Ranking Liverpool's Change Kits During the Premier League Era

"You can please some of the people all of the time; you can please all of the people some of the time, but you can’t please all of the people all of the time."

The above quote perfectly sums up the predicament kit manufacturers face.

While you cannot go too wrong with Liverpool's traditional red home shirt, the club's away and third strips have varied from the sublime to the ridiculous.

So, to mark John Greenough receiving the patent for the first sewing machine back on February 21, 1842, Bleacher Report has compiled a list of Liverpool's finest change kits during the Premier League era.

We've ranked the top 10 in terms of both how they look and also taken into account what the players achieved while wearing them.

Of course, this is all a matter of opinion. Fashion is all about personal taste—feel free to pick your favourite with the aid of Historical Kits.

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

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Steve McManaman accurately displays how far away Liverpool were from having a good away kit in the 1996/97 season.

Before the countdown begins, it feels right to remember some of the less-than-impressive shirts Liverpool have worn during the Premier League years.

Have you ever noticed how many different names there are for the many, many (slightly) different shades of cream paint? Bone. Eggshell. Elephant breath. Ivory. Morning light. Mushroom. The list goes on.

Liverpool's away shirt in the 1996/97 campaign was a version of cream called ecru, apparently. Whatever it was, Reebok's first effort at a change strip left an awful lot to be desired.

However, it is not alone in Liverpool's wardrobe of fashion disasters.

Remember the green away shirt from 1999/2000? The main issue was the choice of colour. The green used blended in with the playing surface, as if camouflage would somehow help the team prosper.

There was a diagonal dark navy-and-white stripe and dark navy shorts, even though everyone knows blue and green should never be seen together because they sit next to each other on the colour wheel (yes, I Googled it).

As for the 2000/01 away shirt, it made Liverpool look more like Bolton Wanderers. The 1995/96 version of the same kit, meanwhile, saw Adidas strangely go for green-and-white quarters.

And what about the fluorescent yellow trim on the 2012/13 third kit? That was odd but not as odd as the white replacement the following season that, for some strange reason, contained a lot of light blue.

Warrior designed some recent atrocities, too, but we'll discuss those in greater detail later on.

10. 2006/07 3rd Kit

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Liverpool's 2006/07 third kit may not be to everyone's liking.

Manufacturer: Adidas

Sponsor: Carlsberg

Like Marmite, this white-and-green combo could lead to contrasting opinions from Liverpool's fans.

However, considering this was Adidas' first season back producing the kit following a decade with Reebok, the manufacturer deserves praise for thinking outside the box.

The third strip—predominantly white with one green sleeve and a thin red trim around the collarless neck—narrowly squeezed into our top 10 ahead of another kit from the same 2006/07 season.

While the away number, yellow with thin red stripes above both breasts, looked more striking, the green Carlsberg logo led to a few style points being deducted.

In contrast, the long-time sponsors' name looked far better on the third-choice shirt, even if it was in a different shade of green to the one used on the sleeve, as well as the shorts and socks.

We will overlook the fact this was the season co-owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett arrived at Anfield, as well as the heartache of losing the Champions League final to AC Milan.

9. 1997–98 Away Kit

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A young Michael Owen caught the eye in Liverpool's yellow number.

Manufacturer: Reebok

Sponsor: Carlsberg

During the 1997/98 season, a young man named Michael Owen backed up his early promise by becoming Liverpool's latest superstar.

With Robbie Fowler sidelined with a knee injury, teenager Owen took centre stage. He did so in an away number that saw the Reds switch back to wearing a colour steeped in history.

Yellow kits were commonplace during the late 1970s and early 1980s. Most often with a V-necked collar and always with a hint of red, they offered a bright alternative to the traditional red home strip.

Reebok took note of this, albeit adding a darker twist with the sponsors' name appearing in black.

The look was a vast improvement on the hideous cream number from the previous campaign, and the club kept it around as their third strip for the 1998/99 season, too.

However, the shade of yellow didn't quite match the shirts of old.

8. 1993/94 and 1994/95 Away Kit

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Adidas developed a new twist on their three-stripe design for the start of the 1993/94 campaign.

Manufacturer: Adidas

Sponsor: Carlsberg

Having worn white away shirts during their years of domestic dominance, Liverpool perhaps hoped switching back to the colour would also result in a return to their glorious past.

It worked...to a point.

With young bucks Fowler, Steve McManaman and Jamie Redknapp coming to prominence, Roy Evans' squad defeated Bolton Wanderers at Wembley to lift the League Cup in 1995.

Adidas doubled up on its three-stripe approach, putting a black set on each side at the bottom of the jersey. The sleeves, meanwhile, kept the green streak alive from the 1992/93 season.

However, there was one rather unappealing feature: the position of the badge.

Placing it in the middle of the shirt, below the makers' logo, didn't look right, just like Julian Dicks marauding up and down Liverpool's left-hand side during the 1993/94 campaign.

Liverpool kept this number going for two seasons during a time when supporters weren't made to fork out for a new shirt every year.

7. 2015/16 Away Kit

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Christian Benteke looks just right all in white during the 2015/16 season.

Manufacturer: New Balance

Sponsor: Standard Chartered

During the Premier League years, Liverpool have twice worn all-white kits.

Adidas designed (does an all-white kit take a lot of designing?) a white third strip for the 2009/10 season, with the only addition the company's familiar three stripes, in red, added to the shirt, shorts and socks.

However, New Balance's attempt for the 2015/16 campaign, unveiled on a pre-season tour to Australia, showed you don't need to over-complicate things.

With just a thin red trim around the sleeves and collar, it looked clean and simple, proving that less is more.

"The New Balance away kit looks great, and the team are aware of past years where the club has had many successes wearing white away kits. Hopefully, this kit can bring us luck away from home next season," goalkeeper Simon Mignolet told the club's official website.

The strip didn't bring then-manager Brendan Rodgers a lot of luck, though—he lost his job in October that season.

6. 2009/10 Away Kit

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Future Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson (right) tussles with Triple H-lookalike Andriy Voronin.

Manufacturer: Adidas

Sponsor: Carlsberg

Liverpool went back to black for the 2009/10 campaign, a fitting colour choice for what proved to be then-manager Rafa Benitez's final campaign in charge.

The Reds had worn a similar shirt in Europe the previous season, but the addition of gold trim on the shirt, shorts and socks made all the difference in our rankings.

In their final season as main shirt sponsors, Carlsberg's name was emblazoned across the front in gold lettering, too.

The addition of a thin red line across the shoulders proved a nice touch, while Liverpool occasionally ditched the black shorts and socks to wear gold versions instead (as seen in the picture above).

There was nothing golden about results on the field, though.

Benitez—who somehow believed Alberto Aquilani could replace the departed Xabi Alonso—failed to engineer a path to the knockout stages of the Champions League, while even a beach ball in Sunderland scored a goal against them in domestic action.

5. 2010/11 Away Kit

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Milan Jovanovic, Jonjo Shelvey and Christian Poulsen—proof pinstripes don't make everyone look good.

Manufacturer: Adidas

Sponsor: Standard Chartered

Liverpool fans should want to forget all about the 2010/11 season.

Former manager Roy Hodgson's reign lasted just over six months, during which time he lost at home to Northampton Town in the League Cup and signed legendary names like Milan Jovanovic, Paul Konchesky and Christian Poulsen.

Kenny Dalglish took charge in January 2011, and by the end of his first month back in the job, he'd lost Fernando Torres and gained Andy Carroll.

Of course, Luis Suarez also arrived in the same winter transfer window.

Another rare positive during a dire campaign was the club's away shirt. Pinstripes failed to make David N'Gog and Sotirios Kyrgiakos any better at football, but they at least looked good from a style point of view.

Liverpool had tried thin lines on a white shirt before, including diagonally across their 2005/06 away strip.

But the 2010/11 version, complete with black shorts and red Adidas stripes down the side of the sleeves, was the best of the lot.

Please note: Sincerest apologies to all Liverpool fans for recalling such a horrible year in the club's illustrious history. I mean, Paul Konchesky and Christian Poulsen—just what were you thinking, Roy?

4. 2012/13 Away Shirt

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Luis Suarez's scoring form lit up Brendan Rodgers' maiden season in charge of Liverpool.

Manufacturer: Warrior

Sponsor: Standard Chartered

During its two full seasons designing Liverpool's kits, Warrior came up with some different ideas. Yes, let's go with the word "different."

The 2012/13 season saw a purple (plum, perhaps?) third strip, while that monstrosity was replaced the following year by a black-and-white number possibly inspired by the classic computer game Tetris.

However, Warrior deserves praise for its 2012/13 away strip.

According to SportsLens.com, the design was "inspired by Liverpool’s away kit from 1900-1906 which featured the yoke detail in recognition of sailors and the huge influence of the docks on the city at the time."

Whatever the inspiration, the combination of black, grey and gold worked well together. A round-neck collar suited the design, too. 

Rodgers' maiden season contained some dark moments (never forget Fabio Borini was his first signing at the club), but they at least looked slick on their travels.

3. 2000/01 Away Kit

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Michael Owen helped Liverpool enjoy a golden spell during 2001.

Manufacturer: Reebok

Sponsor: Carlsberg

The golden glow to Liverpool's second strip in the 2000/01 season proved to be appropriate.

Instead of the traditional bright yellow, the Reds went for a different shade. The choice worked well alongside the dark blue used underneath the sleeves and down each side of the shirt.

With the main colours switched the other way around on the shorts, and a proper collar to boot, this number was colourful without overwhelming your eyes.

However, the kit is ranked so highly for one unforgettable day: the 2001 FA Cup final.

Liverpool looked anything but golden for the majority of the match, yet Michael Owen's late brace of goals, plus the timely intervention of Stephane Henchoz's hand on the line, secured Gerard Houllier's side the trophy.

It wasn't the only piece of silverware the club picked up that year.

The League Cup was secured via a penalty shootout success against Birmingham City, while an own goal in golden-goal extra time clinched the UEFA Cup after a see-saw final with Spanish side Alaves.

This was the shirt that saw Steven Gerrard come of age, as well as Gary McAllister roll back the years. Had Reebok not put the club's crest in the middle, it might well have broken into the top two.

2. 1992/93 Away Kit

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Don Hutchison models Liverpool's very first away kit in the Premier League era.

Manufacturers: Adidas

Sponsors: Carlsberg

Green kits don't always work, but there's a charm to Liverpool's away kit from the 1992/93 season.

Back in 1992, teams didn't change designs every season. So, for the start of the newly formed Premier League, the Reds were once again decked out in green on their travels.

There was also another reason behind keeping the shirt for a second successive campaign. Liverpool were formed on March 15, 1892, so the club were celebrating their centenary year.

The main sponsor did change, though, as this was the first year of a long and profitable relationship with Carlsberg.

Liverpool wore this number in the first top-flight game televised by Sky. They lost on that momentous Sunday afternoon, going down to a Teddy Sheringham stunner at Nottingham Forest.

The early loss was a pointer of what was to come, too, despite the arrival of new faces Torben Piechnik and Paul Stewart. Graeme Souness' side needed a late surge just to finish in sixth place.

Still, their troubles weren't because of their strips. While more memorable when Candy was emblazoned across the front, Adidas' simplistic, three-stripe design will hold fond memories for some Liverpool fans.

1. 2008/09 Away Kit

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Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard celebrate a goal at Old Trafford.

Manufacturer: Adidas

Sponsor: Carlsberg

A glorious throwback to the club's forever-fashionable away kits of the late 1980s and early 1990s (when Crown Paints and Candy were sponsors), Liverpool's away shirt for the 2008/09 season was a thing of beauty.

The chequered pattern of different greys on the chest made sure it wasn't a dreary number, while Adidas added a thick red edge around the collar to go with the thin three stripes down the sleeves, shorts and socks.

Perhaps the manufacturers could also have considered putting the sponsors' name in red lettering, too, but that's splitting hairs.

The design holds special memories of one certain away day, as Rafa Benitez's assassins were dressed in grey when they shot down Manchester United at Old Trafford in March 2009.

Who will forget Andrea Dossena running through to clinically lob Edwin van der Sar and complete the 4-1 rout in injury time? Good times.

With Gerrard at his peak and Torres firing in the goals, the 2008/09 season should have seen Liverpool crowned champions. Instead, those pesky Red Devils pipped Benitez's boys at the post.

Still, when they're not wearing red, Liverpool's players look great in grey.