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The Anatomy of Liverpool: A History in Ten Matches
Much of the acres of football news coverage these days has little to do with what actually occurs on the pitch. Jonathan Wilson has established himself as one of the sport's pre-eminent writers, focusing on the tactics (with the award-winning Inverting the Pyramid) and how events on the pitch have shaped football history (The Anatomy of England). His new book is a compellingly forensic analysis of ten key Liverpool matches that have shaped the club's fortunes for more than a century - from the long-lost triumphs of manager Tom Watson, who arrived in 1896, to the 1977 European Cup triumph over Borussia Mönchengladbach, to the astonishing Champions League Final comeback against AC Milan, 'The Miracle of Istanbul', in 2005. Legendary players and managers of the stature of Bill Shankly, Bob Paisley and Kenny Dalglish populate these pages, which highlight the genius and the flaws of individuals by examining them in practice.
Certain games lie on the fault-lines of history. Perhaps they mark the end of one era or the beginning of another. Perhaps they encapsulate a summation of a manager's reign. Or perhaps they mark a crossroads, moments at which football looked one way, and then went the other. But this is not a virtual history of Liverpool FC. Jonathan Wilson's prime purpose is not to speculate on what might have been. Rather it will try to determine why what was, was. No game is won or lost, after all, in a single moment but by a million little things.
The Anatomy of Liverpool tells the story of a great club through a detailed examination of ten key matches looking, as a football history must, first and foremost at the football.
Certain games lie on the fault-lines of history. Perhaps they mark the end of one era or the beginning of another. Perhaps they encapsulate a summation of a manager's reign. Or perhaps they mark a crossroads, moments at which football looked one way, and then went the other. But this is not a virtual history of Liverpool FC. Jonathan Wilson's prime purpose is not to speculate on what might have been. Rather it will try to determine why what was, was. No game is won or lost, after all, in a single moment but by a million little things.
The Anatomy of Liverpool tells the story of a great club through a detailed examination of ten key matches looking, as a football history must, first and foremost at the football.
224 pages, Hardcover
First published November 13, 2013
22 people are currently reading
415 people want to read
About the author
Jonathan Wilson
88 books515 followersJonathan 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.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
February 9, 2025
really reinforced my belief that supporting any other epl club is a fumble
October 14, 2019
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.
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.
December 26, 2013
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.
The characters are sharply drawn and the significance of each match is fully explored.
February 17, 2014
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.
February 2, 2015
Brilliant book, must read for any reds fan. Great match reports with detailed and informative tales of the context of each game
February 12, 2018
Asla Yalnız Yürümeyeceksin !
January 10, 2020
"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.
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.
July 18, 2020
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.
December 20, 2024
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.
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.
April 20, 2021
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.
February 21, 2024
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
January 2, 2026
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.
May 14, 2022
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.
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.
December 12, 2014
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
April 17, 2014
A history of one of the most famous clubs in the world. A story through time from the start to Istanbul through 10 matches.
September 22, 2017
Good book. Perhaps a bit too detailed on the actual matches, but the analysis on the macro dynamics at the club is excellent.
August 28, 2020
Daha kotu cevrilmis bir futbol kitabi okudugumu hatirlamiyorum. Ne yayina hazirlayanin ne de sunus yazisini yazanin kitabi okuduguna inanmiyorum.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews