Feature'An innovator' - the man intertwined in the history of Liverpool and Sunderland

The former manager is viewed as a pioneer in the game and remains etched into the history of the Reds and the Black Cats for his role in helping establish success at each club during the early years of the Football League.

He was the first person to win a league title at two different clubs – with only three others achieving that feat since – and secured five in total throughout his career, with three of those coming during his time at Sunderland.

After moving to Anfield in 1896, he would guide Liverpool to their first two league championships in 1901 and 1906, while Watson also led the Reds to their first appearance in an FA Cup final, though they narrowly lost out to Burnley in 1914.

To this day, Watson remains Liverpool's longest-serving manager by time period – and the total of 742 matches overseen during his tenure is second only to Bill Shankly (784).

He served in the Anfield dugout for 19 years from 1896 to 1915 until his death, when he tragically succumbed to pneumonia while in post.

"It was a real show of ambition at the time from Liverpool to get someone like Tom Watson to come to the club from Sunderland," Jeff Goulding, who along with Kieran Smith co-authored Red Dawn: The Ballad of Tom Watson and Liverpool FC's First Champions, told Liverpoolfc.com.

"He was a hugely influential figure in football generally and a rising star. He'd had huge success in the north east and was forward-thinking in trying to drive the leagues forward.

"He had a lot of influence at Liverpool and he was an innovator. He was popular with supporters and a real character too. The Reds were a team of extremes when he arrived, really. They were either at the top or at the bottom. But he came in and laid the very foundations for the football club we see standing in front of us today.

"If you think about it, the club was established in 1892, and he came in and revolutionised things to the point where they won the top division within a decade.

"Modern fans will argue about the game being very different then but it was a complete level playing field. Tom was part of the professionalisation of the game and wanted to play 'scientific football'.

"He took Liverpool from being an upstart team that had split from Everton to being a household name across the country.

"The winning mentality that is now synonymous with Liverpool was instilled by Tom Watson. He had a role in setting the ethos and ethic at Anfield around wanting to compete among the best, and it's remained to this day."

Watson was a key figure in laying the foundations for the success that followed, and he brought the Reds their debut league title over a century ago.

He was at the club when Liverpool changed their colours to red and was in charge when the Kop was originally unveiled amid a rebuild of the club's home ground.

"He was ahead of his time in many respects with the ideas that he had and how he saw the future of the game being played in England," Jeff continued.

"The club has transformed beyond all recognition to the one that was found by Tom when he first arrived.

"But what we see today sort of speaks to his legacy – whether Liverpool succeed or not, they always compete to win. That was Tom's vision.

"I think what started with Tom is the idea that Liverpool were going to be at the very top, so the revolution that's led to where we are now over the last 125 years most likely doesn't happen without him.

"He is a hugely influential figure in the history of the club. I think it was the club historian, Mark Platt, who told us that Tom is one of the most important managers that many Liverpool fans are not really aware of. We think he deserves his place among the greats."

• Red Dawn: The Ballad of Tom Watson and Liverpool FC's First Champions is available to purchase now