1989–90 Football League First Division

Liverpool overhauled a greatly improved Aston Villa side to win their 18th league championship trophy and their fifth major trophy in as many seasons under Kenny Dalglish’s management. Having won their 18th title overall, and their 11th in 17 season, this title turned out to mark the end of their domestic dominance of English football in the 1970s and 1980s - they would not win the title again until the 2019–20 Premier League season, 30 years later.{{efn|Liverpool would not win the league again for thirty years after this season, as rivals Manchester United came to dominate domestic football, winning thirteen titles between 1993 and 2013, and surpassing Liverpool's record for domestic league titles. Liverpool would, however, win two UEFA Champions Leagues, one UEFA Europa League and one FIFA Club World Cup, in addition to a number of domestic cup competitions in the interim.}} Gary Lineker’s arrival at Tottenham Hotspur saw the North Londoners occupy third place after a season of improvement. Defending champions Arsenal finished fourth, while newly promoted Chelsea finished an impressive fifth. Everton briefly topped the league in late autumn but were unable to maintain their title challenge into the second half of the season and finished sixth. Seventh placed Southampton enjoyed their highest finish for five years, while Wimbledon continued to thrive on limited resources and low crowds to finish eighth.

Nottingham Forest won the League Cup for the second successive season, but finished ninth in the league one year, having finished third during the previous two seasons.

Manchester United's season began well with a 4–1 win over defending champions Arsenal, but they were soon struggling in the league and finished a disappointing 13th in a season dominated by the collapse of Michael Knighton's takeover bid and continued calls from the fans for manager Alex Ferguson to be sacked. The season ended on a high note with a win over Crystal Palace in the FA Cup final - the club's first major trophy under Ferguson's management.

Newly promoted Manchester City secured survival back in the First Division with a 14th-place finish, having replaced Mel Machin as manager with Howard Kendall during the first half of the season.

Luton Town stayed up on goal difference at the expense of Sheffield Wednesday, while Charlton’s four-year spell in the First Division came to an end at the beginning of May. Millwall were rooted to the bottom of the division despite briefly topping the league in September, as they won just two more games in the league after their brief lead of the table vanished.

After the generally good behaviour of England fans at the World Cup in Italy, the ban on English clubs in European competitions was lifted for the 1990–91 season. Liverpool, who were present at the Heysel disaster which had prompted the ban in 1985, were denied a place in the European Cup, but runners-up Aston Villa entered the UEFA Cup and FA Cup winners Manchester United entered the European Cup Winners' Cup.

{{location map+|England |float=left |width=400 |caption=Locations of the Football League First Division 1989–90 teams |places=

{{location map~ |England |lat=51.56 |long=-0.10 |label=|position=right}}

{{location map~ |England |lat=52.54 |long=-1.87 |label=|position=right}}

{{location map~ |England |lat=51.47 |long=0.07 |label=|position=right}}

{{location map~ |England |lat=51.50 |long=-0.19 |label=|position=right}}

{{location map~ |England |lat=51.40 | long=-0.085 |label=|position=right}}

{{location map~ |England |lat=52.41 |long=-1.51 |label=|position=right}}

{{location map~ |England |lat=52.92 |long=-1.476 |label=|position=right}}

{{location map~ |England |lat=53.47 |long=-2.97 |label=|position=right}}

{{location map~ |England |lat=53.53 |long=-2.99 |label=|position=right}}

{{location map~ |England |lat=51.9 |long=-0.433 |label=|position=right}}

{{location map~ |England |lat=53.47 |long=-2.18 |label=|position=right}}

{{location map~ |England |lat=53.47 |long=-2.30 |label=|position=right}}

{{location map~ |England |lat=51.48 |long=-0.048 |label=|position=right}}

{{location map~ |England |lat=52.63 |long=1.30 |label=|position=right}}

{{location map~ |England |lat=53.01 |long=-1.137|label=|position=right}}

{{location map~ |England |lat=51.54 |long=-0.26 |label=|position=right}}

{{location map~ |England |lat=53.41 | long=-1.50 |label=|position=right}}

{{location map~ |England |lat=50.91 |long=-1.39 |label=|position=right}}

{{location map~ |England |lat=51.63 |long=-0.063 |label=|position=right}}

{{location map~ |England |lat=51.43 | long=-0.19|label=|position=right}}

}}

{{location map+| Greater London |float=none |width=369 |caption=Locations of the 8 Football League First Division London teams 1989–90, the largest contingent ever from London |places=

{{location map~ | Greater London |lat=51.558 |long=-0.103 |label=|position=right}}

{{location map~ | Greater London |lat=51.486 |long=0.036 |label=|position=right}}

{{location map~ | Greater London |lat=51.482 |long=-0.191 |label=|position=right}}

{{location map~ | Greater London |lat=51.398 | long=-0.085 |label=|position=right}}

{{location map~ | Greater London |lat=51.481 |long=-0.048 |label=|position=right}}

{{location map~ | Greater London |lat=51.603|long=-0.066|label=|position=right}}

{{location map~ | Greater London |lat=51.509 |long=-0.232 |label=|position=right}}

{{location map~ | Greater London |lat=51.43 | long=-0.19| label=|position=right}}

}}{{clear left}}

{{#invoke:sports table|main|style=WDL

|section=First Division

|source=[https://www.worldfootball.net/schedule/eng-premier-league-1989-1990-spieltag/38/ World Football]

|team_order=LIV, AVL, TOT, ARS, CHE, EVE, SOU, WIM, NFO, NOR, QPR, COV, MUN, MCI, CRY, DER, LUT, SHW, CHA, MIL

|result1=EXEC |result2=UC1R |result13=CWC1R |result18=REL |result19=REL |result20=REL

|update=complete

|win_ARS=18|draw_ARS=8 |loss_ARS=12|gf_ARS=54|ga_ARS=38

|win_AVL=21|draw_AVL=7 |loss_AVL=10|gf_AVL=57|ga_AVL=38

|win_CHA=7 |draw_CHA=9 |loss_CHA=22|gf_CHA=31|ga_CHA=57

|win_CHE=16|draw_CHE=12|loss_CHE=10|gf_CHE=58|ga_CHE=50

|win_COV=14|draw_COV=7 |loss_COV=17|gf_COV=39|ga_COV=59

|win_CRY=13|draw_CRY=9 |loss_CRY=16|gf_CRY=42|ga_CRY=66

|win_DER=13|draw_DER=7 |loss_DER=18|gf_DER=43|ga_DER=40

|win_EVE=17|draw_EVE=8 |loss_EVE=13|gf_EVE=57|ga_EVE=46

|win_LIV=23|draw_LIV=10|loss_LIV=5 |gf_LIV=78|ga_LIV=37

|win_LUT=10|draw_LUT=13|loss_LUT=15|gf_LUT=43|ga_LUT=57

|win_MCI=12|draw_MCI=12|loss_MCI=14|gf_MCI=43|ga_MCI=52

|win_MUN=13|draw_MUN=9 |loss_MUN=16|gf_MUN=46|ga_MUN=47

|win_MIL=5 |draw_MIL=11|loss_MIL=22|gf_MIL=39|ga_MIL=65

|win_NOR=13|draw_NOR=14|loss_NOR=11|gf_NOR=44|ga_NOR=42

|win_NFO=15|draw_NFO=9 |loss_NFO=14|gf_NFO=55|ga_NFO=47

|win_QPR=13|draw_QPR=11|loss_QPR=14|gf_QPR=45|ga_QPR=44

|win_SHW=11|draw_SHW=10|loss_SHW=17|gf_SHW=35|ga_SHW=51

|win_SOU=15|draw_SOU=10|loss_SOU=13|gf_SOU=71|ga_SOU=63

|win_TOT=19|draw_TOT=6 |loss_TOT=13|gf_TOT=59|ga_TOT=47

|win_WIM=13|draw_WIM=16|loss_WIM=9 |gf_WIM=47|ga_WIM=40

|status_LIV=C

|status_SHW=R

|status_CHA=R

|status_MIL=R

|name_ARS=Arsenal

|name_AVL=Aston Villa

|name_CHA=Charlton Athletic

|name_CHE=Chelsea

|name_COV=Coventry City

|name_CRY=Crystal Palace

|name_DER=Derby County

|name_EVE=Everton

|name_LIV=Liverpool

|name_LUT=Luton Town

|name_MCI=Manchester City

|name_MUN=Manchester United

|name_MIL=Millwall

|name_NOR=Norwich City

|name_NFO=Nottingham Forest

|name_QPR=Queens Park Rangers

|name_SHW=Sheffield Wednesday

|name_SOU=Southampton

|name_TOT=Tottenham Hotspur

|name_WIM=Wimbledon

|show_limit=5

|class_rules=1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored

|res_col_header=QR

|col_EXEC=white |text_EXEC=Disqualified from the European Cup{{efn|name=Liverpool-ban|Liverpool were banned by UEFA from its competitions from the season 1985–86 on for 10 years, because of the Heysel Stadium disaster in 1985, involving Liverpool fans. The ban was eventually lifted for the 1991–92 season.}}

|col_UC1R=blue1 |text_UC1R=Qualification for the UEFA Cup first round

|col_CWC1R=yellow1 |text_CWC1R=Qualification for the European Cup Winners' Cup first round{{efn|Manchester United qualified for the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup as the 1989–90 FA Cup winners.}}

|col_REL=red1 |text_REL=Relegation to the Second Division

}}

{{#invoke:sports results|main

|matches_style=FBR|solid_cell=grey

|team1=ARS|team2=AST|team3=CHA|team4=CHE|team5=COV

|team6=CRY|team7=DER|team8=EVE|team9=LIV|team10=LUT

|team11=MCI|team12=MUN|team13=MIL|team14=NWC|team15=NOT

|team16=QPR|team17=SHW|team18=SOU|team19=TOT|team20=WDN

|name_ARS=Arsenal

|match_ARS_AST=0–1

|match_ARS_CHA=1–0

|match_ARS_CHE=0–1

|match_ARS_COV=2–0

|match_ARS_CRY=4–1

|match_ARS_DER=1–1

|match_ARS_EVE=1–0

|match_ARS_LIV=1–1

|match_ARS_LUT=3–2

|match_ARS_MCI=4–0

|match_ARS_MUN=1–0

|match_ARS_MIL=2–0

|match_ARS_NWC=4–3

|match_ARS_NOT=3–0

|match_ARS_QPR=3–0

|match_ARS_SHW=5–0

|match_ARS_SOU=2–1

|match_ARS_TOT=1–0

|match_ARS_WDN=0–0

|name_AST=Aston Villa

|match_AST_ARS=2–1

|match_AST_CHA=1–1

|match_AST_CHE=1–0

|match_AST_COV=4–1

|match_AST_CRY=2–1

|match_AST_DER=1–0

|match_AST_EVE=6–2

|match_AST_LIV=1–1

|match_AST_LUT=2–0

|match_AST_MCI=1–2

|match_AST_MUN=3–0

|match_AST_MIL=1–0

|match_AST_NWC=3–3

|match_AST_NOT=2–1

|match_AST_QPR=1–3

|match_AST_SHW=1–0

|match_AST_SOU=2–1

|match_AST_TOT=2–0

|match_AST_WDN=0–3

|name_CHA=Charlton Athletic

|match_CHA_ARS=0–0

|match_CHA_AST=0–2

|match_CHA_CHE=3–0

|match_CHA_COV=1–1

|match_CHA_CRY=1–2

|match_CHA_DER=0–0

|match_CHA_EVE=0–1

|match_CHA_LIV=0–4

|match_CHA_LUT=2–0

|match_CHA_MCI=1–1

|match_CHA_MUN=2–0

|match_CHA_MIL=1–1

|match_CHA_NWC=0–1

|match_CHA_NOT=1–1

|match_CHA_QPR=1–0

|match_CHA_SHW=1–2

|match_CHA_SOU=2–4

|match_CHA_TOT=1–3

|match_CHA_WDN=1–2

|name_CHE=Chelsea

|match_CHE_ARS=0–0

|match_CHE_AST=0–3

|match_CHE_CHA=3–1

|match_CHE_COV=1–0

|match_CHE_CRY=3–0

|match_CHE_DER=1–1

|match_CHE_EVE=2–1

|match_CHE_LIV=2–5

|match_CHE_LUT=1–0

|match_CHE_MCI=1–1

|match_CHE_MUN=1–0

|match_CHE_MIL=4–0

|match_CHE_NWC=0–0

|match_CHE_NOT=2–2

|match_CHE_QPR=1–1

|match_CHE_SHW=4–0

|match_CHE_SOU=2–2

|match_CHE_TOT=1–2

|match_CHE_WDN=2–5

|name_COV=Coventry City

|match_COV_ARS=0–1

|match_COV_AST=2–0

|match_COV_CHA=1–2

|match_COV_CHE=3–2

|match_COV_CRY=1–0

|match_COV_DER=1–0

|match_COV_EVE=2–0

|match_COV_LIV=1–6

|match_COV_LUT=1–0

|match_COV_MCI=2–1

|match_COV_MUN=1–4

|match_COV_MIL=3–1

|match_COV_NWC=1–0

|match_COV_NOT=0–2

|match_COV_QPR=1–1

|match_COV_SHW=1–4

|match_COV_SOU=1–0

|match_COV_TOT=0–0

|match_COV_WDN=2–1

|name_CRY=Crystal Palace

|match_CRY_ARS=1–1

|match_CRY_AST=1–0

|match_CRY_CHA=2–0

|match_CRY_CHE=2–2

|match_CRY_COV=0–1

|match_CRY_DER=1–1

|match_CRY_EVE=2–1

|match_CRY_LIV=0–2

|match_CRY_LUT=1–1

|match_CRY_MCI=2–2

|match_CRY_MUN=1–1

|match_CRY_MIL=4–3

|match_CRY_NWC=1–0

|match_CRY_NOT=1–0

|match_CRY_QPR=0–3

|match_CRY_SHW=1–1

|match_CRY_SOU=3–1

|match_CRY_TOT=2–3

|match_CRY_WDN=2–0

|name_DER=Derby County

|match_DER_ARS=1–3

|match_DER_AST=0–1

|match_DER_CHA=2–0

|match_DER_CHE=0–1

|match_DER_COV=4–1

|match_DER_CRY=3–1

|match_DER_EVE=0–1

|match_DER_LIV=0–3

|match_DER_LUT=2–3

|match_DER_MCI=6–0

|match_DER_MUN=2–0

|match_DER_MIL=2–0

|match_DER_NWC=0–2

|match_DER_NOT=0–2

|match_DER_QPR=2–0

|match_DER_SHW=2–0

|match_DER_SOU=0–1

|match_DER_TOT=2–1

|match_DER_WDN=1–1

|name_EVE=Everton

|match_EVE_ARS=3–0

|match_EVE_AST=3–3

|match_EVE_CHA=2–1

|match_EVE_CHE=0–1

|match_EVE_COV=2–0

|match_EVE_CRY=4–0

|match_EVE_DER=2–1

|match_EVE_LIV=1–3

|match_EVE_LUT=2–1

|match_EVE_MCI=0–0

|match_EVE_MUN=3–2

|match_EVE_MIL=2–1

|match_EVE_NWC=3–1

|match_EVE_NOT=4–0

|match_EVE_QPR=1–0

|match_EVE_SHW=2–0

|match_EVE_SOU=3–0

|match_EVE_TOT=2–1

|match_EVE_WDN=1–1

|name_LIV=Liverpool

|match_LIV_ARS=2–1

|match_LIV_AST=1–1

|match_LIV_CHA=1–0

|match_LIV_CHE=4–1

|match_LIV_COV=0–1

|match_LIV_CRY=9–0

|match_LIV_DER=1–0

|match_LIV_EVE=2–1

|match_LIV_LUT=2–2

|match_LIV_MCI=3–1

|match_LIV_MUN=0–0

|match_LIV_MIL=1–0

|match_LIV_NWC=0–0

|match_LIV_NOT=2–2

|match_LIV_QPR=2–1

|match_LIV_SHW=2–1

|match_LIV_SOU=3–2

|match_LIV_TOT=1–0

|match_LIV_WDN=2–1

|name_LUT=Luton Town

|match_LUT_ARS=2–0

|match_LUT_AST=0–1

|match_LUT_CHA=1–0

|match_LUT_CHE=0–3

|match_LUT_COV=3–2

|match_LUT_CRY=1–0

|match_LUT_DER=1–0

|match_LUT_EVE=2–2

|match_LUT_LIV=0–0

|match_LUT_MCI=1–1

|match_LUT_MUN=1–3

|match_LUT_MIL=2–1

|match_LUT_NWC=4–1

|match_LUT_NOT=1–1

|match_LUT_QPR=1–1

|match_LUT_SHW=2–0

|match_LUT_SOU=1–1

|match_LUT_TOT=0–0

|match_LUT_WDN=1–1

|name_MCI=Manchester City

|match_MCI_ARS=1–1

|match_MCI_AST=0–2

|match_MCI_CHA=1–2

|match_MCI_CHE=1–1

|match_MCI_COV=1–0

|match_MCI_CRY=3–0

|match_MCI_DER=0–1

|match_MCI_EVE=1–0

|match_MCI_LIV=1–4

|match_MCI_LUT=3–1

|match_MCI_MUN=5–1

|match_MCI_MIL=2–0

|match_MCI_NWC=1–0

|match_MCI_NOT=0–3

|match_MCI_QPR=1–0

|match_MCI_SHW=2–1

|match_MCI_SOU=1–2

|match_MCI_TOT=1–1

|match_MCI_WDN=1–1

|name_MUN=Manchester United

|match_MUN_ARS=4–1

|match_MUN_AST=2–0

|match_MUN_CHA=1–0

|match_MUN_CHE=0–0

|match_MUN_COV=3–0

|match_MUN_CRY=1–2

|match_MUN_DER=1–2

|match_MUN_EVE=0–0

|match_MUN_LIV=1–2

|match_MUN_LUT=4–1

|match_MUN_MCI=1–1

|match_MUN_MIL=5–1

|match_MUN_NWC=0–2

|match_MUN_NOT=1–0

|match_MUN_QPR=0–0

|match_MUN_SHW=0–0

|match_MUN_SOU=2–1

|match_MUN_TOT=0–1

|match_MUN_WDN=0–0

|name_MIL=Millwall

|match_MIL_ARS=1–2

|match_MIL_AST=2–0

|match_MIL_CHA=2–2

|match_MIL_CHE=1–3

|match_MIL_COV=4–1

|match_MIL_CRY=1–2

|match_MIL_DER=1–1

|match_MIL_EVE=1–2

|match_MIL_LIV=1–2

|match_MIL_LUT=1–1

|match_MIL_MCI=1–1

|match_MIL_MUN=1–2

|match_MIL_NWC=0–1

|match_MIL_NOT=1–0

|match_MIL_QPR=1–2

|match_MIL_SHW=2–0

|match_MIL_SOU=2–2

|match_MIL_TOT=0–1

|match_MIL_WDN=0–0

|name_NWC=Norwich City

|match_NWC_ARS=2–2

|match_NWC_AST=2–0

|match_NWC_CHA=0–0

|match_NWC_CHE=2–0

|match_NWC_COV=0–0

|match_NWC_CRY=2–0

|match_NWC_DER=1–0

|match_NWC_EVE=1–1

|match_NWC_LIV=0–0

|match_NWC_LUT=2–0

|match_NWC_MCI=0–1

|match_NWC_MUN=2–0

|match_NWC_MIL=1–1

|match_NWC_NOT=1–1

|match_NWC_QPR=0–0

|match_NWC_SHW=2–1

|match_NWC_SOU=4–4

|match_NWC_TOT=2–2

|match_NWC_WDN=0–1

|name_NOT=Nottingham Forest

|match_NOT_ARS=1–2

|match_NOT_AST=1–1

|match_NOT_CHA=2–0

|match_NOT_CHE=1–1

|match_NOT_COV=2–4

|match_NOT_CRY=3–1

|match_NOT_DER=2–1

|match_NOT_EVE=1–0

|match_NOT_LIV=2–2

|match_NOT_LUT=3–0

|match_NOT_MCI=1–0

|match_NOT_MUN=4–0

|match_NOT_MIL=3–1

|match_NOT_NWC=0–1

|match_NOT_QPR=2–2

|match_NOT_SHW=0–1

|match_NOT_SOU=2–0

|match_NOT_TOT=1–3

|match_NOT_WDN=0–1

|name_QPR=Queens Park Rangers

|match_QPR_ARS=2–0

|match_QPR_AST=1–1

|match_QPR_CHA=0–1

|match_QPR_CHE=4–2

|match_QPR_COV=1–1

|match_QPR_CRY=2–0

|match_QPR_DER=0–1

|match_QPR_EVE=1–0

|match_QPR_LIV=3–2

|match_QPR_LUT=0–0

|match_QPR_MCI=1–3

|match_QPR_MUN=1–2

|match_QPR_MIL=0–0

|match_QPR_NWC=2–1

|match_QPR_NOT=2–0

|match_QPR_SHW=1–0

|match_QPR_SOU=1–4

|match_QPR_TOT=3–1

|match_QPR_WDN=2–3

|name_SHW=Sheffield Wednesday

|match_SHW_ARS=1–0

|match_SHW_AST=1–0

|match_SHW_CHA=3–0

|match_SHW_CHE=1–1

|match_SHW_COV=0–0

|match_SHW_CRY=2–2

|match_SHW_DER=1–0

|match_SHW_EVE=1–1

|match_SHW_LIV=2–0

|match_SHW_LUT=1–1

|match_SHW_MCI=2–0

|match_SHW_MUN=1–0

|match_SHW_MIL=1–1

|match_SHW_NWC=0–2

|match_SHW_NOT=0–3

|match_SHW_QPR=2–0

|match_SHW_SOU=0–1

|match_SHW_TOT=2–4

|match_SHW_WDN=0–1

|name_SOU=Southampton

|match_SOU_ARS=1–0

|match_SOU_AST=2–1

|match_SOU_CHA=3–2

|match_SOU_CHE=2–3

|match_SOU_COV=3–0

|match_SOU_CRY=1–1

|match_SOU_DER=2–1

|match_SOU_EVE=2–2

|match_SOU_LIV=4–1

|match_SOU_LUT=6–3

|match_SOU_MCI=2–1

|match_SOU_MUN=0–2

|match_SOU_MIL=1–2

|match_SOU_NWC=4–1

|match_SOU_NOT=2–0

|match_SOU_QPR=0–2

|match_SOU_SHW=2–2

|match_SOU_TOT=1–1

|match_SOU_WDN=2–2

|name_TOT=Tottenham Hotspur

|match_TOT_ARS=2–1

|match_TOT_AST=0–2

|match_TOT_CHA=3–0

|match_TOT_CHE=1–4

|match_TOT_COV=3–2

|match_TOT_CRY=0–1

|match_TOT_DER=1–2

|match_TOT_EVE=2–1

|match_TOT_LIV=1–0

|match_TOT_LUT=2–1

|match_TOT_MCI=1–1

|match_TOT_MUN=2–1

|match_TOT_MIL=3–1

|match_TOT_NWC=4–0

|match_TOT_NOT=2–3

|match_TOT_QPR=3–2

|match_TOT_SHW=3–0

|match_TOT_SOU=2–1

|match_TOT_WDN=0–1

|name_WDN=Wimbledon

|match_WDN_ARS=1–0

|match_WDN_AST=0–2

|match_WDN_CHA=3–1

|match_WDN_CHE=0–1

|match_WDN_COV=0–0

|match_WDN_CRY=0–1

|match_WDN_DER=1–1

|match_WDN_EVE=3–1

|match_WDN_LIV=1–2

|match_WDN_LUT=1–2

|match_WDN_MCI=1–0

|match_WDN_MUN=2–2

|match_WDN_MIL=2–2

|match_WDN_NWC=1–1

|match_WDN_NOT=1–3

|match_WDN_QPR=0–0

|match_WDN_SHW=1–1

|match_WDN_SOU=3–3

|match_WDN_TOT=1–0

|update=complete

|source=

}}

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:Note: (H) – Home; (A) – Away

• 1989–90 in English football

{{notelist}}

{{Reflist|30em}}

{{Football League First Division seasons}}

{{1989–90 in English football}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:1989-90 Football League First Division}}

Category:Football League First Division seasons

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