Source: Telegraph
Liverpool class of '87 finish second despite run of four straight defeats
Even one of the strongest teams the club possessed during its heyday suffered a similar slump just over 20 years ago.
For Gerrard, Carragher, Kuyt, Reina and Mascherano read Dalglish, Hansen, Rush, Grobbelaar and McMahon.
And the last time Liverpool lost four consecutive games, in the latter stages of the 1986/87 season, it effectively cost them the title and any chance of lifting any silverware.
Prior to their losing sequence all those years go, Liverpool topped the table with a lead of six points over Everton, having played a game more.
On the weekend Liverpool lost the League Cup final - the first time they had lost a game in which Ian Rush had scored - Everton leap-frogged them to the summit on goal difference.
Liverpool then lost two more games - Manchester United and Coventry City away - and dropped a further two points on the final day of the season - 3-3 away to Chelsea.
The only highlight of the last two months was a 3-1 beating of Everton at Anfield.
The start of the slump for the '87 vintage started against Tottenham - a 1-0 defeat at White Hart Lane. That was followed by a 2-1 loss at home to Wimbledon and then the 2-1 League Cup final heartbreak against Arsenal.
Norwich City, on April 11 1987, condemned Liverpool, then managed by Kenny Dalglish, to their fourth consecutive loss - 2-1 at Carrow Road.
The team that day was: Bruce Grobbelaar; Alan Hansen, Gary Gillespie, Barry Venison; Ronnie Whelan, Jan Molby, Steve McMahon, Craig Johnston, John Wark; Paul Walsh and Ian Rush.
From hitting rock bottom, however, Liverpool revitalised their season just a week later against Brian Clough's Nottingham Forest.
Dalglish brought himself back unto the starting XI in place of Molby and it sparked Liverpool into life, securing a much-needed 3-0 victory, with Dalglish himself scoring along with Whelan and Ablett.
The team that day was: Bruce Grobbelaar; Alan Hansen, Gary Ablett, Gary Gillespie, Barry Venison; Ronnie Whelan, Kenny Dalglish, Steve McMahon, Craig Johnston; Paul Walsh and Ian Rush.
Everton eventually won the league title that season, but Liverpool went on to finish second, nine points behind.
