Liverpool and Rangers title winner Willie Stevenson dies aged 85

Former Rangers and Liverpool midfielder Willie Stevenson – who won top-flight titles in Scotland and England – has died at the age of 85.

The Edinburgh-born left midfielder was part of Rangers’ championship-winning team in 1958-59 and won the Scottish Cup with the Ibrox club the following season.

But the emergence of the legendary Jim Baxter led to Stevenson moving to Liverpool in October 1962 for £20,000 and he became one of iconic Anfield manager Bill Shankly’s favourite players.

He was a key member of the Liverpool team that won the First Division title in 1964 and 1966 as well as the Reds’ first FA Cup in 1965.

Stevenson, who never played for Scotland despite his success at two of British football’s most successful clubs, missed only nine league matches in his first four full seasons at Anfield.

He scored 18 goals for Liverpool, including the penalty that clinched a 2-0 semi-final win against Chelsea on the way to the maiden FA Cup win.

Stevenson played in the final against Leeds United – one of four Scots in the Liverpool team with four also in Don Revie’s side – as Liverpool won 2-1 after extra time.

He also suffered disappointment though, losing to Borussia Dortmund in the final of the 1966 Cup Winners’ Cup at Hampden Park.

The last of Stevenson’s 241 appearances for Liverpool was in November 1967, three days after he scored a late penalty to beat Wolverhampton Wanderers 2-1.

He then played for Stoke City, Tranmere Rovers, Vancouver Whitecaps, Limerick and Macclesfield Town.