The Anatomy of Liverpool: A History in Ten Matches

by Jonathan Wilson, Scott Murray

Jonathan Wilson and Scott Murray provide a forensic analysis of ten key Liverpool games that have shaped the club's fortunes over the last century: from the long-lost triumphs of Tom Watson (a 19th-century Bill Shankly) to 1970s European triumphs over the likes of Borussia Monchengladbach and the mind-blowing 2005 comeback against AC Milan.

Aston Villa v. Liverpool
April 1899

Wolves v. Liverpool
May 1947

Liverpool v. Leeds
FA Cup final, May 1965

Liverpool v. Crvena Zvezda
November 1973

Liverpool v. Borussia Mönchengladbach
European Cup final, May 1977

Liverpool v. Roma
European Cup final, May 1984

Liverpool v. Nottingham Forest
April 1988

Everton v. Liverpool
February 1991

Roma v. Liverpool
February 2001

AC Milan v. Liverpool
Champions League final, May 2005

Genres: Football, Sports, Soccer, Nonfiction

392 pages, Paperback

First published November 13, 2013

About the author

Jonathan Wilson is a British sports journalist and author who writes for a number of publications including the Guardian, the Independent and Sports Illustrated. He also appears on the Guardian football podcast, Football Weekly.

Reviews

[libby · Rating 4 out of 5]

really reinforced my belief that supporting any other epl club is a fumble

[Joe Plewes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this. Didn't know enough about the Shankly and Paisley eras, really enjoyed some of the bits around Shankly's conception of socialism and it's effect on his football, as well as the noted acerbic comments from both. Paisley, on a poor performance from new signing Alan Kennedy, remarked that they'd 'shot the wrong one'.

I was also impressed with the detail around the modern games, having thought I might know about them already. Stories of a pulled shirt or a lost shinpad adding colour to proceedings and changing the course of football history.

It totally delivers in terms of the football side, which is what I'd expect. It's maybe then unfair for me to say I wished there had been more of the politics to make it a 5/5; the bits about the soul of the city of Liverpool were the most fascinating.

[John Houghton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Intelligent football fans' dream book; match reports giving a sense of each individual game, in the context of the tactical evolution of the sport and the wider social and historical development of the club.

The characters are sharply drawn and the significance of each match is fully explored.

[Greg D'Avis · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fine, fine book -- Wilson is as always great on tactics and breaking down matches, but this is also a very good history of the world's most glorious club. Recommended for any fan of the game, even non-LFC supporters.

[James Q · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant book, must read for any reds fan. Great match reports with detailed and informative tales of the context of each game

[Derda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Asla Yalnız Yürümeyeceksin !

[Mohamed Tarek · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Even if better days aren't coming back anytime soon, Liverpool fans can take succour in an unparalleled history,as glorious and gilded as that of any club in the world"
This book is recommended for every liverpool supporter who wants to know more about the club's history, it shows through the history of the club how that "in the end of the storm there is a golden sky".
Really liked it as it made me know more about Shankly and Paisley eras and the boot room and how did Shankly built our club's morals that still living till today also it is sad to know how is Gérard Houllier is an unsung hero and he deserves more credit for what he have done for our club.
The missing thing in this book is that it didn't show enough how the politics did affect the club specially through hillsborough and hessel disasters.

[Szymon Holcman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Podejrzewam, że dla niefanów piłki to może być książka nie do przejścia, tyle w niej opisów tego, co działo się na boisku w dziesięciu kluczowych w historii Liverpoolu meczach. Ale fanom piłki, szczególnie angielskiej, "Anatomia Liverpoolu" również może sprawić sporo trudności. A to dlatego, że to książka po amatorsku przetłumaczona i najwyraźniej niezredagowana. Efekt taki, że w jednym zdaniu ten sam zespół jednocześnie wygrywa i przegrywa, albo drużyna która gra na wyjeździe jest mimo to gospodarzem, albo Maldini staje się Milanem (tak, to bardzo ważny piłkarz dla zespołu z Mediolanu, ale bez przesady). Więc te 3 gwiazdki to za pracę Wilsona, a danie 2 gwiazdek polskiemu wydaniu byłoby rozrzutnością.

[Jack Reilly Gillic · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story of the world’s greatest football club, told through analysis of critical matches linked by narrative history.

It’s all here: the triumphs of the Shankley & Paisley eras, the tragedies of the 80’s, the barren, disappointing 90’s slouching towards the slow rebuild of the early 21st century.

The concluding chapter is dedicated to that miraculous night in Istanbul - which serves at a worthy climax.

This is an outstanding account of pre-Klop Liverpool.

[Mustafa Kütük · Rating 5 out of 5]

Liverpool tarihinin yazara göre seçilen 10 maçta özetlenmiş halini bu kitapta bulabilirsiniz. Taraftarının bağlılıyla, başarılı tarihiyle, efsane oyuncuları ve antrenörleriyle Liverpool'un büyük bir kulüp olmasının hikayesi anlatılıyor. Günümüzde yaşanan Avrupa Süper Ligi tartışmalarının gölgesinde kalmamasını umuyorum.

[Александър К. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Тази книга я четох три пъти и ми се повтаряше три пъти в библиотеката ми и я подарявах на мои приятели фенове на моя любим английски клуб. YNWA

[Yılmaz Güler · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kitabın gereksiz olduğunu düşündüğüm pek çok ayrıntı ile geçmesi sebebiyle sıkıcılığı oldu benim için. Liverpool tarihinin detaylarını merak etmiyorsanız çok iyi bir tercih olduğunu söyleyemem.

[Zosia · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is one of my classic late night Kindle purchases. I’m not a Liverpool fan by any means, my football loyalties have always laid in London. That being said, I lovingly refer to Andy Robertson as „my favourite Scotsman”, Mo Salah has been my rock as a Fantasy PL team captain since the beginning of the season (and I look at his Instagram thirst traps VERY RESPECTFULLY), I can’t help but adore Jordan Henderson and I will always love Klopp as the man who created Lewandowski.
This was a fascinating book. I love Jonathan Wilson - he’s Mr Darcy of sport journalism for me and my most anticipated panelist at Guardian Football Weekly. His knowledge and gift for story-telling make for a great read, even if you, like me, are not all that bothered about tactics.

[Steven Pilling · Rating 2 out of 5]

Im not a liverpool fan and i couldnt really get past that.

Wilson (and Murray) are good writers with a knowledge of football that makes me feel inadequate but for some reason i just couldnt get past it

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

A history of one of the most famous clubs in the world. A story through time from the start to Istanbul through 10 matches.

[Brad Macdonald · Rating 5 out of 5]

YNWA

[Michael Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good book. Perhaps a bit too detailed on the actual matches, but the analysis on the macro dynamics at the club is excellent.

[Rafet Baran · Rating 1 out of 5]

Daha kotu cevrilmis bir futbol kitabi okudugumu hatirlamiyorum. Ne yayina hazirlayanin ne de sunus yazisini yazanin kitabi okuduguna inanmiyorum.