‘One of Shankly’s favourites’ – Liverpool title winner Stevenson dies aged 85

Willie Stevenson, a former Rangers and Liverpool midfielder who won top-flight titles in England and Scotland, passed away at the age of 85.

The left-footer, who was born in Edinburgh, won the Scottish Cup with the Ibrox club the following year and was a member of Rangers’ championship winning team in 1958-1959.

However, Stevenson moved to Liverpool in October 1962 for £20,000, becoming one of Bill Shankly’s favorite players as a result of the emergence of the legendary Jim Baxter.

He played a key role in the Liverpool side that won the Reds’ first FA Cup in 1965 and the First Division titles in 1964 and 1966.

Stevenson, who has only nine league games to play for him, was only successful at two of British football’s most successful clubs despite never playing for Scotland.

He scored 18 goals for Liverpool, including the penalty that earned Liverpool’s first-ever FA Cup victory against Chelsea with a 2-0 semi-final win.

Stevenson was one of four Scots in the Liverpool team and four others in Don Revie’s side in the final, which gave Liverpool a 2-1 lead after extra time.

However, he also experienced disappointment when he lost to Borussia Dortmund in the 1966 Winners’ Cup final at Hampden Park.

Stevenson made his final 241 appearances for Liverpool in November 1967, three days after conceding a late penalty to beat Wolverhampton Wanderers 2-1.