Past managersTom Watson

The Newcastle-born boss, who was previously manager of Sunderland's all-conquering 'team of talents', was lured to the club in 1896 and made an immediate impact, including two FA Cup semi-finals before the turn of the century.

Watson was only 37 years old at the time of his move and relatively young for a football manager.

But if you are good enough, you are old enough, and there could have been a league championship even earlier too, but Liverpool capitulated on the last day of the 1898-99 season. A 5-0 defeat at Aston Villa ended their hopes when a draw would have been enough.

Liverpool slipped to 10th the following season but recovered to mount a serious challenge for the title in the first full campaign of the new century.

Watson had already proved at Sunderland he had a good eye for talented players and continued to show that on Merseyside.

Numerous players that had a huge influence on the club's earlier years, and in particular their double title success in the first decade of the 20th century, were signed during Watson's reign.

Among them and in no particular order were Scotsman Alex Raisbeck, legendary goalkeepers Sam Hardy and Elisha Scott, as well as prolific scorers Jack Parkinson and Sam Raybould.

The 1900-01 season ended in glory, with the championship being won by two points. Ironically, the Reds pipped Watson's former employers Sunderland to the title, and supporters thought it would herald a new and exciting era.

However, rather surprisingly, results took a turn for the worse and the club was relegated only three years after topping the table.

It was certainly proving to be a rollercoaster ride under Watson's leadership and Liverpool bounced back from the second tier at the first time of asking in 1904-05. They followed that up with their second top-flight triumph just 12 months later.

It meant they became the first club to achieve the feat of winning the Second and First Division championships in successive seasons.

In 1906, Watson suffered FA Cup semi-final disappointment for the sixth time as a manager when the Reds were beaten by neighbours Everton, and only in 1910 when finishing runners-up to Villa did Liverpool seriously challenge for another league title.

Four years later, Watson finally managed to overcome his semi-final jinx as Liverpool progressed to the FA Cup final at Villa's expense. But the big day at London's Crystal Palace ground was to end in disappointment with a single-goal defeat by Burnley.

As the First World War broke out, Watson was embarking on his 19th season in charge at Anfield - sadly, though, it would be his last. He died on May 6, 1915, aged 56.