Liverpool 2–0 Arsenal: Dalglish's first competitive match in charge
Ronnie Whelan and Steve Nicol scored as Kenny Dalglish began his competitive career as Liverpool player-manager with victory over Arsenal.
Liverpool · Season reference
1985–86
A historical reference entry. Original long-form writing appears in Articles.
- Manager
- Kenny Dalglish
- League / division
- First Division
- League finish
- Champions
- Top scorer
- Ian Rush · 33 goalsAll competitive first-team matches
- Trophies won
- First DivisionFA Cup
Season overview
Kenny Dalglish became Liverpool’s player-manager in the summer of 1985 and won the club’s first league and FA Cup double in his first season. Liverpool finished two points ahead of Everton in the First Division. Dalglish scored the only goal at Chelsea in the final league match to secure the championship.
A week later, Liverpool beat Everton 3–1 in the FA Cup final. Ian Rush scored twice and Craig Johnston once as Liverpool came from behind at Wembley. Rush finished with 33 goals across all competitive fixtures, including two in the Football League Super Cup. Steve McMahon joined from Aston Villa, while Alan Kennedy and Phil Neal departed.
Queens Park Rangers ended Liverpool’s League Cup run in the semi-finals. With English clubs excluded from Europe, Liverpool also played in the new Super Cup and reached its final by beating Norwich City. The final against Everton was postponed until September 1986, so its outcome belongs to the following campaign.
Match reports
Explore 11 published reports from 1985–86, in match order.
Liverpool’s Manager Scored After 21 Seconds at Goodison
Kenny Dalglish picked himself for the Merseyside derby. Twenty-one seconds later, Liverpool’s player-manager had put them ahead at Goodison Park.
Liverpool 4–1 Tottenham: Mølby's two penalties
Jan Mølby converted two second-half penalties after Ian Rush restored Liverpool's lead against Tottenham at Anfield.
Liverpool 2–1 Manchester United: Mølby's two-minute turnaround
Jan Mølby's run and shot brought Liverpool level before his penalty eliminated Manchester United from the League Cup.
Liverpool 0–2 Everton: eight points behind
Late goals from Kevin Ratcliffe and Gary Lineker left Liverpool eight points behind Everton with twelve league matches remaining.
Liverpool 4–1 QPR: Dalglish returns after the cup defeat
Steve McMahon scored twice as Liverpool beat QPR three days after their League Cup elimination, with Kenny Dalglish back in the side.
Mølby rescues Liverpool before Rush wins the Watford replay
A late Jan Mølby penalty forced extra time at Watford, where Ian Rush secured Liverpool’s place in the FA Cup semi-finals.
Dalglish creates as Liverpool put six past Oxford
Kenny Dalglish supplied three goals in a 6–0 win over Oxford that brought Liverpool level on points with Everton.
Rush’s extra-time double takes Liverpool to Wembley
Ian Rush scored twice in extra time against Southampton to secure Liverpool’s place in an all-Merseyside FA Cup final.
Dalglish scores the goal that brings Liverpool the title
Kenny Dalglish’s volley at Chelsea secured Liverpool’s 16th league title in his first season as player-manager.
Rush and Mølby lead Liverpool to the Double
Liverpool recovered from a goal down against Everton at Wembley to complete the league and FA Cup Double in Kenny Dalglish’s first season as player-manager.
Domestic cups
- FA Cup
- Winners — beat Everton 3–1 at Wembley.
- League Cup
- Semi-final — lost 3–2 on aggregate to Queens Park Rangers.
- Football League Super Cup
- Reached the final — the two final legs were played in September 1986, during the next campaign.
Key players
- Ian Rush
- Jan Mølby
- Alan Hansen
- Bruce Grobbelaar
- Craig Johnston
- Ronnie Whelan
- Mark Lawrenson
- Jim Beglin
- Kenny Dalglish
Transfers
Significant senior moves. Fees are included only where established reliably; summer arrivals are grouped with the campaign they joined.
Transfers in
- Steve McMahonFrom Aston VillaPermanent transfer
Joined in September 1985.
- Mike HooperFrom WrexhamPermanent transfer
Joined in October 1985.
Transfers out
- Alan KennedyTo SunderlandPermanent transfer
Left in September 1985.
- Phil NealTo Bolton WanderersFree transfer
Left in December 1985.
Important connections
In the History Explorer
Kenny Dalglish · 1985–1991Related seasons
1984–85Sources & historical notes
Researched and checked 13 September 2026. These sources support this season’s statistics, transfers and historical account. Key players are an editorial selection.
- Liverpool FC: Kenny Dalglish, first spell Appointed player-manager in summer 1985; first league and FA Cup double, Chelsea winner, 1988 championship and Forest 5–0, 1989 cup final and Arsenal title decider. The description of 1986–87 as empty-handed is not used because it excludes the Super Cup and shared Shield.
- RSSSF: Football League 1985-86 Final division, position, points, goals and league record; title margins calculated from the table.
- LFChistory: 1985-86 games Competitive fixtures, dates, scores, venues and cup stages; aggregate scores calculated from legs.
- LFChistory: 1985-86 goalscorers All-competitive scoring, including the Shield, Super Cup and Centenary Trophy where played; excludes friendlies and shoot-outs.
- LFChistory: 1985-86 transfers Dated selected senior arrivals and departures; summer allocation explained in notes.
- LFChistory: 1985-86 appearances Competitive involvement supporting key-player selections.
- Liverpool FC: FA Cup 1986 final: Everton beaten 3–1, Rush scoring twice and Johnston once; 1988 loss to Wimbledon; 1989 final: Everton beaten 3–2 after extra time, Aldridge scoring first and substitute Rush twice.
- The Guardian / LFChistory: The forgotten story of the English Super Cup Jacob Steinberg, 26 October 2011, republished by LFChistory. Competition for clubs excluded from Europe; Rush scored twice in the final group game at Tottenham. The final was delayed until September 1986: Liverpool won 3–1 and 4–1, 7–2 on aggregate. Some incidental dates in the article differ from the fixture ledger and are not used.
- 11v11: Liverpool players, 1985–86 Rush’s 31 goals excluding the Super Cup; the two Super Cup group goals described by the Guardian bring his all-competitive total to 33.
Notes on the record
Overview evidence: paragraph 1 — lfc-manager, rsssf-league and lfch-games; paragraph 2 — lfc-fa-cup, lfch-scorers, afv-scorers, guardian-super-cup and lfch-transfers; paragraph 3 — lfch-games and guardian-super-cup.
Scoring scope resolved: 11v11 lists Rush with 31; LFChistory includes two Super Cup goals for 33. The Guardian account independently describes those two goals at Tottenham.
The Super Cup’s edition was 1985–86, but its September 1986 final is recorded in 1986–87, when it was played. It is not counted as a trophy won during this campaign.