The 1968–69 season was Liverpool Football Club's 77th season in existence and their seventh consecutive season in the First Division. Liverpool came close to a record eighth league title, as they picked up the same number points that won them their seventh title in 1965–66. However, the team finished second to Don Revie's Leeds United.
An early exit in the Fairs Cup, losing on coin toss to Athletic Bilbao in the opening round was the main disappointment, meaning that Bill Shankly was yet to lead the club to a European trophy.
In both the League Cup and FA Cup they were knocked out by the eventual runners-up in both tournaments.
Squad
Goalkeepers Ray Clemence Tommy Lawrence
Defenders Gerry Byrne Chris Lawler John McLaughlin Ian Ross Tommy Smith Geoff Strong Peter Wall Ron Yeats
Midfielders Ian Callaghan Brian Hall Emlyn Hughes Doug Livermore Ian St. John Peter Thompson
Attackers Alf Arrowsmith Phil Boersma Alun Evans Bobby Graham Tony Hateley Roger Hunt Squad statistics Appearances and goals
League table
Results
First Division
DateOpponentsVenueResultScorersAttendanceReport 1Report 2 10-Aug-68 Manchester City H 2–1 Graham Thompson 51,236 Report Report 14-Aug-68 Southampton A 0–2 24,453 Report Report 17-Aug-68 Arsenal A 1–1 Hunt 43,535 Report Report 20-Aug-68 Stoke City H 2–1 Callaghan Own goal 46,674 Report Report 24-Aug-68 Sunderland H 4–1 Smith Lawler Callaghan Hateley 46,547 Report Report 27-Aug-68 Everton A 0–0 63,898 Report Report 31-Aug-68 Leeds United A 0–1 38,929 Report Report 07-Sep-68 Queens Park Rangers H 2–0 Yeats Graham 46,025 Report Report 14-Sep-68 Ipswich Town A 2–0 Graham St. John 24,514 Report Report 21-Sep-68 Leicester City H 4–0 Yeats Smith Evans Callaghan 48,375 Report Report 28-Sep-68 Wolverhampton Wanderers A 6–0 Hunt Thompson Evans 39,310 Report Report 05-Oct-68 Burnley A 4–0 Hunt Thompson Strong 26,238 Report Report 08-Oct-68 Everton H 1–1 Smith 54,496 Report Report 12-Oct-68 Manchester United H 2–0 St. John Evans 53,392 Report Report 19-Oct-68 Tottenham Hotspur A 1–2 Hunt 44,122 Report Report 26-Oct-68 Newcastle United H 2–1 Evans Thompson 45,323 Report Report 02-Nov-68 West Bromwich Albion A 0–0 34,600 Report Report 09-Nov-68 Chelsea H 2–1 Callaghan Smith 47,248 Report Report 16-Nov-68 Sheffield Wednesday A 2–1 Lawler Callaghan 31,245 Report Report 23-Nov-68 Coventry City H 2–0 Strong Callaghan 44,820 Report Report 30-Nov-68 Nottingham Forest A 1–0 Hunt 25,175 Report Report 03-Dec-68 Southampton H 1–0 Callaghan 45,527 Report Report 07-Dec-68 West Ham United H 2–0 Hughes Thompson 48,632 Report Report 14-Dec-68 Manchester United A 0–1 59,000 Report Report 21-Dec-68 Tottenham Hotspur H 1–0 Hughes 43,843 Report Report 26-Dec-68 Burnley H 1–1 Lawler 52,515 Report Report 11-Jan-69 West Bromwich Albion H 1–0 Thompson 47,587 Report Report 18-Jan-69 Chelsea A 2–1 Hunt Evans 51,872 Report Report 01-Feb-69 Sheffield Wednesday H 1–0 Hunt 45,406 Report Report 15-Feb-69 Nottingham Forest H 0–2 42,359 Report Report 22-Feb-69 West Ham United A 1–1 Hunt 36,498 Report Report 15-Mar-69 Sunderland A 2–0 St. John Evans 17,855 Report Report 29-Mar-69 Queens Park Rangers A 2–1 Smith Strong 16,792 Report Report 31-Mar-69 Arsenal H 1–1 Smith 44,843 Report Report 05-Apr-69 Wolverhampton Wanderers H 1–0 Hunt 45,399 Report Report 07-Apr-69 Stoke City A 0–0 27,389 Report Report 12-Apr-69 Leicester City A 2–1 Hughes Callaghan 28,671 Report Report 19-Apr-69 Ipswich Town H 4–0 Thompson Graham St. John 40,449 Report Report 22-Apr-69 Coventry City A 0–0 35,106 Report Report 28-Apr-69 Leeds United H 0–0 53,750 Report Report 12-May-69 Manchester City A 0–1 28,309 Report Report 17-May-69 Newcastle United A 1–1 Hunt 34,910 Report Report
Football League Cup
DateOpponentsVenueResultScorersAttendanceReport 1Report 2 04-Sep-68 Sheffield United H 4–0 Hunt Lawler Callaghan Thompson 32,358 Report Report 25-Sep-68 Swansea Town H 2–0 Lawler Hunt 31,051 Report Report 15-Oct-68 Arsenal A 1–2 Lawler 39,299 Report Report
FA Cup
DateOpponentsVenueResultScorersAttendanceReport 1Report 2 04-Jan-69 Doncaster Rovers H 2–0 Hunt Callaghan 48,330 Report Report 25-Jan-69 Burnley H 2–1 Smith Hughes 53,677 Report Report 01-Mar-69 Leicester City A 0–0 42,002 Report Report 03-Mar-69 Leicester City H 0–1 54,666 Report Report
Inter-Cities Fairs Cup
DateOpponentsVenueResultScorersAttendanceReport 1Report 2 18-Sep-68 Athletic Bilbao A 1–2 Hunt 28,004 Report Report 02-Oct-68 Athletic Bilbao H 2–1 Lawler Hughes 49,567 Report Report
References LFC History.net – 1968–69 season Liverweb - 1968–69 Season