Source: Liverpool_Echo
Liverpool FC 12 days of Christmas - John Barnes: Number 10
As the festive season approaches, we have put together a special online 12 days of Christmas with a Liverpool FC twist. A new installment will be online at www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/lfc and www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk/lfc each day up to the 25th[LNB]Any Liverpool fan would admit there has been a paucity of genuine, top quality wingers at Anfield in recent years. Since the mid 1990s, perhaps only Steve McManaman has hit the heights expected by Reds from their widemen.[LNB]While this is partly due to a few misguided signings and a few recruits who couldn't settle in the Premier League, it also has something to do with the standards set by a certain left-footed genius who gave LFC a decade of fantastic service between 1987-1997.[LNB] John Barnes caught the eye of the top brass at Liverpool during a very successful few years at Watford. The Jamaican-born star helped his side gain promotion to the top flight in 1981/82 and guided them to second place - behind Liverpool - the following season. Watford and Barnes would lose out to Everton in the 1984 FA Cup Final, but John would get his revenge.[LNB]The Reds came calling and Kenny Dalglish secured Barnes' sevices for £900,000. Arriving at the same time as Peter Beardsley and with John Aldridge ready to start firing, Barnes took no time to settle into a blistering rhythm. Liverpool won the title and Barnes scored 15 league goals, although the FA Cup once again proved elusive as Wimbledon shocked the Reds in the final.[LNB]At the end of the following campaign Barnes finally got his hands on the FA Cup, playing a key role in the 3-2 victory over Everton, but the title slipped away from the Reds in the last game of the season in that infamous encounter against Arsenal at Anfield.
