Liverpool FC deeply saddened by passing of Larry Lloyd

Lloyd, who made 218 appearances and won the league championship and a UEFA Cup during a five-year spell with the Reds, died overnight.

Signed from Bristol Rovers by Bill Shankly in April 1969 as a prospective replacement for the legendary Ron Yeats at the back, Lloyd debuted later that year.

After totalling just nine games during his first season at Anfield, the aerially dominant and strong-tackling Lloyd became a mainstay of the team across the next four campaigns.

There were 60 appearances throughout 1970-71 as Shankly’s reconstructed side were narrowly beaten in the Fairs Cup semi-finals and then the FA Cup final.

Liverpool were a point away from lifting the title the following year, too, but silverware was on the horizon for Lloyd and his teammates.

Larry certainly earned it on a personal level, starting every one of the Reds’ 66 fixtures in all competitions in a 1972-73 season that yielded league and UEFA Cup glory.

Indeed, Lloyd’s goal to make it 3-0 in the first leg of the European showpiece against Borussia Monchengladbach proved to be the winner as Liverpool went on to prevail 3-2 on aggregate.

He added 40 more games the next term to move beyond 200 appearances for the club, including three in the early stages of a run to a second FA Cup triumph in 1974.

Larry departed Anfield later that year to join Coventry City, though it was a subsequent switch to Nottingham Forest that would see his collection of honours expand.

A fine spell with Forest included twice getting his hands on the European Cup and gaining another league winner’s medal, before his playing career concluded at Wigan Athletic.

LFC will pay tribute to Lloyd with a period of applause at Anfield on Sunday when the Reds host Brighton & Hove Albion.

The thoughts of everyone at the club are with Larry’s family and friends at this sad time.

RIP Larry Lloyd, 1948-2024