Back on their Perch: Liverpool Win 20th Title

Posted on by footybet
Credit Cosmin Iftode via Bigstockphoto

The great Manchester United manager, Sir Alex Ferguson, famously revelled in “knocking Liverpool right off their f*****g perch”, when he referred to surpassing the Anfield side’s total of top-flight titles. But, after their emphatic 5-1 victory over Tottenham in the Premier League on Sunday 27th April 2025, Liverpool have drawn level with Man United, with 20 titles in the bag.

In this article, we’ll take a look back at the 19 championships the Reds won before this one, the first of which came way back in the 1900/01 season, the 13th campaign of the Football League. We’ll then assess whether Arne Slot’s men have what it takes to surpass the Red Devils once again by winning their 21st top-flight title anytime soon.

Liverpool’s Previous 19 Top-Flight English Football Titles

Arne Slot has become the 10th Liverpool manager to lead his side to a top-flight title. There are some legends of the club in the table below, including Bill Shankly, Bob Paisley and Kenny Dalglish. Could Slot join the club of bosses who’ve won multiple league titles with the Reds? Time will tell. In the meantime, here are the summaries of the 19 top-division titles Liverpool won before Slot’s success.

Season Division Games Wins Draws Defeats Goals For Goals Against Points* Manager
1900/01 Division 1 34 19 7 8 59 35 45 Tom Watson
1905/06 Division 1 38 23 5 10 79 46 51 Tom Watson
1921/22 Division 1 42 22 13 7 63 36 57 David Ashworth
1922/23 Division 1 42 26 8 8 70 31 60 Matt McQueen
1946/47 Division 1 42 25 7 10 84 52 57 George Kay
1963/64 Division 1 42 26 5 11 92 45 57 Bill Shankly
1965/66 Division 1 42 26 9 7 79 34 61 Bill Shankly
1972/73 Division 1 42 25 10 7 72 42 60 Bill Shankly
1975/76 Division 1 42 23 14 5 66 31 60 Bob Paisley
1976/77 Division 1 42 23 11 8 62 33 57 Bob Paisley
1978/79 Division 1 42 30 8 4 85 16 68 Bob Paisley
1979/80 Division 1 42 25 10 7 81 30 60 Bob Paisley
1981/82 Division 1 42 26 9 7 80 32 87 Bob Paisley
1982/83 Division 1 42 24 10 8 87 37 82 Bob Paisley
1983/84 Division 1 42 22 14 6 73 32 80 Joe Fagan
1985/86 Division 1 42 26 10 6 89 37 88 Kenny Dalglish
1987/88 Division 1 40 26 12 2 87 24 90 Kenny Dalglish
1989/90 Division 1 38 23 10 5 78 37 79 Kenny Dalglish
2019/20 Premier League 38 32 3 3 85 33 99 Jürgen Klopp

*Note that prior to the 1981/82 season, teams were awarded two points for a win (as opposed to the three points awarded from 1981/82 onwards).

Which Was Liverpool’s Most Impressive Top-Flight Title?

When attempting to compare the various title-winning seasons, it’s important to take into account the number of games played over the course of each campaign (as this has ranged from 34 to 42). We also need to adjust the figures slightly to show what would have happened in the pre-1981/82 seasons if a win had earned the team three points (instead of two). As such, here’s a version of the above table focusing on the points earned and goals scored and conceded per game.

Season Games Wins Win Rate Goals Scored Per Game Goals Against Per Game Points* Points per Game*
1900/01 34 19 55.88% 1.74 1.03 64 1.88
1905/06 38 23 60.53% 2.08 1.21 74 1.95
1921/22 42 22 52.38% 1.50 0.86 79 1.88
1922/23 42 26 61.90% 1.67 0.74 86 2.05
1946/47 42 25 59.52% 2.00 1.24 82 1.95
1963/64 42 26 61.90% 2.19 1.07 83 1.98
1965/66 42 26 61.90% 1.88 0.81 87 2.07
1972/73 42 25 59.52% 1.71 1.00 85 2.02
1975/76 42 23 54.76% 1.57 0.74 83 1.98
1976/77 42 23 54.76% 1.48 0.79 80 1.90
1978/79 42 30 71.43% 2.02 0.38 98 2.33
1979/80 42 25 59.52% 1.93 0.71 85 2.02
1981/82 42 26 61.90% 1.90 0.76 87 2.07
1982/83 42 24 57.14% 2.07 0.88 82 1.95
1983/84 42 22 52.38% 1.74 0.76 80 1.90
1985/86 42 26 61.90% 2.12 0.88 88 2.10
1987/88 40 26 65.00% 2.18 0.60 90 2.25
1989/90 38 23 60.53% 2.05 0.97 79 2.08
2019/20 38 32 84.21% 2.24 0.87 99 2.61

*Note that, for comparison purposes, the points (and thus points per game) have been adjusted in the first 12 rows to show three points earned for each win.

Based on the above data, we would have to suggest that Jürgen Klopp’s Premier League triumph in the 2019/20 season has been the most impressive of Liverpool’s many top-flight titles. A win percentage of just shy of 85% is ludicrously good, while scoring 2.24 goals per game is also better than they’ve managed in any title-winning campaign (though they have bettered that during several seasons in which they didn’t land the league).

So despite four managers – Paisley, Shankly, Dalglish and Watson – winning multiple titles, it could be argued that none of them won it in better fashion than Klopp. The counter argument to that, however, is that in the modern game there is a bigger gap between the top and bottom of the table in terms of resources. This theory would suggest that it is easier for the best sides to record more wins nowadays, and there is certainly some truth to this.

When Will Liverpool Win Title Number 21?


There was a gap of 30 years between Liverpool’s last Division 1 title and their first Premier League crown. It took a further five years to add their second Premier League trophy to the cabinet, but we think they are in a strong position to add to that tally within the next year or two.

The club will probably invest in the summer to strengthen an already very impressive squad, and although there will be plenty of rivals next season for the title – notable Manchester City, Arsenal, and perhaps the likes of Newcastle and Chelsea – overall we think Liverpool are best placed to go all the way the again. A lot might depend on whether Man City face any punishment for their alleged financial irregularities. But Liverpool very much got the better of Pep Guardiola’s men this term and they could do so again next season or the perhaps the one after that.

And what of the side with whom Liverpool now share a perch with the most titles in the bag? We certainly think Liverpool will win another title – if not two or three! – before Manchester United are in a position to mount a serious challenge. So it could be a long time before the Red Devils regain their position at the top of English football, if indeed they ever do.