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Kit archive
All-red Liverpool is one of the most recognisable silhouettes in football. But the club did not always play in red or wear the Liverbird. This archive traces seven defining eras rather than claiming a season-by-season catalogue.
Club season 2026-27
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Founded
1892
FKB archive pick
1983-84 European Cup-winning Umbro Crown Paints home
Current manufacturer
Adidas
Source-dated history data
A source-backed summary of seven defining Liverpool shirt eras; it is not an every-season or every-variant database. Reviewed 2026-08-02. The rows summarise eras and do not authenticate an individual shirt.
Origins
Blue-and-white quarters, then red shirts with white shorts
Liverpool began in blue-and-white quarters and had adopted red shirts by 1896; the later all-red identity had not yet formed.
Red over white
Red shirts, white shorts and changing collar treatments
The Liver bird first appeared on a white Liverpool change shirt in 1950 and first appeared on the red home shirt in November 1955.
The all-red switch
Shankly's all-red silhouette; yellow Liver bird from 1976-77
Liverpool switched to all red in 1964 and remained sponsorless through the 1977 and 1978 European Cup-final shirts; Hitachi arrived in summer 1979.
First sponsors
Umbro pinstripes and Crown Paints, then Adidas geometry
Liverpool's first three shirt sponsors coincided with a trophy-rich period; the 1983-84 Crown Paints pinstriped home anchors the era.
Candy to Carlsberg
Geometric home patterns, experimental change shirts and Carlsberg
Reebok replaced Adidas in 1996 and continued for ten seasons until Adidas returned in 2006; Carlsberg began an 18-season shirt sponsorship in 1992.
Istanbul to Warrior
The 2004-05 Istanbul home, Adidas return and three Warrior seasons
Reebok supplied the 2004-05 home, Adidas returned from 2006-12, and Warrior branding ran from 2012-13 through 2014-15 before New Balance.
Modern returns
New Balance's European champions, Nike, then an Adidas return
New Balance branding began in 2015-16, Nike supplied 2020-25, and Adidas began its third Liverpool partnership in 2025.
| Era / years | Maker | Shirt sponsor | Visual identity | Why it matters | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Origins1892–1910 | Unbranded | Not stated in this era summary | Blue-and-white quarters, then red shirts with white shorts | Liverpool began in blue-and-white quarters and had adopted red shirts by 1896; the later all-red identity had not yet formed. |
|
| Red over white1910–1964 | Unbranded | Not stated in this era summary | Red shirts, white shorts and changing collar treatments | The Liver bird first appeared on a white Liverpool change shirt in 1950 and first appeared on the red home shirt in November 1955. |
|
| The all-red switch1964–1979 | Unbranded → Umbro (1973) | Not stated in this era summary | Shankly's all-red silhouette; yellow Liver bird from 1976-77 | Liverpool switched to all red in 1964 and remained sponsorless through the 1977 and 1978 European Cup-final shirts; Hitachi arrived in summer 1979. |
|
| First sponsors1979–1989 | Umbro → Adidas (1985) | Hitachi (1979–82); Crown Paints (1982–88); Candy (from 1988) | Umbro pinstripes and Crown Paints, then Adidas geometry | Liverpool's first three shirt sponsors coincided with a trophy-rich period; the 1983-84 Crown Paints pinstriped home anchors the era. |
|
| Candy to Carlsberg1989–2000 | Adidas → Reebok (1996) | Candy (to 1992); Carlsberg (from 1992) | Geometric home patterns, experimental change shirts and Carlsberg | Reebok replaced Adidas in 1996 and continued for ten seasons until Adidas returned in 2006; Carlsberg began an 18-season shirt sponsorship in 1992. |
|
| Istanbul to Warrior2000–2015 | Reebok → Adidas (2006) → Warrior (2012) | Carlsberg (to 2010); Standard Chartered (from 2010) | The 2004-05 Istanbul home, Adidas return and three Warrior seasons | Reebok supplied the 2004-05 home, Adidas returned from 2006-12, and Warrior branding ran from 2012-13 through 2014-15 before New Balance. |
|
| Modern returns2015–2026 | New Balance → Nike (2020) → Adidas (2025) | Standard Chartered | New Balance's European champions, Nike, then an Adidas return | New Balance branding began in 2015-16, Nike supplied 2020-25, and Adidas began its third Liverpool partnership in 2025. |
|
Archive → current season
Adidas · 2026-27 · Home · Official
Move from the historical overview into the current Adidas release evidence, fit guidance, comparison tools and trusted buying routes.
Source review
Reviewed 2026-08-02
FKB checked the broad chronology against the sources below. The archive deliberately groups notable periods; it does not claim to catalogue every season, variant or match-worn detail. Source links are editorial references, not buying routes.
Historical Football Kits · specialist secondary · checked 2026-08-02
Liverpool FC · primary · checked 2026-08-02
Liverpool FC · primary · checked 2026-08-02
Liverpool FC · primary · checked 2026-08-02
Liverpool FC · primary · checked 2026-08-02
Liverpool FC · primary · checked 2026-08-02
Liverpool FC · primary · checked 2026-08-02
Liverpool FC · primary · checked 2026-08-02
Liverpool FC · primary · checked 2026-08-02
Liverpool FC · primary · checked 2026-08-02
Liverpool FC Store · primary · checked 2026-08-02
Liverpool FC Store · primary · checked 2026-08-02
UEFA · primary · checked 2026-08-02
A source-linked, decade-by-decade guide to Liverpool’s shirt evolution, manufacturers, sponsors and notable designs.
1890s–1900s
Blue and white quarters in the very first season, switched to red shirts with white shorts by 1896.
Liverpool were formed in 1892 after a split with Everton. The first kit was blue-and-white quartered — a pattern similar to the Everton shirts at the time. Within four seasons they'd adopted red shirts, but white shorts and black socks remained until 1964.
Era sources
1910s–1960s
Red shirt, white shorts, white socks with red trim. Collar varied by era.
For over 50 years Liverpool wore the classic red-over-white combination. The Liver bird first appeared on a Liverpool shirt in 1950 on a white change shirt, then first appeared on the red home shirt in November 1955. Bill Shankly arrived in 1959 and began transforming the club, but the kit stayed traditional until 1964.
Era sources
1960s–1970s
The all-red Shankly identity remained sponsorless; Umbro arrived in 1973 and a yellow Liver bird appeared from 1976-77.
In 1964 Shankly asked Ian St John to try the all-red kit in the dressing room before a European tie against Anderlecht. Seeing the reaction, Shankly declared the all-red had given the team 'a psychological effect'. Liverpool won 3-0. The sponsorless Umbro shirts carried special crest treatments in the 1977 and 1978 European Cup finals before Hitachi arrived in summer 1979.
Era sources
1980s
The golden Hitachi + Crown Paints + Candy eras. Chevrons, pinstripes, bold typography.
Liverpool's most dominant decade coincided with three strongly remembered shirt sponsors: Hitachi (1979-82), Crown Paints (1982-88), and Candy (1988-92). The 1983-84 Crown Paints home is tied to the league, League Cup and European Cup treble season.
Era sources
1990s
Carlsberg sponsorship era begins (1992). Gradient greens, diamond patterns, the infamous 1995-96 white-collared home.
Liverpool's 1990s moved between classic and experimental designs. The 1991-92 away kit used silver with green trim. Carlsberg's 18-season shirt sponsorship began in 1992. Reebok replaced Adidas in 1996 and continued for ten seasons, until Adidas returned in 2006.
2000s
The Istanbul 2005 Reebok shirt; Adidas from 2006-12; then three Warrior-branded seasons from 2012-13 to 2014-15.
The 2004-05 Reebok home is associated with the Istanbul Champions League final comeback. Adidas returned in 2006. Warrior-branded kits then ran for three seasons, from 2012-13 through 2014-15, before New Balance branding began in 2015-16.
Era sources
2010s–2020s
New Balance produced the famous 2018-19 Champions League-winning home. Nike took over with Standard Chartered remaining as sponsor.
The 2018-19 New Balance home is tied to Liverpool's Champions League-winning season. Nike supplied the club from 2020-25 before Adidas returned in 2025, reconnecting Liverpool with an earlier kit partnership.
Era sources
Adidas returned as Liverpool's kit manufacturer for 2025-26 after Nike's 2020-25 run. The 2026-27 home shirt continues that renewed Adidas era.
Bill Shankly switched Liverpool to all-red (red shorts, red socks) in 1964 — previously they wore white shorts. Shankly believed the all-red kit would make the team look more intimidating. Within five years of the change, Liverpool had won the league and the Cup.
Hitachi became Liverpool's first shirt sponsor in 1979, making it one of the earliest shirt sponsorships in English football history.
FKB’s archive pick is the 1983-84 European Cup-winning Umbro home with the Crown Paints sponsor. Other defining identities include the 2004-05 Istanbul Reebok home and the 1988-89 Candy home.
Collector decision
A search result can mix period originals, later official reissues, unlicensed remakes and counterfeit listings. Match the exact season, variant, maker label and sponsor treatment; then check condition, measurements, seller evidence and the returns policy before paying. Vintage sizing can differ from today’s chart, and old namesets or patches need their own provenance check.
These are listing searches built from a source-checked season, variant and maker. They are not authenticated product matches and do not prove originality, stock, price, condition, size or seller quality. Amazon links are paid; the CFS club search is not currently commissioned.
1983-84 · home · Umbro
The home shirt tied to the league, League Cup and European Cup treble season.
Identity sources
1989-91 · home · Adidas
The Candy-sponsored title-winning design officially referenced by the 2026-27 Liverpool home shirt.
Identity sources
2004-05 · home · Reebok
The home identity attached to the 2005 Champions League-winning season.
Identity sources
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