Liverpool and Sunderland have come together to commemorate the life of a man who served both with distinction when the two clubs were in their infancy.

Tom Watson managed the Reds to their first-ever title in 1901 - and he arrived on Merseyside having already won three titles at Sunderland between 1892 and 1895.

Watson, who passed away in 1915 after guiding Liverpool to another league triumph in 1906, is buried in Anfield cemetery, a short walk from the stadium.

Now, with the support of Sunderland chief executive Margaret Byrne and Liverpool managing director Ian Ayre, plans are advanced for the creation of a special headstone for Watson's grave.

Black Cats historian Rob Mason and Liverpool FC museum curator Stephen Done have been in discussions with various interested parties to agree on the wording and it is hoped the memorial will be in place by the time the clubs meet again in March 2014.

The headstone for Watson will complete a trio of memorials - the others are to Reds 'keeper Ted Doig, and Andrew Barclay, who was the first secretary of Liverpool FC.

Doig won a fourth league title medal at Sunderland in 1902 before adding a second division title medal with Liverpool in 1905 and acting as back-up 'keeper when they again lifted the championship in 1906.

The recent memorials have been put in place thanks to the efforts of Eric Doig, Ted's grandson, and George Rowlands.