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He may have only graced Anfield for three years but during that time David Ashworth still managed to lead the club to its third First Division title.

Indeed, some have wondered just what he may have achieved had he not opted to leave the Reds halfway through the 1922-23 season for a return to his former club Oldham Athletic.

Ashworth had originally arrived at Anfield in December 1919 when he left Stockport to take over from caretaker boss George Patterson.

The Reds had won just two of their 11 matches between September and December prior to his recruitment, but he managed to stabilise the club and eventually led the Reds to a fourth place finish.

Ashworth had the nucleus of an impressive side at his disposal. After securing another top four position the following season he clinched his only piece of silverware for Liverpool when they secured the First Division title in 1922. 

The Reds finished well clear of runners-up Spurs, who were six points adrift of the Merseyside outfit.

Ashworth's Championship side was built around a strong defence with the Irish International Scott in goal and Ephraim Longworth, Tom Lucas and Don McKinlay sharing the full-back duties. McKinlay also played in a solid half-back line with Tom McNab, Tom Bromilow or Walter Wadsworth. Up front Harry Chambers was top scorer with just 19 goals, supported by Dick Forshaw, who scored 17, and winger Polly Hopkin, famous for the rarity of his goal-scoring.

Liverpool retained the championship a year later but surprisingly and controversially the man who had led them to their previous success was not there by the time the title was secured. 

Not long after home-and-away victories over his former club Oldham Athletic on Christmas Day and Boxing Day, Ashworth returned to Boundary Park for his second spell as manager there.

 No-one has ever satisfactorily explained why Ashworth should decide to make such a bizarre move, although he presumably had some emotional attachment with his first club. It remains a mystery to this day. Oldham ended the season relegated, while Liverpool only won one of their last seven games, but still won the championship by six points.