23 April 1988

Kenny Dalglish's new-look Liverpool were dubbed 'better than the Brazilians' after blasting their way to league title number 17 with some of the most exciting, exhilarating and attacking football ever witnessed at Anfield. Some even call this team the greatest in the club's history.

It was a time when matchday queues snaked the streets around Anfield as punters waited to witness summer signings Peter Beardsley, John Aldridge and John Barnes tear opposition defences apart.

A collapsed sewer under the Kop meant the Reds faced a tough start to the campaign with three away games. An opening day victory at Arsenal in a new grey kit set the tone, however, and Liverpool went on to lose just two league games all season – a club record.

The Reds went on a Football League record-equalling 29-game unbeaten run from the start of the season, and by January were 17 points clear of Man Utd at the top.

Everton's Wayne Clarke was the man who finally put a stop to our unbeaten sequence, shooting through a crowded goalmouth to give the Toffees a 1-0 win.

This proved a mere blip, however, and it wasn't just Kopites who were purring as Kenny's men trampled over anyone who got in their way. After seeing Liverpool demolish rivals Nottingham Forest 5-0, Sir Tom Finney noted: "It was the finest exhibition I've seen in the whole time I've played and watched the game. You couldn't see it bettered anywhere – not even in Brazil."

Aldridge (2), Ray Houghton, Beardsley and Gary Gillespie were the scorers on the famous day, and it's fair to say that even 5-0 didn't reflect just how dominant Liverpool were against a side that would finish third in the table. Only the woodwork and goalkeeper Steve Sutton, who made at least a dozen fine saves, kept the numbers down.

While Aldridge top scored with 29 in all competitions, it was Barnes who took the plaudits of the football writers and the PFA, both of which voted the winger Player of the Year.

Others deserve a mention too, not least Steve McMahon, a driving force in midfield who bagged nine goals himself.

The title was wrapped up with four games left to play on April 23 thanks to a 1-0 victory over Spurs at Anfield.

Although the season ended with a shock FA Cup final defeat to Wimbledon, the scintillating football played through 1987-88 made some believe they were witnessing the greatest team in the history of English football.