• From left, Ronnie Rosenthal, Ian Rush, Ronnie Whelan, Alan Hansen and John Barnes of Liverpool celebrate after winning the First Division championship on May 1, 1990. Allsport
    From left, Ronnie Rosenthal, Ian Rush, Ronnie Whelan, Alan Hansen and John Barnes of Liverpool celebrate after winning the First Division championship on May 1, 1990. Allsport
  • Liverpool players John Barnes, left, and Peter Beardsley celebrate in the dressing room after winning the 1989/90 First Division after a 1-0 victory against Derby County on May 1, 1990. Getty
    Liverpool players John Barnes, left, and Peter Beardsley celebrate in the dressing room after winning the 1989/90 First Division after a 1-0 victory against Derby County on May 1, 1990. Getty
  • Liverpool goalkeeper Bruce Grobbelaar shares the league trophy with fans as Liverpool celebrate the First Division championship after a 1-0 win over Derby County at Anfield on May 1, 1990. Getty Images / Hulton Archive
    Liverpool goalkeeper Bruce Grobbelaar shares the league trophy with fans as Liverpool celebrate the First Division championship after a 1-0 win over Derby County at Anfield on May 1, 1990. Getty Images / Hulton Archive
  • Paul Ince of Manchester United, right, challenges Steve McMahon of Liverpool during a First Division match at Anfield on September 16, 1989 in Liverpool. Getty
    Paul Ince of Manchester United, right, challenges Steve McMahon of Liverpool during a First Division match at Anfield on September 16, 1989 in Liverpool. Getty
  • John Barnes of Liverpool volleys the ball just wide of the goal during the First Division match against Coventry City at Anfield on November 4, 1989. Allsport
    John Barnes of Liverpool volleys the ball just wide of the goal during the First Division match against Coventry City at Anfield on November 4, 1989. Allsport
  • Liverpool's Ronny Rosenthal during the First Division match against Queens Park Rangers on April 28, 1990. Getty
    Liverpool's Ronny Rosenthal during the First Division match against Queens Park Rangers on April 28, 1990. Getty
  • Liverpool goalkeeper Bruce Grobbelaar during the First Division match against Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane on March 21, 1990. Allsport
    Liverpool goalkeeper Bruce Grobbelaar during the First Division match against Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane on March 21, 1990. Allsport
  • Peter Beardsley during the match against Coventry City at Anfield. Allsport
    Peter Beardsley during the match against Coventry City at Anfield. Allsport
  • John Barnes, left, and Ian Rush of Liverpool against Everton at Anfield on February 3, 1990. Allsport
    John Barnes, left, and Ian Rush of Liverpool against Everton at Anfield on February 3, 1990. Allsport
  • Liverpool defender Gary Gillespie playing at Anfield against Arsenal. Getty
    Liverpool defender Gary Gillespie playing at Anfield against Arsenal. Getty

30 years of hurt: When Liverpool last won the league title in 1990 - in pictures


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Three decades of wait has finally ended for Liverpool fans. Jurgen Klopp's team secured the 2019/20 Premier League title after months of uncertainty following the coronavirus-enforced lockdown when Manchester City lost to Chelsea to hand an unassailable lead to the Reds.

For a while, there were fears that Liverpool's record-breaking season would count for nothing with talk of writing the season off as null and void when the pandemic took hold earlier in the year.

But once the health situation improved and sport resumed, Liverpool players and fans got the opportunity to put 30 years of hurt behind them.

The last time Liverpool won the league title was in the 1989/90 season – which was then called the First Division – under manager Kenny Dalglish. They denied a vastly improved Aston Villa to win their 18th league crown and a fifth trophy in as many seasons under Dalglish.

John Barnes was the top-scorer for the Reds with 21 goals. If that seems like from another era for Liverpool fans, we have a picture gallery season to relive the past.

To view the next image in the gallery above, click on the arrows or simply swipe.