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.
vInstead, 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.
The club record fee would turn out to be money wisely spent.
He was part of the Reds squad that secured both the league championship and European Cup during his debut season, remaining on the bench as the latter was lifted for the first time in Rome.
Injury afflicted his second campaign at Anfield and disappointingly limited Johnson to a watching brief as Paisley’s side successfully defended Old Big Ears.
But five goals in 17 outings – including one for the Reds back at Goodison Park as he became the first player to have scored winners for both teams in a Merseyside derby – hinted at the flowing finishing to follow.
There were 18 goals in all competitions in 1978-79, a whopping 27 more the next year and then 13 during a 1980-81 season that concluded with his own European Cup moment.
David led the line for Liverpool in Paris as Alan Kennedy’s strike defeated Real Madrid and the shining trophy was secured for a third time.
Fewer possibilities for “Doc,” as his teammates called him because of his propensity to keep painkillers on hand to treat headaches and sore throats, decreased with the rise of Ian Rush.
And in August 1982, he made his triumphant return to Everton, having made his mark during one of the Reds’ most prosperous periods, which included four league crowns, three European Cups, two League Cups, and a UEFA Super Cup.
Beyond the goals and the medals, David will always hold a special place in the hearts and memories of his fans.