In May 1990, Liverpool clinched their sixth league title of the decade and their 11th in 18 astonishing seasons.
There was no reason to believe they would not continue to dominate the English league for years to come.
But as has been well documented, Liverpool have hardly managed a sniff of the title for the past 25 yearswell maybe a couple of sniffs.
They finished runners-up to Arsenal in 2001-02 and Manchester United in 2008-09, but that’s about it.
In the meantime, arch-rivals Man U have picked up the Premier League title 13 times, dominating the league in similar fashion to Liverpool in the two decades before. This season, however, suggests there may be a major power shift in process.
Such has been Liverpool’s title drought, that even back in 2002 when he was playing for the Reds, Michael Owen said: “I was only a kid the last time Liverpool won the league. In fact I think I was still an Everton fan.”
Whether this season will turn out to be another false dawn for Liverpool we will have to wait and see, but on current form they are certainly in with a shout, a very loud shout, on what is promising to be a nail-biting end to the season.
It’s really too tight to call, although Manchester City remain slight favourites amongst the bookies, while faltering Chelsea cannot be entirely ruled out, despite manager Jose Mourinho apparently throwing in the towel.
In their final six games, Liverpool face two massive home matches against Man City and then Chelsea, which may well decide the outcome of the title. The visit of City promises to be a tense showdown.
A Guardian readers poll shortly after last weekend’s results had Liverpool as 51 percent title favourites, followed by City at 37 percent and Chelsea and Arsenal both on four percent.
The buzz at Anfield is not just because of the results, but the style in which they are winning. When the Reds are moving forward they are a treat to watch.
The presence of the gifted Uruguayan Luis Suarez and Brazil’s Philippe Coutinho seems to have brought out the best in the English players, Daniel Sturridge and winger Rahieem Sterling. It was this quartet who combined to demolish an admittedly shambolic Spurs last Sunday night.
Suarez notched his 29th goal of the campaign from almost nothing, prompting fans to raise a banner ‘Suarez Could Nutmeg A Mermaid’, something you wouldn’t argue with.
No wonder there is a buzz in the crowd every time the Uruguayan gets the ball. His efforts are all the more impressive when you consider he missed the first five matches.
Liverpool are admittedly a little shaky at the back, although the once erratic Martin Skrtel seems to have acquired a new-found confidence which has made him more effective. One supporter wrote this week: “If Liverpool could defend they would be 15 points clear by now.”
Some of Liverpool’s recent results include a 5-1 hammering of Arsenal at home, two 3-0 away wins at Southampton and more significantly, Manchester United, and last weekend’s 4-0 thrashing of hapless Tottenham Hotspur, a side they walloped 5-0 at White Hart Lane earlier in the season.
What is particularly encouraging for England supporters is that Liverpool also include a healthy number of home-grown players, including captain Steven Gerrard, Sturridge, Sterling, Jordan Henderson, Glen Johnson and Jon Flanagan.
These players could well provide the backbone of the England World Cup squad in Brazil. Unfortunately for England they will find themselves playing against Suarez.
The role of manager Brendan Rodgers cannot be overstated. It is hard to believe that as recently as December 2009, Rodgers left Championship side Reading under something of a cloud after a very unhappy six-month period.
However his fortunes changed at Swansea City who he took up to the Premier League and then kept them there, even though they were favourites for relegation.
Swansea were noted for their attractive playing style with plenty of short passing as advocated by Rodgers, something that is also evident at Liverpool.
Despite his success at the Welsh club, it still came as something of a surprise when Rodgers was appointed by Liverpool.
But he received strong backing for the position from Mourinho, who became familiar with the Northern Irishman’s potential during Rodgers four years at Chelsea from 2004-08 as an assistant coach.
The Anfield fans have taken to the manager, although it has required a little time. At the Spurs game, a banner appeared announcing ‘Brendan Rodgers — The Carefully Chosen One.’
Rodgers himself seems to have remained remarkably calm despite all the fuss. After last week’s match he said: “There were no nerves, no anxiety, no pressure. It was great to watch.”
But of course there is pressure, huge pressure, primarily because of the expectations of the Anfield
fans. They have been waiting two-and-a half decades for something like this.
Older fans still recall the magical times of the 1970s and 80s, originally under the guidance of Bill Shankly and then the Boot Room boys, Bob Paisley and Joe Fagan. And finally there was Kenny Dalglish who led Liverpool to three league titles and two FA Cups.
Liverpool’s success was such that after clinching the title one year, Paisley offered a word of caution: “I have been here in the bad times too. One year we came second.”
Whatever happens in the next few weeks, for sheer intensity and excitement, it looks like Anfield is the place to be.