By Sahl Masood Ahmed
With Liverpool’s new 2026–27 “Candy-era” inspired kit already making its statement on the pitch, it feels like the right moment to look back. This is a retrospective on some of the club’s most iconic, often overlooked classics. Shirts inseparable from defining players, unforgettable nights, and eras that still linger in memory long after the final whistle.
HM2. 2021–2022 Away Kit
An incredibly classy, off-white "stone" colourway by Nike that featured a sharp forest-green and dark-crimson collar, drawing elegant inspiration from the legendary 1996–97 ecru classic.
Permanently remembered for the historic 5–0 thrashing of Manchester United at Old Trafford, where a clinical Mohamed Salah claimed a ruthless hat-trick on rival turf.
HM1. 2018–2019 Away Kit
A daring, loud, deep-purple base contrasted beautifully with striking, electric-orange branding and a subtle, modern geometric pattern embedded across the front panel. The vibrant purple and orange colour combination was highly polarising for traditionalists who preferred classic away white or yellow.
Worn during a breathtaking season where Jürgen Klopp’s men pushed the boundaries of Europe, culminating in lifting the club's 6th European Cup in Madrid. An instant reminder of the relentless engine-room era of Wijnaldum, Milner, Henderson, Ox, and Lallana.
10. 1993–1995 Away Kit
Pure 90s football culture. The giant, thick Adidas three-stripes were brilliantly placed diagonally across the ribcage, creating an asymmetrical, bold look balanced by the iconic white-and-red Carlsberg text.
Famously worn by a dynamic, young Steve McManaman as he put on an absolute masterclass at Wembley, scoring a magnificent brace to secure the 1995 League Cup final against Bolton.
9. 2025–2026 Long Sleeve Home Kit
The highly anticipated grand return of the Three Stripes to Anfield. Adidas immediately won fans over by delivering a clean, no-nonsense "Strawberry Red" base paired with crisp white trim, heavily channelling the minimalist, early-Adidas vibes of the 2006–07 season without the oversized collar. Because it was a safe, classic design aimed at celebrating the reunion of club and brand, some fans felt the design played things a little too safe for such a historic reunion.
Marking a massive new era after five years with Nike, this kit was worn during a transition season under the floodlights, setting the stage for Adidas' massive retro-revival push.
8. 2019–2020 Home Kit
A phenomenal, direct homage to Bob Paisley’s legendary early-80s sides, featuring thin white pinstripes running vertically down a vibrant red shirt. This was New Balance’s final kit before the brand moved on, leaving a slightly sour legal battle in the background of an otherwise perfect year. The ultimate history-maker.
This is the kit that instantly makes you think of prime Jordan Henderson, whose incredible leadership led Liverpool to a relentless, dominant run to capture 99 points and finally lift their first-ever Premier League trophy, breaking a painful 30-year top-flight drought.
7. 2017–2018 Home Kit
Considered by many to be New Balance’s finest hour. They utilised a deeply rich, retro "Shankly" dark red hue, contrasting it beautifully with a crisp white V-neck collar and a celebratory 125th-anniversary gold crest.
This shirt belongs to Mohamed Salah’s explosive debut season. It’s the kit he wore while tearing up the league, smashing the Premier League 38-game scoring record with 32 goals, and announcing himself as a global superstar.
6. 2012–2013 Home Kit
Warrior Sports’ debut home kit was an aesthetic triumph. They brought back a magnificent, rich dark red shade and reintroduced a clean, embroidered retro amber-gold Liverbird crest, stripping away the bulky shield for a minimalist look. The material of the shirt was great but the strange, rubbery texture of the heat-transferred Standard Chartered sponsor felt heavy and sticky against the chest.
Luis Suárez turned into an absolute force of nature in this kit. It was the season he truly transitioned into a world-class anomaly, terrorising defences single-handedly and scoring an iconic, logic-defying goal from a near-impossible dead angle against Sunderland.
5. 1995–1996 Away Kit
A glorious, retro-eccentric masterpiece. The green-and-white four-quadrant "chessboard" block design is one of the most uniquely recognisable patterns of the entire 90s Premier League era.
This shirt belongs entirely to Robbie Fowler. The legend was absolutely lethal this year, scoring 36 goals across all competitions, including a breathtaking performance against Manchester United at Old Trafford. It perfectly encapsulates the swagger of the mid-90s "Spice Boys" era.
4. 2004–2006 Home Kit
A timeless, no-nonsense classic. The deep red base was clean, minimal, and framed perfectly by sharp white lines under the arms that gave the players a powerful, broad-shouldered look. It’s a shame the plastic, heat-pressed sleeve patches felt cheap and would crinkle or warp permanently if the shirt wasn't hung up immediately after washing.
The defining shirt of the "Miracle of Istanbul." This is the exact kit Steven Gerrard was wearing when he scored the looping header, waved his arms to rally the traveling Kop, and ultimately lifted the club's 5th Champions League trophy after a historic comeback against AC Milan.
🥉 2008–2009 Away Kit
A highly underrated slate-grey palette featuring subtle checkered vertical pinstripes and bright cherry-red accents. It was modern, industrial, and completely different from the usual white or yellow templates.
This shirt is synonymous with Liverpool pushing Manchester United to the absolute wire in a tense title race. It was famously worn when Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres tore Real Madrid apart 4–0 at Anfield, and during the famous 4–1 demolition of United at Old Trafford.
🥈2009–2010 Away Kit
Pure stealth luxury. A matte, deep-black base paired with sharp, electric-gold pinstripes and matching gold Adidas branding. It remains one of the sleekest lifestyle cross-over shirts the club has ever had.
Fernando Torres was the absolute poster boy for this shirt. Even during a frustrating, injury-plagued season for the team under Rafa Benítez, El Niño donning this black-and-gold kit while leaving defenders in the mud, especially his late, snowy winner at Aston Villa, is burned into fans' memories.
🥇2007–2008 Home Kit (Long Sleeve)
The absolute pinnacle of Adidas Formotion design. The long-sleeve version is legendary because of how the classic white three-stripes flowed seamlessly down to the elbows, with the wrist having the iconic Teamgeist patch. It looked incredibly elegant, fast, and athletic.
This was the season Gerrard truly mastered his legendary talismanic partnership with Torres, scoring 21 goals from midfield. He wore this specific shirt during one of the most electric nights in Anfield's modern history: the 4–2 Champions League Quarter-Final victory over Arsenal in April 2008. With the tie on a knife-edge at 2–2, Gerrard stepped up under immense pressure to smash an iconic, unstoppable 86th-minute penalty into the top corner, sending Liverpool through to the semi-finals. An instant reminder of one of the most iconic partnerships in the club’s history.
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