Liverpool news: Ray Houghton on ‘winning mentality’

Former Liverpool midfielder Ray Houghton had to “bide” his time when he joined the club but once he had the shirt on, he was not giving it up easily.

Houghton is now often seen as the final piece of the jigsaw in Kenny Dalglish’s historic Liverpool side of the 1987-88 season that steamrollered their way to the First Division title.

“We were very focused that season,” he told BBC Radio Merseyside. “The winning mentality is one thing I learned when I came to the club.

“I hadn’t won as much as those players already there, but when you’re around players who know how to win you get used to it.

“I had to bide my time but when you have that shirt it is up to you to then keep it. Back then, once a manager had found a winning formula, it would take a lot for them to change it.

“One season, I think Liverpool only used 14 players and that just would not happen now. There wasn’t the depth that we are so used to seeing now.”

Listen to Houghton recall the glory under Daglish on BBC Sounds