Merseyside grieved together.
After emotionally-charged renditions of ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ and ‘Abide With Me’ from Gerry Marsden, the teams walked out in front of an 83,000-strong crowd mixed with Reds and Blues.
This iconic image depicts that moment. Led by their managers, Kenny Dalglish and Colin Harvey, Liverpool and Everton emerge onto the Wembley pitch.
Dalglish’s black armband is visible, a reminder that this was no ordinary FA Cup final.
After his side had claimed a 3-2 extra-time victory, Liverpool’s manager said the win ‘meant more than any other trophy I’ve been involved in’.
No further words are necessary.
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