The former Reds forward, popularly known as “Doc,” passed away this morning at the age of 71. During a six-year career with the team, he scored 78 goals in 213 games.
Everyone in the club is thinking of David’s family and friends at this terrible time.
Johnson, a lifelong Liverpool supporter, started playing football on the other side of Stanley Park when he was just 20 years old and scored the game-winning goal for Everton against the Reds in the 1971 Merseyside derby at Goodison Park.
Bill Shankly was smitten with the striker’s prodigious scoring talents and made repeated attempts to bring him to Anfield, though was always – understandably – rebuffed by our neighbours.
Instead, David would go on to spend four years at Ipswich Town before in the summer of 1976 Bob Paisley, now in the Liverpool dugout, sealed the coveted deal to bring him back to L4 and this time the Reds.
It would prove to be a club-record fee very well spent
During his first season, he was a member of the Reds team that won the league title as well as the European Cup, sitting on the sidelines in Rome as the trophy was first raised.
Johnson’s second season at Anfield was cut short by injury, which was sad because it only allowed him to observe Paisley’s team successfully defend Old Big Ears.
However, five goals in 17 games—five for the Reds, including one at Goodison Park, where he became the first player to score winners for both teams in a Merseyside derby—hinted at the fluid finishing to come.
There were 18 goals scored in all competitions in 1978–1979, a massive 27 more the following year, and then 13 in the 1980–1981 campaign, which was capped off by his own goal.
During his first season, he was a member of the Reds team that won the league title as well as the European Cup, sitting on the sidelines in Rome as the trophy was first raised.
Johnson’s second season at Anfield was cut short by injury, which was sad because it only allowed him to observe Paisley’s team successfully defend Old Big Ears.
However, five goals in 17 games—five for the Reds, including one at Goodison Park, where he became the first player to score winners for both teams in a Merseyside derby—hinted at the fluid finishing to come.
There were 18 goals scored in all competitions in 1978–1979, a massive 27 more the following year, and then 13 in the 1980–1981 campaign, which was capped off by his own goal.
The emergence of Ian Rush meant fewer subsequent opportunities for ‘Doc’, a nickname coined by his teammates in light of Johnson’s habit of having soothing tablets on hand to combat sore throats and headaches.
And he returned to Everton in August 1982 having left an indelible mark during one of the most successful eras in Reds history that included four league titles, three European Cups, two League Cups and a UEFA Super Cup.
Beyond the goals and the medals, David departed with a cherished place in supporters’ hearts and memories.
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