History'A sight to behold' - Liverpool, Atletico and a special trophy won in 1987

It may lack the prestige associated with some of the more illustrious items of silverware displayed at Anfield, but for sheer size the XV Trofeo Villa de Madrid has no equal.

Standing tall at 85cm and with handles spanning 55cm, it was won at the expense of the Reds’ Champions League visitors this evening, Atletico Madrid, on August 23, 1987.

Of greater historical significance, it was also the first trophy lifted by what would become one of Liverpool’s most revered teams.

The evolution of Kenny Dalglish’s class of 1987-88 was still very much in its infancy when the club accepted an invite from Atletico to compete in a fixture staged annually by the hosts since 1973.

Despite winning their opening game of the campaign at Arsenal, a collapsed sewer on the Kop had delayed the home debuts of exciting new signings John Barnes and Peter Beardsley, so this was viewed as an ideal opportunity to fill the void.

The Spanish side were themselves in the throes of transition, but with Argentina’s 1978 World Cup-winning manager Cesar Luis Menotti at the helm, and talent such as Paulo Futre and Andoni Goikoetxea in their ranks, a stern test was expected, and so it proved.

On a sultry Sunday evening at the atmospheric Vicente Calderon, a tight encounter was eventually settled by a single goal, late in the game from substitute John Wark.

Captain Alan Hansen had to call on goalkeeper Bruce Grobbelaar to assist with the presentation of the prize and club officials somehow managed to find a place for it on the plane home.

Featuring the city of Madrid crest, as well as those of the two competing clubs, this stunning trophy has been a firm favourite with visitors to Anfield ever since and remains a sight to behold.

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