8 Best Books About Liverpool FC

It's summer, and as millions of football fans head off on their holidays, they are faced with the age-old question―which books do they take?

Liverpool supporters are blessed with plenty of options given the many tomes that have been written about their club and their successes over the years, but which are the best books about Liverpool, their fans, their club and their players?

Here, in no particular order, are eight works for Reds supporters to enjoy:

Far Foreign Land by Tony Evans

Essentially this is the story of a marathon journey taken by one man―The Times' football editor Tony Evans―to watch his team play in what turned out to be the most remarkable European Cup Final of all time in Istanbul in 2005, but it is much more than that.

As well as that famous night against AC Milan, this book recounts other journeys taken by Evans and Liverpool during what have been both momentous and tragic times.

Accounts of the disasters at Heysel and Hillsborough are retold during what is at times an uncomfortable read, but there are also humorous tales retold by a man who has witnessed so much happen to both the club and the game of football as a whole.

A Season on the Brink by Guillem Balague

What started out as merely a Spanish journalist's account of a Spanish manager's first season in England turned in to so much more due to Liverpool's remarkable run to the Champions League Final and ultimately European glory.

Journalist and Sky Sports football pundit Guillem Balague takes readers behind the scenes of Rafael Benitez's first season at Anfield, culminating in the astonishing conclusion in Istanbul.

With one chapter entirely given over to what happened when the Reds were 3-0 down to AC Milan at half-time―and expertly told solely using interviews from those who were there―this book is a must for those who like to reminisce about a special night.

The Didi Man by Dietmar Hamann

The story of Liverpool's favourite German with a Scouse accent is a funny, warm and entertaining one.

Midfielder Dietmar Hamann became a fixture in the Reds side following his move from Newcastle in 1999, and as he quickly embraced the way of life at the club and in the city he grew into more and more of a fan favourite.

His autobiography also reflects on his time with Bayern Munich, Newcastle and Manchester City, but this tale of a cricket-loving German Scouser is certainly a page-turner for Reds fans.

Hillsborough: The Truth by Professor Phil Scraton

Arguably the most important book concerning Liverpool FC ever written, Hillsborough: The Truth was first published in 1999 when many people still chose to believe the lies often spread about the disaster and the blame those lies caused.

Professor Phil Scraton details the appalling police mismanagement at the FA Cup semi-final between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest on April 15, 1989, which led to the deaths of 96 Reds fans, laying bare the complete chaos caused by inadequate policing.

With recent revelations absolving supporters of any blame, Scraton's book now holds even more relevance in the families' ongoing fights for justice.

44 Years with the Same Bird by Brian Reade

Perhaps the definitive story of supporting Liverpool over the past glorious, tragic and often humorous decades, this book by award-winning journalist Brian Reade is a firm favourite with Reds fans.

Starting off with Liverpool's first ever FA Cup in 1965, Reade's way with words takes you through tales of Bill Shankly, Bob Paisley, Kenny Dalglish and many many more in a hugely enjoyable and often funny account of one man's obsession with his football club.

Liverpool's tragedies are also covered in detail in what could almost be described as a Reds supporters' bible. 

An Epic Swindle by Brian Reade

Again Reade comes to the fore with the meticulously told tale of the takeover of Tom Hicks and George Gillett at Liverpool in 2007, their subsequent falling out and how they very nearly dragged the Reds into administration.

With a new stadium one of the key aspects of their takeover, the American duo promised to have a spade in the ground "within 60 days" of walking into the club in March 2007, but it was ultimately discovered that they didn't even have enough money for transfers let alone a new ground.

Reade goes behind the scenes to document the breakdown in the relationship between Hicks and Gillett, and the sterling efforts put in by supporters to help remove the hated duo from the club in October 2010.

Secret Diary of a Liverpool Scout by Simon Hughes

Simon Hughes helps tell the tale of Geoff Twentyman, one of Liverpool's unsung heroes from their most successful period, in this enjoyable tale.

Appointed as Liverpool's chief scout by Bill Shankly in 1959, Twentyman helped unearth players such as Alan Hansen and Ian Rush during his 25 years in a role that involved him regularly driving up and down the country to check up on promising players.

Pieced together from scouting books kept by Twentyman's son, William, this book tells the tale of how he discovered some gems for a club who have to remain eternally grateful.

Fowler: My Autobiography by Robbie Fowler

One of the best and most natural finishers of his generation tells one of football's most honest stories in his autobiography.

Liverpool supporters still idolise Robbie Fowler to this day, and the forward's story of his road to the top is a compelling one.

Sometimes a controversial figure, Fowler doesn't hold back when telling the tale of his life at Anfield, his frequent highs and lows and his remarkable comeback to the club in 2006.