'One of Shankly's favourites' - Liverpool title winner Stevenson dies aged 85

Former Rangers and Liverpool midfielder Willie Stevenson - who won top-flight titles successful Scotland and England - has died astatine nan property of 85.

The Edinburgh-born near midfielder was portion of Rangers' championship-winning squad successful 1958-59 and won nan Scottish Cup pinch nan Ibrox nine nan pursuing season.

But nan emergence of nan legendary Jim Baxter led to Stevenson moving to Liverpool successful October 1962 for £20,000 and he became 1 of iconic Anfield head Bill Shankly's favourite players.

He was a cardinal personnel of nan Liverpool squad that won nan First Division title successful 1964 and 1966 arsenic good arsenic nan Reds' first FA Cup successful 1965.

Stevenson, who ne'er played for Scotland contempt his occurrence astatine 2 of British football's astir successful clubs, missed only 9 convention matches successful his first 4 afloat seasons astatine Anfield.

He scored 18 goals for Liverpool, including nan punishment that clinched a 2-0 semi-final triumph against Chelsea connected nan measurement to nan maiden FA Cup win.

Stevenson played successful nan last against Leeds United - 1 of 4 Scots successful nan Liverpool squad pinch 4 besides successful Don Revie's broadside - arsenic Liverpool won 2-1 aft other time.

He besides suffered disappointment though, losing to Borussia Dortmund successful nan last of nan 1966 Cup Winners' Cup astatine Hampden Park.

The past of Stevenson's 241 appearances for Liverpool was successful November 1967, 3 days aft he scored a precocious punishment to hit Wolverhampton Wanderers 2-1.

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