To a certain generation of Liverpool fans, they may not even know the name of Larry Lloyd but for many he was a key cog in a transitional Anfield team.

It seems remarkable to even state that Bill Shankly once went six seasons without winning a trophy for the Reds and Lloyd was part of his final team that was about to become Bob Paisley’s juggernaut.

Given the unenviable task of trying to replace Ron Yeats at the heart of defence, it was the generation of a fearless a tough-tackling centre-back and these were qualities that the Bristol-born enforcer certainly possessed.

Not the quickest or the most technically gifted, chief scout Geoff Twentyman was impressed with the sheer dominance and leadership of the towering defender and pushed for a deal with Bristol Rovers to be completed.

Speaking to his new signing, the legendary Scottish manager stated: “Larry, I have come to the conclusion that you would kick your grandmother for a fiver!”

The response of: “I would actually kick her for half of that!”, showed everyone what the new man was all about.

Appearances were tough to come by in a maiden 1969/70 campaign but starting in the final six games showed everyone what the future was set to hold.

The following year saw Lloyd become a mainstay and he missed just two league fixtures, in a year where a fifth-placed finish in the First Division and Alun Evans’ tally of 15 goals being a club high – showed that the Reds were far from their impermeable former selves.

The 1971 FA Cup final was a chance for redemption but Charlie George’s extra-time winner left Liverpool fans and players broken, until Shankly stood on the steps of St. George’s Hall and picked the red half of the city back up.

Failing to win the Charity Shield set up another season of disappointment but the Reds were recharged and launched an unlikely assault on the First Division title, once again.

A third-placed finish didn’t tell the full story and after a final day of the season where victory over Arsenal would have ended in league success a dubious disallowed goal meant the game ended 0-0 and Derby claimed the ultimate prize.

The mental fortitude to recover from FA Cup and First Division upset in successive seasons was forged in Larry Lloyd, who played in every single one of the 66 competitive fixtures that were to greet Liverpool in the 1972/73 campaign.

It was a year when the ghosts of past failures were gone and it was the familiar foe of Arsenal who were this time beaten to the title, whilst the Bristolian defender scored in the first leg of a UEFA Cup final over Monchengladbach.

Lifting two pieces of silverware and playing every possible game showed how important the enforcer at the back was to this new era of Liverpool, with Bill Shankly creating his second great team.

It looked like the start of the story and not one that was entering a close for Lloyd, with the new era continuing with him at the heart of the defence but a disastrously timed thigh injury under a manager who hated players missing games – spelled the end.

The emergence of Peter Cormack, Phil Thompson and Emlyn Hughes meant there was no place for the 25-year-old as he neared a return for full fitness and a swift transfer to Coventry City for a huge fee showed it felt like the right move for everyone.

Whilst the Reds went on to dominate domestically and on the continent, Lloyd would soon be part of Brian Clough’s Nottingham Forest and battles against Liverpool were as famous as his time on Merseyside.

Having the rather unique pleasure of playing under and winning trophies for Shankly and Clough, similar levels of success in Europe and England meant that Lloyd’s decision to leave our club was not one he had too much regret over.

His reception on returns to Anfield weren’t always the most favourable but this was as much born out of a rivalry with Forest as it was accusations of being a traitor.

But looking back on his career as a Red, few can argue that the defender had ever given anything but his utmost for his team in 218 appearances.

News of his passing at the age of 75 is something that will be met with great sadness from many of our supporters but does allow us all to reflect on the career of a man who gave his very best for a team on the brink of brilliance.

RIP Larry Lloyd

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It was a day for tears, emotion and reflection – not just through Jurgen Klopp’s unbelievable Liverpool career but a look back at the history of this great club and other times we’ve had to overcome a managerial departure.

There had arguably been no other resignations bigger than the days Bill Shankly and Sir Kenny Dalglish respectively decided that their time at Anfield was over but the German announcing similar news, evoked all the same feelings again.

READ MORE: Gerrard and Henderson share same reaction to Klopp’s shock bombshell news

In a question during the press conference about the shock decision, Billy Hogan was posed the question whether this news of our boss leaving at the end of the season was fair to compare to the departure of the two above legends of the Reds.

Although it wasn’t the 56-year-old who answered this point, his reaction to the question showed the humility of a man who has more than enough reason to believe that this is as upsetting for supporters as what came before – further demonstrating why he was and is the perfect Liverpool manager.

You can watch Klopp’s reaction to the Shankly and Dalglish question (from 29:25) via Liverpool FC on YouTube:

EOTK Insider: A tribute to Alex South; a remarkable man with a special Kop moment

The post (Video) Klopp’s reaction to Shankly and Dalglish comparison shows why he was and is the perfect Liverpool manager appeared first on The Empire of The Kop.

Bill Shankly is one of, if not the, most important figures in Liverpool history and his legacy is being honoured with a new mural near our home stadium at Anfield.

After seeing the likes of Trent Alexander-Arnold, Ian Rush, Bobby Firmino and many others having their likeness recreated through artwork, it’s great to see the legendary Scot being added to the list.

READ MORE: (Video) Liverpool fans will love moment between Nunez and Alisson after international clash

Artist Paul Curtis has uploaded images of his progress on the new project at Hotel Tia and it’s an exciting prospect to be able to see what it will look like once the work is finished.

You can view the mural of Shankly via Paul Curtis on Instagram:

Anfield Annals: Jimmy McInnes; Liverpool defender to club secretary to suicide on the Kop

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Ange Postecoglou has enjoyed a great start to life in the Premier League and his latest interview has provided an unusual insight into his life away from the pitch and about Liverpool.

Speaking with BBC Sport about his love for football from a young age, the Australian said: “I was a massive Liverpool fan, I loved Bill Shankly, I loved the boot room stories.”

READ MORE: (Video) Mane jumps on Firmino’s back to celebrate goal against teammate turned foe

It’s not a massive surprise to hear that the reach of the Reds has travelled to the other side of the world but seeing as the former Celtic man is now competing against us, it’s quite a statement to put out there.

With our match against Spurs looming, it’ll surely be a special feeling for the 58-year-old to face up against his boyhood team as a manager once again.

You can watch Postecoglou’s comments on Liverpool and Shankly (from 1:57) via BBC Sport:

EOTK FPL Gameweek 5 Review : The big Salah/Haaland question, Nott. Forest man one to watch? Injuries galore…

The post (Video) Ange Postecoglou makes shocking Liverpool and Bill Shankly admission appeared first on The Empire of The Kop.

Liverpool supporters will be aware that we are not enjoying the season that many expected we would be but Jurgen Klopp has sent a message to the fans in the hope of renewing the passion in the club.

Speaking with the club’s official website, the 55-year-old said: ‘The closer you stick together in a period like that, 100 per cent the better the times will be after that’.

It’s the type of inspirational line we have become used to hearing by the boss and it’s a great insight into how he believes that football and life should work, echoing the sentiments of Bill Shankly who once stated: “Everybody working for the same goal and everybody having a share in the rewards. That’s how I see football, that’s how I see life”.

READ MORE: Dortmund enter battle with 28-year-old’s former club to land Liverpool man this summer – report

It’s easy to support a winning side and it’s not hard to be motivated for games against Everton and Real Madrid but in tough moments and against teams that may not inspire a typical Anfield atmosphere, that’s when the players need us the most.

If supporters stick with the side on a Wednesday night against Wolves when we’re sat in seventh place in the Premier League, then the rewards that we will see in a couple of months or years time will all be worth it.

Now is the time to show fanatical support for your football team because it does make a difference and we will reap the rewards further down the line, if you don’t listen to us on that message – listen to Jurgen Klopp and Bill Shankly.

#Ep72 of The Empire of the Kop Podcast: Author chat with Marios Mantzos on Jurgen Klopp… and more!

The post Klopp’s inspirational message to Liverpool supporters as he calls for the club to ‘stick together’ appeared first on The Empire of The Kop.

It’s no secret that Rangers supporters have been involved in sectarian slurs in the past and this divisive message was brought with some of their fans to Anfield.

A sticker was found on the Bill Shankly statue that read: ‘All Taigs are targets’ a word used as a derogatory term towards Catholics.

READ MORE: (Video) Liverpool fans reply to Rangers singing National Anthem at Anfield

The definition is said to be: ‘(chiefly in Northern Ireland) a derogatory term for a Catholic or Irish nationalist’.

There’s some degree of irony that this sticker was placed above a message that reads: ‘He made the people happy’ and someone who brought so many together.

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There’s no place for these outdated views in society, never mind football, and it’s sad that it still exists today.

You can view the image of the sticker left by Rangers fans on the Shankly statue via @ronandlibrarian on Twitter:

The Zombies bringing their message of brotherly love to Liverpool #LIVRAN #ScotlandsShame #Huns #Sevco pic.twitter.com/0byPuQWqZH

— Ronan the librarian (@ronandlibrarian) October 4, 2022

#Ep61 of The Empire of the Kop Podcast: Keita in a makeweight deal for Bellingham? Manic October… and more!

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There has been an accident at Anfield which has seen the Shankly gates damaged.

Whilst the Anfield Road End is being redeveloped and the stadium is being used for music events, there are plenty of work trucks and vans going in and out of the stadium.

It looks as though one of them has hit the gates that were erected in memory of our legendary manager and also damaged the brick work around them too.

READ MORE: (Video) Kenny Dalglish’s face amazingly recreated in tattoo form on one Liverpool supporter’s leg

The image shows damage to the right column of bricks but the top of the gates themselves fortunately don’t look too badly affected.

Speculation online has some suggesting that the top of the gates have been deliberately moved for work within the stadium but this looks more like damage than a temporary relocation.

It’s unfortunate for whoever has done it that they appear to have been captured on camera but this looks like a quick, yet probably expensive, fix.

You can view the image of the Shankly gates via Reddit user u/Pummpy1:

Someone has broken the Shankley Gates from LiverpoolFC

EOTK Insider Opinion: Farewell to Loris Karius – one of the unluckiest players in Liverpool’s history

The post (Image) Accident at Anfield sees Bill Shankly gates damaged and brickwork displaced by contractor’s truck appeared first on The Empire of The Kop.

Jurgen Klopp will leave Liverpool as a legend but how close is he to the best managers we’ve ever had?

Speaking on 5 Live Drive, John Aldridge spoke about his adoration for the German: “What a manager, look at what he’s done for the club, the respect he has with the fans is immense.

“When great managers leave, you see clubs fall away. Take the demise of Manchester United since Sir Alex Ferguson left.

READ MORE: Ex-Red demands Liverpool to ‘focus’ on ‘world-class’ Sadio Mane’s contract because he’s ‘showing up every single week’

“You feared that could happen to Liverpool when Jurgen went. It’s magnificent for the club.

“Liverpool is a very different city to most around the UK, they are very passionate people who stand up for themselves.

“Jurgen’s the same. What you see is what you get. He’s very humble, a really nice bloke, but he’s passionate about what he wants to do.

“As a kid I adored Bill Shankly. Klopp is now revered in exactly the same way.”

It’s a big name to be put up against and Bill Shankly will forever be a figurehead at our great club, the German is on his way to matching him though.

This is an era of cut throat managerial decisions and staying in a job for 10 years is unheard of, if the former Borussia Dortmund man wins more major trophies over the next four years – he could very much leave as the best.

The 54-year-old won’t be thinking about personal glory but in the legendary Scot and Bob Paisley, he has really attainable legacies that could be challenged – what more praise do you want!

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The post Ex-Red who ‘adored Bill Shankly’ says Jurgen Klopp is ‘exactly the same’ and shares his delight at the contact extension appeared first on The Empire of The Kop.

On the 10th of January 2022, Billy Liddell would have been celebrating his 100th birthday and as the countdown to one of our greatest ever player’s milestone day edges closer – here’s an excerpt from the book written to mark the event: Liddell at One Hundred.

Many people believe that Liverpool began in 1959 when the great Bill Shankly took the helm at Anfield and one man who was certainly part of his maiden team, was the veteran Billy Liddell.

Promotion from the Second Division wasn’t secured until the 1961/62 season, the campaign after our fourth-highest goal scorer retried but this two year period in between saw a crossover of two legends at very different parts of their Merseyside careers.

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Liddell was in the latter days of his footballing life, in his late thirties and dropped (for the first time in 20 years) by newly replaced manager Phil Taylor.

When the influential Shankly took the top job, he singled out the experience and talent of the flying Scot and, despite his advanced years, used him frequently.

‘Billy was to play 11 of the final 14 matches of the new manager’s maiden season.

‘Some of the terminology used to describe his role in his penultimate match of the campaign perhaps best suggests his impact: ‘Liddell, who has obviously lost his speed, did his best work in the second half, but close marking ensures that if he is not getting over the centres, there is little else to offer.’

‘It should be noted that this final spell of first-team action saw two famous moments for all those in attendance.

‘One came against Shankly’s old team Huddersfield Town when Billy was tasked with taking a penalty to put his side 3-2 ahead.

‘He was looking to score his 35th Liverpool penalty and his mind was set on power, too much power.

‘His penalty kick reverberated around Anfield as it walloped the crossbar with such power that the ball burst, the same ball that was almost knocking players out as often as it was being passed in this era.

‘The cannon of a left foot had not gone, but maybe the eye for goal was diminishing.

‘The second memorable moment came in a match at home to Stoke City.

‘Young Roger Hunt was making a name for himself in Shankly’s resurgent side, lifted to third by the end of the season, and he scored the first in this 5-1 victory against Stoke.

‘Hunt continued to impress, and when he crossed the ball five minutes before the break, it met the left foot of Liddell and for the final time he found the back of the net.

‘Fittingly, the loss of the toss had meant that Liverpool were kicking to the Kop for the first half, so his final goal was scored in front of the ones who loved him dearest.

‘The age of 38 years and 55 days meant that Billy was, and remains, the oldest player to ever score for Liverpool. A fitting tribute to his longevity.

‘The following seasons saw the first of Billy’s three final matches for Liverpool.

‘Of the 37,000 in attendance in August 1960, no one knew for sure whether it would be the final time he would represent the Liverpool first team.

‘The appearance made him the oldest post-war player to play an outfield match for Liverpool.

‘He was still to represent the club at reserve level but never again amongst the club’s elite.

‘The physique was still there, but little else was living up to the legacy that had so long graced Merseyside.

‘The upsetting report from the Daily Express read: ‘Billy Liddell, the once-great footballer who is 39 in January, was thrown back into the furnace of League football last night in place of Liverpool centre-forward Dave Hickson. But though the heart is still in his great frame, the reflexes are gone. I winced every time Billy fumbled an attempt to trap, turn and shoot. And I say Liverpool must stop asking the impossible of a man who is still Anfield’s idol’.’

It’s sad to hear of the demise of a 38-year-old’s legendary status but it is important to remember the lack of sport science, the terrible pitches and the fact that there were no substitutions for him to be used as an impact player in search of a goal.

What is also important to note is that the man who recalled the great Billy Liddell into the Liverpool team is a man widely regarded as the greatest manager Liverpool, and if not the World, has ever seen and for him to bring the aged forward back into the limelight shows what he thought of him.

Every story has an end and this was his, if only their time had overlapped earlier or if we had been able to utilise our oldest ever scorer in his prime and during the halcyon eras of the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s.

All quotes obtained first hand by the author. Billy Liddell at One Hundred is available here.

Liverpool hero would be fourth highest appearance holder and second-top goal scorer EVER, if his wartime goals and games were counted

The post Bursting the ball on the crossbar: Billy Liddell’s final Liverpool days under the new manager, Bill Shankly appeared first on The Empire of The Kop.

Bill Shankly is synonymous with Liverpool Football Club and the meeting of eight former players illustrates how his legacy still lives on today.

The Scot joined the club in 1959 and the group of lads that were signed in his first year have an annual meeting, where they discuss their memories of the great man.

It’s very apt that they can now hold these meetings inside the Shankly Hotel in the city centre and there could be no better place for them to gather every year.

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Sat around the table in their latest meeting was: George Scott, John Bennett, Grant McCullogh, Bobby Roach, John Stewart, John Sealey, Pat Kinsella, Joe Parsley and Gordon Wallace.

Most of the men around the table would have been in their young teens when they first signed for the club 62 years ago but now have a lifetime of memories together, inside and outside of the city.

How great would it have been to be able to hear their stories about our club and one of the most influential men to ever grace it.

You can view the picture via George Scott’s Twitter account @lostshanklyboy1:

The power of Liverpool Football club.
Annual reunion of the original Shankly Boys at The Shankly Hotel Liverpool.
Each of us signed for Bill Shankly the year he took over at Anfield.
Great days happy memories great reminiscences.

YNWA pic.twitter.com/MwDkWiT924

— George Scott (@lostshanklyboy1) December 16, 2021

Fouls, indirect free-kicks and match-fixing: Liverpool vs. Inter Milan 1965

The post (Image) Shankly’s boys’ reunion as eight players signed in his first year at Anfield, meet up in the Shankly Hotel appeared first on The Empire of The Kop.

Jurgen Klopp has been speaking to the media ahead of tomorrow’s game with West Ham and spoke about his team being compared to some of the best in the club’s history.

Liverpool can create a club record tomorrow if they remain unbeaten, this will be the 26th consecutive game in all competitions that they have failed to lose a match.

Speaking on the how this record would put the current crop of Reds above those that have come before, our German boss said the following: “It was for sure not easy in Shankly and Paisley’s times to win football games… to do it as regularly as Bob’s teams did – that makes them all-time greats.

We don’t see ourselves in any type of comparison with them”

Records and success come hand-in-hand and for the question to even be posed that the current side are the best we’ve ever had, shows there is at least statistical ground to ask it.

What these players have to do is relentlessly secure silverware just like the great Bob Paisley sides that came before, then they can be considered the best.

Let’s hope we break this record and continue to keep breaking more on the road to some trophies at the end of this campaign.

You can watch the full clip from Klopp’s press conference via our Twitter:

"It was for sure not easy in Shankly and Paisley's times to win football games… to do it as regularly as Bob's teams did – that makes them all-time greats. We don't see ourselves in any type of comparison with them"

Klopp on the comparrison to former #LFC teams pic.twitter.com/8wqFU3snd8

— Empire of the Kop (@empireofthekop) November 5, 2021

The post (Video) Jurgen Klopp on comparing this team to the ‘Shankly and Paisley times’ as another record looms at West Ham away appeared first on The Empire of The Kop.

The grandson of Liverpool legend Bill Shankly has called for his grandfather’s famous statue to be removed from outside Anfield, amid talks of a proposed European Super League.

In an interview with the ECHO, Chris Carline said he’d support the removal of the beloved landmark after being left bitterly “appalled and embarrassed” by owners FSG.

“I know my Grandad has been quoted more than ever right now, and rightly so, because what is going on couldn’t be further removed from what he wanted for this football club,” he said.

“I’m appalled and embarrassed. When you talk about Liverpool Football Club and its history and its roots, you could reference seven, eight or nine of grandad’s quotes which are all appropriate to the current situation – socialism, greed and the Holy Trinity – but I also think about one of the less well known comments.

MORE: Jurgen Klopp takes stand against Super League in scathing pre-match interview

“It’s from his book, when he spoke about wanting to bring the football club closer to the fans and the fans closer to the football club. And he achieved that.

“It’s not an understatement to say he would be spinning in his grave at the current situation because it couldn’t be further removed from his ethos.

“Given the chance I’d happily see the statue removed. What hurts most is that Liverpool has a history and a tradition, created by him, of doing things the right way and to be one of the six clubs pushing for this move is unacceptable.”

We at Empire of the Kop can only echo what Carline has said, as we, too, are utterly disappointed in the actions of Liverpool’s owners and hope their greedy exploits are reversed.

What makes football so appealing is that anyone can reach the very top of the game, but this new ‘Super League’ proposes a level occupied by the mega-rich that will be unattainable to the majority, which wouldn’t be further away from what the club stands for.

The post Bill Shankly’s grandson calls for Anfield statue to be removed amid Super League talk – ECHO appeared first on The Empire of The Kop.

Liverpool have had a new ‘Managers’ Gallery‘ installed at the new training centre in Kirkby and it’s brilliant.

It features framed photographs of some of the club’s most influential bosses, including the legendary Bill Shankly.

A print of the Scot features aside the pictures, physically on the wall, alongside current manager Jurgen Klopp.

It’s a nice touch from the Reds as they absolutely nail it once again, showing the progress we’ve made and pride in our roots.

Take a look at this glorious photo below:

pic.twitter.com/e5gP2vtyz3

— Liverpool FC (@LFC) November 17, 2020

The post (Photo) Shankly & Klopp feature in glorious Managers’ Gallery at LFC’s new training centre in Kirkby appeared first on The Empire of The Kop.

Legendary Liverpool manager Bill Shankly was born on this day 1913, and we thought there’s no better time to look back at a moment which sums up the man and what he means to the red half of Merseyside.

The Scot was a well-loved man in the city, with its people resonating with his style of football but also his political views and the way he lived his life.

Shankly decided to retire in 1974 after 15 years with Liverpool, and fans were left gobsmacked upon being told the news – when it wasn’t a 24-hour cycle.

In an incredible video, a group of supporters were broken the news by a reporter and they refused to believe what they were hearing, with one saying “you’re having me on.”

Take a look at the clip below (and skip to 1:08):

The post (Video) “You’re having me on” – LFC fans being told Shankly retired is still a classic 46 years on appeared first on The Empire of The Kop.

Jamie Carragher has compared Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp to the legendary Bill Shankly, in that supporters hang on his every word.

The defender-turned-pundit claims the German has a ‘special quality’ to say the right thing and fans look to the boss in every situation.

“Like Shankly, the supporters look to what Klopp says about every situation – and he always finds the right words,” Carra is quoted as saying by the Mirror.

“Jurgen claims he doesn’t prepare what he’s going to say, but I don’t know if I believe him. He has a great ability to communicate, he has this special quality to say the right thing.

“He brings people with him – and makes people believe in him. Throughout the pandemic, he didn’t ever say anything that crossed the line.

MORE: Jurgen Klopp slates Boris Johnson’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic

“It wasn’t ever about wanting Liverpool to win the league and not being worried about what the world was going through, although he was so close.

“He always said the right words – not only for Liverpool fans, but for football. Klopp can be very funny, but, on the flipside, when something serious happens, it feels like he is the go-to manager for the league.

“He always nails what needs to be said and how people are feeling.”

We at EOTK are inclined to agree with Carra, in that Klopp typically finds himself on the right side of the argument for the majority of Liverpool supporters.

Recently, the boss criticised the UK Government for their handling of the coronavirus pandemic and many fans of the Reds were in agreement with him.

Klopp: “You can argue about whether it makes sense to wear them, but all ­countries who started wearing face masks earlier have smaller casualty numbers than England."

— Ste Carson 🦣 (@sjrcarson) June 20, 2020

Shankly, like Klopp, was a proud socialist – aligned with civic views held at the core of Liverpool FC – and this resonated with supporters in the 1960s and 70s.

And now in 2020, when football has a wider reach and Reds can be found in all corners of the world, we have another manager whose political beliefs are inline with the club.

The post ‘Like Shankly’ – Carra claims Liverpool fans hang on Klopp’s every word appeared first on The Empire of The Kop.