In away days, we take a look at Liverpool’s best (and maybe not so great-looking) away kits from 2000 to 2019. These may not be classic Liverpool kits, but they made a mark, whether positive or negative, on supporters.
The 2015-16 season saw Liverpool begin their current relationship with New Balance. When the deal was announced in 2015, New Balance took over from its subsidiary company Warrior in a deal worth £300 million.
That deal will come to an end after the 2019-20 season and the Reds are already negotiating what could be the biggest kit deal in Premier League history.
When New Balance took over for Warrior, the company breathed fresh air into some disastrous kits produced by its subsidiary brand. Warrior had tried unsuccessfully to revolutionise football kits with graphics, geometric designs and colours. Although those kits are interesting to look at, they will be remembered in 25 years in the same way a generation of football fans look back at the Umbro kits of the early 1990s.
In truth, New Balance’s first attempt at Liverpool’s kits came after a strong final year of Warrior-made threads. Warriors’ last season as kit manufacturers saw Liverpool don yellow away kits and a snazzy black third kit with a red diagonal stripe( Personally, I am a big fan of the black third kit from 2014-15. It is one of only two Warrior made Liverpool shirts I own).
New Balance’s first Liverpool away kits were clean, crisp, and clear with an all-white kit with a limited amount of red detail. It looked great on the players throughout the season. To counteract the all-white away kit, Liverpool had an all-black third kit which took many of the same aspects as the first choice change stripe.
The white shirts possessed a red collar with a simple thin red ring around the arms. The only red on the shorts was the Liverpool badge and New Balance logo. White socks with red “L.F.C.” rounded out the kit.
The 2015-16 season didn’t just see the arrival of New Balance, but it also saw the beginning of Jurgen Klopp era. The German manager joined the club in October following Brendan Rodgers’ sacking.
Klopp joined Liverpool with the club sitting in 10th place at the time of his appointment and would go on to finish in eighth place. While their final league position wasn’t too impressive, the Reds did make a couple of cup final runs. Liverpool finished the League Cup as runners-up after losing to Manchester City on penalties, 3-1.
Even more devastating than the League Cup loss was their Europa League Final defeat to Sevilla, 3-1. The Reds conceded three goals after taking the lead through an early Daniel Sturridge strike.
Are the 2015-16 Liverpool away kits produced by New Balance some of the best away kits produced since 2000? They were great to look at and certainly get a thumbs up from Liverpool Reds FC Blog.
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