Six goals on Anfield’s first European night
Liverpool beat KR Reykjavík 6–1 as Anfield staged European football for the first time, with Bobby Graham scoring on his debut.
Liverpool · Season reference
1964–65
A historical reference entry. Original long-form writing appears in Articles.
- Manager
- Bill Shankly
- League / division
- First Division
- League finish
- 7th
- Top scorer
- Roger Hunt · 37 goalsAll competitive first-team matches
- Trophies won
- FA CupCharity Shield (shared)
Season overview
The league champions began their first European campaign, but their title defence never developed into a sustained challenge. Liverpool slipped into the lower reaches of the table during the autumn and eventually finished seventh. Roger Hunt remained productive, scoring 25 league goals and 37 across all competitive matches. Geoff Strong arrived from Arsenal in November, adding an adaptable player to a side in which Tommy Smith and Chris Lawler were becoming established.
Europe brought new experiences in quick succession. Liverpool beat KR Reykjavik and Anderlecht, then needed a third match to settle the quarter-final against Cologne. After two goalless draws and a 2–2 replay in Rotterdam, a coin toss sent Liverpool through. The change of kit also took shape during this campaign: red shorts were introduced against Anderlecht at Anfield on 25 November, with red socks completing the all-red strip in the return match on 16 December.
The defining achievement came at Wembley on 1 May. Liverpool had overcome West Bromwich Albion, Stockport County after a replay, Bolton Wanderers, Leicester City after another replay and Chelsea to reach the FA Cup final. Against Leeds, Gerry Byrne played on with a broken collarbone. After a goalless 90 minutes, Hunt put Liverpool ahead, Billy Bremner equalised and Ian St John headed the winner from Ian Callaghan’s cross. The 2–1 victory brought Liverpool the FA Cup for the first time.
Three days later the new cup holders beat Internazionale 3–1 at Anfield in the European Cup semi-final. A 3–0 defeat in Milan ended the run, leaving Liverpool one round short of the final. Seventh place in the league gave an incomplete picture of a season that delivered a missing domestic trophy and established the club in European competition. The FA Cup win also opened a different route back into Europe through the Cup Winners’ Cup.
Match reports
Explore 1 published report from 1964–65, in match order.
Domestic cups
- FA Cup
- Winners: beat Leeds United 2–1 after extra time at Wembley.
Europe
- European Cup
- Semi-finals: lost 4–3 on aggregate to Internazionale.
Other major competitions
- Charity Shield
- Shared with West Ham United after a 2–2 draw at Anfield.
Key players
- Roger Hunt
- Ian St John
- Gerry Byrne
- Ron Yeats
- Tommy Lawrence
- Ian Callaghan
- Peter Thompson
- Tommy Smith
- Chris Lawler
- Willie Stevenson
- Gordon Milne
- Geoff Strong
Transfers
Significant senior moves. Fees are included only where established reliably; summer arrivals are grouped with the campaign they joined.
Transfers in
- Geoff StrongFrom ArsenalPermanent transfer · £40,000
Joined in November 1964; his versatility proved important when he replaced the injured Gordon Milne in the FA Cup final.
Transfers out
- Alan A’CourtTo Tranmere RoversPermanent transfer · £9,000
Left in October 1964 after making his final Liverpool appearance against KR Reykjavik in September.
Important connections
Liverpool’s first European tie
A 5–0 win away to KR Reykjavik opened Liverpool’s first European Cup campaign; they won the tie 11–1 on aggregate.
The all-red kit is completed
Red socks were added for the 1–0 win at Anderlecht. Red shirts and red shorts had first been worn together at Anfield on 25 November, with white socks.
Cologne tie decided by a coin toss
Two 0–0 draws were followed by a 2–2 replay in Rotterdam. Liverpool advanced when the tie was settled by a coin toss.
Liverpool win their first FA Cup
Roger Hunt and Ian St John scored in a 2–1 extra-time win over Leeds United at Wembley. Gerry Byrne completed the game despite a broken collarbone.
Internazionale beaten at Anfield
Liverpool won the first leg of the European Cup semi-final 3–1, three days after the FA Cup final. They lost 3–0 in Milan eight days later.
In the History Explorer
Bill Shankly · 1959–1974Sources & historical notes
Researched and checked 9 September 2026. These sources support this season’s statistics, transfers and historical account. Key players are an editorial selection.
- LFChistory: 1964–65 results Complete competitive chronology, autumn league position, shared Charity Shield, cup ties and European results.
- LFChistory: 1964–65 goalscorers Hunt’s 37 competitive goals: 25 league, five FA Cup, seven European Cup and none in the Charity Shield.
- English Football League Tables: 1964–65 Seventh-place league finish, FA Cup victory, European Cup semi-final and no League Cup entry.
- Liverpool FC: the first FA Cup victory Final date and scorers, Byrne’s injury, the full route through the competition and Hunt’s five FA Cup goals.
- RSSSF: European competitions 1964–65 Independent check of European Cup opponents, aggregates, Cologne replay and coin toss, and the semi-final defeat.
- Liverpool FC: completing the all-red strip Distinguishes red shorts on 25 November 1964 from red socks and the complete all-red kit on 16 December.
- Liverpool FC: the Cologne coin toss Three draws, the 2–2 Rotterdam replay and the tie being decided by a coin toss.
- LFChistory: 1964–65 transfers Geoff Strong from Arsenal for £40,000; Alan A’Court to Tranmere for £9,000; reserve George Scott also listed.
- Liverpool FC: Geoff Strong obituary Strong’s £40,000 November 1964 signing and replacement of the injured Gordon Milne in the FA Cup final.
- Liverpool FC: Alan A’Court profile A’Court’s final appearance against KR Reykjavik in September 1964 and move to Tranmere the following month.
- Liverpool FC: Roger Hunt’s 30-goal seasons Official confirmation of Hunt’s 37 competitive goals in 1964-65.
- LFChistory: 1964–65 appearances Appearance totals supporting the core-player selection and Smith and Lawler becoming regulars.
Notes on the record
Hunt’s competitive total is 37, not his league-only 25. LFChistory includes the Charity Shield in its Other column; Hunt scored zero there.
The all-red change is often compressed to 25 November 1964. LFC’s December 2024 account and LFChistory’s Anderlecht match record distinguish red shirts/shorts on 25 November from the addition of red socks on 16 December. The entry preserves that distinction.
The 1964 Charity Shield was shared after a draw, not won outright. No League Cup section is shown because Liverpool did not enter.
George Scott’s May 1965 move to Aberdeen is recorded in the transfer audit but omitted from the senior list: he never appeared competitively for Liverpool’s first team. Existing Archive writing is not duplicated.