Nicol’s late header wins the day for Liverpool’s new attack
John Barnes and Peter Beardsley helped create an early goal on their competitive debuts before Steve Nicol settled Liverpool’s opening match at Arsenal.
Liverpool · Season reference
1987–88
A historical reference entry. Original long-form writing appears in Articles.
- Manager
- Kenny Dalglish
- League / division
- First Division
- League finish
- Champions
- Top scorer
- John Aldridge · 29 goalsAll competitive first-team matches
- Trophies won
- First Division
Season overview
Liverpool won the First Division under Kenny Dalglish, finishing nine points ahead of Manchester United. They were unbeaten in their first 29 league matches before losing 1–0 at Everton in March, and suffered only two league defeats all season. A 5–0 win over Nottingham Forest at Anfield in April was among their results on the way to the title.
John Barnes arrived from Watford and Peter Beardsley from Newcastle United, while Ian Rush left for Juventus. Ray Houghton joined from Oxford United during the autumn. John Aldridge led the scoring with 29 competitive goals, 26 of them in the league, in his first full Liverpool season.
The FA Cup final prevented another league and cup double: Wimbledon won 1–0 at Wembley, with Aldridge having a penalty saved. Everton had already knocked Liverpool out of the League Cup in the third round. John Wark returned to Ipswich Town and Paul Walsh moved to Tottenham during the season.
Match reports
Explore 12 published reports from 1987–88, in match order.
Steve Nicol’s hat-trick dismantles Newcastle
Selected on the right of midfield, Steve Nicol scored a hat-trick as Liverpool won 4–1 at St James’ Park and continued their unbeaten start to 1987–88.
Barnes scores twice as Liverpool take QPR’s place at the top
John Barnes created Craig Johnston’s opener and scored twice as Liverpool beat the First Division leaders 4–0 at Anfield.
Liverpool 2–0 Everton: Barnes creates the derby breakthrough
John Barnes helped create goals for Steve McMahon and Peter Beardsley as Liverpool recovered from their midweek derby defeat.
Liverpool 4–0 Newcastle: Aldridge scores twice to close the year
John Aldridge scored twice after the interval as Liverpool closed the year ten points clear with their unbeaten league start intact.
Liverpool 4–0 Coventry: Beardsley opens the year with two goals
Peter Beardsley scored twice and helped create Ray Houghton’s goal as Liverpool moved thirteen points clear.
Everton 0–1 Liverpool: Houghton heads the cup winner
Ray Houghton’s late header settled a fifth-round derby in which Everton had denied Liverpool room to play.
Everton 1–0 Liverpool: Clarke ends the unbeaten league start
Wayne Clarke’s early goal ended Liverpool’s unbeaten league start at 29 matches despite sustained pressure at Goodison.
Liverpool 3–3 Manchester United: a two-goal lead lost
Liverpool led 3–1 against ten men, but Bryan Robson and Gordon Strachan brought Manchester United level at Anfield.
Liverpool 2–1 Nottingham Forest: Aldridge sends Liverpool to Wembley
John Aldridge scored twice from chances made by John Barnes as Liverpool overcame Nottingham Forest at Hillsborough.
Liverpool 5–0 Nottingham Forest: five goals at Anfield
John Aldridge scored twice and John Barnes helped create two goals as Liverpool beat Forest for the second time in five days.
Liverpool 0–1 Wimbledon: Beasant and Sanchez deny the Double
Lawrie Sanchez headed the winner and Dave Beasant saved John Aldridge’s penalty as Wimbledon beat the league champions at Wembley.
Domestic cups
- FA Cup
- Runners-up — lost 1–0 to Wimbledon at Wembley.
- League Cup
- Third round — lost 1–0 at home to Everton.
Key players
- John Aldridge
- John Barnes
- Peter Beardsley
- Steve Nicol
- Alan Hansen
- Steve McMahon
- Bruce Grobbelaar
- Gary Gillespie
- Ray Houghton
- Ronnie Whelan
Transfers
Significant senior moves. Fees are included only where established reliably; summer arrivals are grouped with the campaign they joined.
Transfers in
- John BarnesFrom WatfordPermanent transfer
Joined in June 1987.
- Peter BeardsleyFrom Newcastle UnitedPermanent transfer
Joined in July 1987.
- Ray HoughtonFrom Oxford UnitedPermanent transfer
Joined in October 1987.
Transfers out
- Ian RushTo JuventusPermanent transfer
Left in July 1987.
- John WarkTo Ipswich TownPermanent transfer
Left in January 1988.
- Paul WalshTo Tottenham HotspurPermanent transfer
Left in February 1988.
Important connections
In the History Explorer
Kenny Dalglish · 1985–1991Related seasons
1986–87More from this season
Related articles
John Barnes and the attack Dalglish built without Ian Rush
Liverpool lost their most potent goalscorer in the summer of 1987 and somehow became more potent. John Barnes was at the centre of the attack Kenny Dalglish built without Ian Rush.
Sources & 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 1987-88 Final division, position, points, goals and league record; title margins calculated from the table.
- LFChistory: 1987-88 games Competitive fixtures, dates, scores, venues and cup stages; aggregate scores calculated from legs.
- LFChistory: 1987-88 goalscorers All-competitive scoring, including the Shield, Super Cup and Centenary Trophy where played; excludes friendlies and shoot-outs.
- LFChistory: 1987-88 transfers Dated selected senior arrivals and departures; summer allocation explained in notes.
- LFChistory: 1987-88 appearances Competitive involvement supporting key-player selections.
- Liverpool FC: John Aldridge in the 30-goal club 29 goals in 1987–88 and 31 in 1988–89, including six in the FA Cup in the latter season.
- Liverpool FC: John Aldridge 26 league goals in 1987–88; Liverpool unbeaten for their first 29 league matches; saved penalty in the FA Cup final.
- LFChistory: 1986–87 transfers Rush departed for Juventus on 1 July 1987, allocated to this incoming campaign.
Notes on the record
Overview evidence: paragraph 1 — rsssf-league, lfc-manager, lfch-games and lfc-aldridge-profile; paragraph 2 — lfch-transfers, lfch-prior-transfers, lfch-scorers, lfc-aldridge and lfc-aldridge-profile; paragraph 3 — lfch-games, lfc-aldridge-profile and lfch-transfers.
The short-format Football League centenary tournament is outside the competitive fixture/scoring record used here. It is distinct from the full-match Centenary Trophy played in 1988–89.
Rush’s departure is assigned by the July 1987 move date. Contract-agreement and loan-back descriptions have been omitted rather than conflated with the playing-season boundary.