Everton blue and Bill Shankly: how Liverpool came to play all in red | OneFootball

Liverpool’s all-red identity traces to an opaque 1896 choice and Bill Shankly’s 1964-65 switch, set against Everton’s blue.

L'Équipe reports that Stephen Done, Liverpool’s museum chief from 1997 to 2024, never solved why red was chosen. The 1896 decision, likely under founder John Houlding, aimed to separate the club from Everton and may reflect the city crest.

For nearly 70 years a red shirt was paired with white shorts and socks. Shankly, manager from 1959 to 1974, unified the kit in 1964-65, influenced by Real Madrid and a belief that all red brought a psychological edge.

He staged a reveal after training, asking captain Ron Yeats, 1.88 m, to wear red socks, shorts and shirt, then telling him he looked terrifying, like seven feet.

The shift arrived in two stages. Red shorts debuted in a 1-0 European Cup win at Anderlecht on 16 December 1964, with white socks retained, then a 1-0 Cup victory over Leicester on 10 March 1965 delivered the first all-red side.

The colour code has endured ever since, alongside the mythology of Anfield and the Kop that Shankly helped craft.

Suppliers have largely stuck to it. Adidas briefly added three white stripes in the early 1990s before reverting, and supporter attachment has kept the home kit red. In 2012 Liverpool left Adidas for Warrior Sports on a deal worth €30m per year, but concerns over shirt quality and unpopular away and third designs saw New Balance, Warrior’s parent, assume the contract in 2015.

Source: L'Équipe